![[E.C.F.C. Emblem]](../../../gifs/ecfc.gif)
Exeter City F.C. - Latest Match Details Exeter City F.C. - Latest Match Details
Saturday 22nd February 1997
| Exeter City 3 | Darlington 2 |
(Half Time: 2-2) |
|
City Details:
| Team: | Bayes, Hughes, Richardson, Rice (Baddeley 36), Blake, Minett, Bailey, Rees, McConnell, Rowbotham, Crowe (Myers 63) |
| Subs
Not Used: |
Steele |
Scorers: |
Bailey, Rowbotham, Crowe |
| Bookings: | Blake |
Darlington Details:
| Team: | Moilanen, Shaw (Hunt 88), Kelly, Brydon, Hope, Reed, Atkinson, Naylor (Twynham 81), Roberts, Blake, Barbara (Robinson 60) |
| Subs
Not Used: |
|
Scorers: |
Atkinson, Barbara |
| Bookings: | Kelly |
Match Facts:
| Attendance: | 2,986 |
| Goals: | Bailey 5(1-0), Atkinson 21(1-1), Barbara 25(1-2), Rowbotham 35(2-2), Crowe 50(3-2) |
| Referee: | Ken Leach (Wolverhampton) |
| Star Grecian: | Jason Rees |
Star Ratings:
| Bayes |  |
| Richardson | |
| Rowbotham | |
| Blake | |
| Hughes | |
| Rice | |
| Rees | |
| Crowe | |
| Minett | |
| Bailey | |
| McConnell | |
| Baddeley | |
| Myers | |
Match Report:
City's new loan signing, Glen Crowe from Wolves, helped the Grecians to their first win since Christmas after Saturday's non-stop action game against Darlington.
The ruthless streak that Peter Fox had been looking for all season was supplied by loan signings Jason Rees and Glen Crowe. Rees took control of the midfield with an aggressive display, while Crowe converted his one chance of the match to seal all three points for City and lift them above Darlington in the Third Division table.
The opening spell of the match was the best performance from City in a very long time. players were running off the ball for each other, they all wanted a touch and Barry McConnell was a wizard in his new free role in attack.
City's opening goal took everyone at St James' Park by surprise, though not least Danny Bailey, who scored it by a well placed header from the edge of the box which beat the Quakers stranded 'keeper. City tried to capitalise on their early lead as efforts from Jason Minett, Noel Blake and Gary Rice all threatened to add to the lead inside the first 15 minutes. The Quakers dispelled their nerves midway through the opening half as striker Robbie Blake reinforced his reputation for shooting from any distance with four efforts on or around the edge of the box. Two of his shots deflected of Jon Richardson and narrowly fell to safety, but his 21st minute drive cannoned into his namesake Noel Blake and landed at Atkinson's feet and he made no mistake from 15 yards out.
The game had turned on its head in the space of five minutes with City now on the back foot. An error from Noel Blake, after a poor clearance from Hughes, allowed French import Daniel Barbara to calmly hit home from all of 35 yards. Rowbotham then put the icing on the cake with a superb low diving header from Minett's cross to bring the Grecians level at the end of the first half.
City then forged ahead with a goal from loan signing Glen Crowe on his first appearance from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Minutes earlier, Hughes had struck the frame of the goal from 30 yards, as the momentum from the first half spilled over into the second.
Crowe's strike was pure predatory instinct as he stole in at the far post to slide Lee Baddeley's well placed header into the net. Noel Blake then struck the bar from Minett's corner as Darlington's young heads began to drop. A five man move involving Blake, Hughes, McConnell, Rowbotham and Rees brought the crowd to their feet and required a smart clearance from Richard Hope to prevent another goal. Crowe could have added to the tally when he chased Rees' pass into the box and went wide of Moilanen before falling in a heap on the box. Rowbotham volleyed Bayes long punt just over and the City striker struck the post after a long run from McConnell.
The Quakers did not have the same appetite for goal as they did in the first half and apart from Rees having to clear Shaw's cross from beneath his own bar, Bayes remained untroubled.
Page last updated: 17 June 1997