Bristol Rovers tamely surrendered their four game unbeaten run with a lacklustre display in defeat to Exeter City at the Memorial Stadium.
The home side never settled into a rhythm and the final scoreline of 2-0, both goals coming from half time substitute Daniel Nardiello, was a fair reflection of the game. The closest Rovers came were when a Danny Coles header bounced off of the top of the visitors crossbar and Jo Kuffour having a close range effort saved by City keeper Ben Hamer.
There were three changes to the Rovers side that faced Bournemouth on Tuesday night, talismanic striker Will Hoskins missing out due to an ankle injury suffered in the previous game while player-manager Stuart Campbell kept himself in the dugout with a dead calf. Byron Anthony was set to continue in the left back spot but was forced to retire from the starting line up prior to the start of the game, Gary Sawyer retaking his place in the side.
Exeter came out playing with a 3-5-2 formation that included former Rovers striker Jamie Cureton starting up front and looked dangerous from the off.
Richard Logan, scorer of the Grecians winner against Dagenham on Saturday, hit a curling effort that bounced off of his namesake Conrad's crossbar.
Rovers first dangerous attempt on goal came from midfielder Gavin Williams. After some good interplay with Reggie Lambe around the edge of the area Williams hit a well struck shot that unfortunately went straight into the waiting hands of Ben Hamer.
But Exeter continued to run the game and Conrad Logan had to be in inspired form to keep the game level, flinging himself to his right to keep out a Jamie Cureton header from seven yards, pushing it away from his goal.
Hamer was then forced to get his sleeves dirty as he was forced into a diving save from a Reggie Lambe effort, but that was as good as it got for the Gas in the first half, and things soon got worse.
Danny Senda pulled up having injured his knee and was unable to continue, on loan defender David McCracken the man to replace him in the right full back spot.
Ryan Harley was Exeter's key man throughout the match, showing good touches, a great range of passing and taking some dangerous efforts on goal, including one at the start of the second half that made Conrad Logan get everything behind the ball, catching it comfortably.
Chris Lines tried to take the game to the opposition and sent two shots towards goal in quick succession, the first bobbling harmlessly wide when the midfielder was always off balance while the second went wide again, though it was hit with slightly more power than the first.
Jamie Cureton showed that even at age 35 he was still up to the task, shooting goalwards after a free kick wasn't fully cleared and forcing Gary Sawyer to clear the ball off of his own goal line.
Williams continued to threaten with his distance shooting, driving a fierce effort right across the face of Hamer's goal.
Then came the moment that had been so hyped in the build up to the game, Marcus Stewart's final appearance in professional football. The former Rovers fans favourite made his way onto the field for Richard Logan after 66 minutes to rapturous applause from both sets of fans and, after Kuffour took a lobbed attempt far too early, he made his mark on the game.
Harry Pell was harried within his own half and lost possession, the ball subsequently being played out wide and Ryan Harley's cross was diverted into the path of Daniel Nardiello by Stewart, Logan rushing off his line towards the experienced forward, leaving former Manchester United trainee Nardiello with the simple task of blasting the ball into an open net.
Rovers tried to get back on terms immediately, Chris Lines running goalwards straight from the kick off, eventually being squeezed off the ball by the Grecian defence.
A further foray forward earned the home side a corner, Gavin Williams sending the ball deep into the penalty area where he found the head of Danny Coles who looped a header towards Hamer's goal but, unfortunately for Rovers, it bounced off the top of the bar and over. That wasn't to be it for the Gas, though, as they then wasted their best chance of the game.
Wayne Brown got onto the end of a ball into the area, only to see his blocked shot fall to Jo Kuffour who, from no more than five yards out, had his attempted finish saved by Hamer who showed that, despite his lack of action, he was still ready to be called upon when required.
That would be it for the Gas and two minutes into the added five Ryan Harley played Nardiello through on goal, the striker taking the ball around the on-rushing Conrad Logan before slipping it coolly into the net to kill off the game.
Rovers looked totally out of sorts today, as they have for the previous two games, but individual mistakes as well as a lack of luck cost them dearly as they slipped down a place to 20th in the League 1 table.
After the match Rovers caretaker boss Stuart Campbell came out and spoke to the press about how the camp felt they let themselves down after the defeat, saying:
"We are disappointed with the performance and the result, but if I am honest, we got what we deserved today.
"I don't know what the problem was today, but it was the third game at the end of a long week.
"We have had two big performances from the lads, and today we looked a bit leggy, and we didn't look like the Bristol Rovers we have seen in the last six games.
"The atmosphere was great, the fans played their part, but unfortunately for whatever reason we didn't."
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