Tisdale looks to bright future

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Second-half goals from Jimmy Keohane and Tom Nichols, his 15th of the campaign, did the damage for Tisdale’s team – who started the season under a transfer embargo and hot favourites to be relegated.

But it is testament to the job Tisdale has done that Exeter finished 10th in the table and the City boss is already planning for next season.

“We started the season with plenty of pessimism around the place with the embargo and we were bottom of the league in September,” he said.

“It was miserable around the place and we had a really tough start but we have built the season and finished tenth with 64 points, which is no bad effort.

“We have brought some very good players in and hopefully we can build now, stay healthy and start next year in better strength than we did this year.”

On the win over the Daggers, Tisdale said: “It was a really good day and a really good football match. I thought both sides played some open, expansive football and I thought Dagenham were particularly good in the first half an hour and it made for a really good game.

“We managed to get in at 0-0 and I think that gave us a chance because we are flexible and were able to adapt and we were able to take hold of the game in the second half, but it was a really good game and nice to finish the season after a disappointing last fortnight.”

Former Exeter striker Jamie Cureton bagged his 20th goal of the season in stoppage time, but it was mere consolation for the Daggers.

“I thought we played well in the first half and were unfortunate not to get a goal, but we didn’t stick it in the back of the net,” said visiting boss Wayne Burnett.

“It was a strange game – a game of two halves. We were slightly better in the first half and Exeter were slightly stronger in the second half.

“We have turned it around and all credit to the staff and the players and everyone associated with the football club. It has been a very good second half of the season and to finish 14th above the likes of Wimbledon and Portsmouth is another successful season for the football club.

“We all want to get into the play-offs and promoted and each season we have an opportunity and a possibility of doing that. It is tough because of our resources but everyone pulls together and that is what makes the club special.

“We all very disappointed that we couldn’t finish with a win.”