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Exeter keeper Bycroft scores late equalizer for survival hope

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Key Points
  • Jack Bycroft scored a stoppage-time equalizer for Exeter City in a 3-3 draw with Stockport County.
  • Bycroft was a reserve goalkeeper three weeks ago but has started the last five games, keeping two clean sheets.
  • Manager Matt Taylor praised Bycroft's goal-scoring ability and challenged him to keep clean sheets in the final two games.

Bycroft's dramatic goal came as Exeter are two points from safety with two games to play. The goalkeeper was a reserve and fixture on the substitutes' bench just three weeks ago, having played only four Vertu Trophy games all season and no competitive minutes since December. He was thrust into the starting lineup when Crystal Palace loanee Joe Whitworth was injured in the warm-up before a 0-0 draw with Leyton Orient three weeks ago.

Since becoming starter, Bycroft has kept two clean sheets in five League One games, and Exeter have lost just one of their past five matches. Interim manager Matt Taylor praised Bycroft's unexpected impact. According to BBC Sport, Taylor described the goalkeeper as having an incredible eye for a goal, noting that he also got on the end of a corner in a previous match against Blackpool.

He's got an incredible eye for a goal.

Matt Taylor, Exeter City interim manager

According to BBC Sport, Taylor added that he wants to challenge Bycroft to keep two clean sheets in Exeter's last two games. Bycroft's physical attributes contribute to his goal-scoring ability; he is 6 feet 4 inches tall. According to BBC Sport, Bycroft described his height as a good target for set-pieces and expressed excitement about the goal, emphasizing the team's determination for the final games.

This is going to sound mad, but when he's finished taking shots from the outfield players he takes shots as an outfield player.

Matt Taylor, Exeter City interim manager

He doesn't practise his headers - I'm not going to sit here and say practises headers - but I always see him, and he's got an incredible eye for a goal. You can almost see that in people.

Matt Taylor, Exeter City interim manager

So I'm delighted for him, but I want to challenge him to keep two clean sheets in our last two games.

Matt Taylor, Exeter City interim manager

I'm 6ft 4in, it's another good target for Danny to aim at.

Jack Bycroft, Exeter City goalkeeper

It was Blackpool where I got on the end of one at the end there as well, so he said it's a good target for me to go up, so I just chucked myself at it like I do in the goal, and it was a special moment.

Jack Bycroft, Exeter City goalkeeper

I'm just buzzing that it went in. I'm not really too bothered that it was me.

Jack Bycroft, Exeter City goalkeeper

As long as it was someone and we had another point, it's something for us to grab on to.

Jack Bycroft, Exeter City goalkeeper

I'm glad we had a moment at the end. I didn't really care what it was, but everyone needed it.

Jack Bycroft, Exeter City goalkeeper

The crowd hopefully now have a bit of confidence, a bit of belief in the boys that we're not giving up and we're going to throw everything at Burton and then everything at Bradford.

Jack Bycroft, Exeter City goalkeeper
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Exeter keeper Bycroft scores late equalizer for survival hope | Reed News