Not many teams are likely to fuel a promotion push with the aid of fried chicken.
But that was the case for Exeter City, as they moved a step closer to League One at the weekend. The Grecians sealed a vitally important 1-0 win away at Carlisle United on Saturday. Striker Padraig Amond netted the only goal of the game in the 89th minute to give Matt Taylor's side a precious three points as they look to end ten consecutive campaigns in League Two.
But the gruelling trek up from Devon to Cumbria on Friday clearly took its tool, with Taylor revealing his players had to resort to a KFC pre-match meal due to a stressful journey. “We set off at 8am and it was 8.30pm when we got to the hotel,” Taylor said. “Due to the fact we can’t afford two drivers on the coach – we’re Exeter City – we had to stop at 6.30pm for 45 minutes at Charnock Richard services.
“The lads ate Subway and KFC for their pre-match meal! It’s unacceptable and it’s my responsibility as manager. Before we talk about the sacrifices supporters make, we need to mention the players – being sat on a coach for 12 hours is a brutal thing for athletes, but they got into the right mindset.”
Exeter are finally looking to escape the fourth tier after being beset by play-off misery in recent years. They have lost three of the last five play-off finals and are hoping that they can secure promotion the stress-free way and take up one of the three automatic spots.
Speaking after a hard-fought win against a Carlisle side that is as good as safe from relegation after a superb run of results following Paul Simpson's reappointment, Taylor said: "The boys competed well and kept a good team at arm’s length. They [Carlisle] have been in fantastic form. Since the manager came in they’ve been in outstanding form and have beaten some good teams here.
“I can’t recall [goalkeeper] Cam Dawson having much to do, and they didn’t cut us open. And they’ve got good players and a manager that knows what he’s doing. It always seems to suit us at Carlisle – whether that’s because it’s a good pitch, or a big pitch with extra space. Sometimes a pretty basic set piece can be an incredible thing. It felt like one of those days when it wasn’t our day in front of goal – but then it turned into it.”
Amond's late goal - his first since back on December 7 last year - continued Exeter's superb run of form in the league. They have lost just once in their past 18 matches and remain second. They are five points clear of Mansfield, who are fourth, with six games of the season remaining.
