Former Young Reggae Boyz attacking midfielder, Jevani Brown, says he is “over the moon” after scoring his first goal for high-flying English League Two club Exeter City, breaking a 45-game drought, and hopes it will be the start of more to come.
On Saturday, Brown, 27, ended his long barren spell by netting in Exeter’s 2-1 win over Oldham Athletic that lifted the club to third place, two points but from a game more, behind leaders Forest Green Rovers, who Jamaican striker Jamille Matt captains.
Port Vale is second by a better goal difference than Exeter.
Hertfordshire-born Brown scored 11 goals, including two hat-tricks, for Colchester United last season, but all of them came in the first 16 matches, and then the goals dried up.
After two years, he became a free agent after the Essex outfit released him, and he was snapped up by Exeter, nicknamed the Grecians, on an undisclosed contract.
Brown finally found the net early in the second half on Saturday, poking home from close range after Matt Jay had put Exeter ahead with a first-half strike. Although Jamie Bowden pulled one back late on for the visitors with a 25-yard stunner, City held on to extend their unbeaten run to 18 in all competitions.
“I am over the moon with the goal … it has been a long time coming as well, and the first goal is hopefully the first of many, and there are more to come,” said Brown, who made five appearances for the Jamaica Under-17 team in 2011.
“It was a bit of relief and joy. I’ve not had as many chances as I have been providing, but I want to add to my game and want more and hope I can add and chip in.
“As long as the team is winning, the main thing is to get the points, but it is nice to get on the scoresheet. [Two of my teammates] before the game said today is the day you score, and I was delighted to do so, and the togetherness of the team is terrific.
“The gaffer [manager Matt Taylor] was telling me as I am always trying to help, to stay in the box, and I stayed in the box, and it landed to me, so I might have to listen to him more often.”
With a third of the season gone, Brown says he feels his side has a great chance of staying in the running for promotion to League One.
They have been there before, winning promotion out of League Two in 2008–09, surviving for three seasons in League One before returning to League Two in 2012.
“This season has been brilliant bar the Leyton Orient game (a 3-0 defeat in August), and we have been terrific every game,” Brown said. “We are always able to grind games out, and hopefully, we can continue this and carry on.”
He added: “There is a real togetherness of the boys. It is like a family here, and everyone is so close-knit and fighting for each other and a real team spirit.”
“The league table is excellent and pleasant to be up there, but we have to focus on each game, and if we keep on winning, we will stay up there.
“We have our sights on promotion. When I spoke to the gaffer in the summer, I came here to try and get promoted, and with the squad we have, we have a perfect chance.”
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