Exeter City F.C. - Match Details

Monday 31st March 1997

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The victory on Monday at in-form Doncaster left Exeter with a seven-point return from their last three games and provided a third away win in four attempts - inevitably the club's finest series of results on their travels since the fabled 1989/90 Fourth Division championship campaign.

Crowe seized the Bell Vue glory. The borrowed Wolves hitman's brilliant double overshadowed Rowbotham's typically industrious display and took his goal-haul to an admirable five in eight games since embarking on his St James's Park sojourn. It was the first time that an Exeter man had scored twice in a games since loanee Lee Bradbury, now setting Division 1 alight with parent club Portsmouth, inspired the Grecians to a 3-0 romp at Leyton Orient 16 months ago.

Crowe's opener was the first time Doncaster goalkeeper Dean Williams had been beaten after John Schofield had nodded the home side into an interval lead. The equaliser was tasty enough to encourage Fox to rush from the visitors' dugout for an impromptu touchline jig.

Yet quickly the 18-year-old had bettered his thumping 66th minute header from Tim Steele's pinpoint cross. The danger appeared minimal when Crowe burst into the Doncaster penalty area to gather Gary Rice's pass. But, without warning and from the narrowest of angels, the Republic of Ireland B international delivered a ferocious left-foot drive that flashed past the startled Williams before nestling just inside the far stanchion.. "I thought he was going to cross," smiled Fox. "And I wouldn't like to say whether Glen meant it, but he regularly does things like that in training." Crowe, of course, was claiming intent. Ironically, he missed two gilt-edged opportunities to claim City's first hat-trick since a Mickey Ross treble against Fulham in November 1993.

Exeter had just survived a severe 15th minute scare - Ashley Bayes superbly foiling Simon Ireland and Darren Hughes hacking clear Martin Pemberton's goalbound follow-up effort - when Hughes' pass sprung the Doncaster offside trap. Crowe was clean through but hesitated fatally and Williams saved with his legs. Exeter were immediately hit by the loss of key midfielder Paul Birch, who limped off after failing to recover from a collision with Ian Gore to a warm ovation from the Rovers followers he disappointed when joining City four days earlier.

When Schofield arrived at the far post to butt Ireland's 40th minute cross past a stranded Bayes, the signs were ominous for city's 250 travelling fans. however within 10 minutes of the restart Steele and Rowbotham had both gone close to a leveller as Exeter rallied bravely.

Doncaster's former Torquay United defender Darren Moore - head and shoulders, literally, above most of his colleagues and voted the sponsors' Man-of-the-match for the umpteenth time this season - forced Bayes into a reflex stop when the visitors failed to deal with Schofield's free-kick. And immediately City were back on terms courtesy of Crowe's smart finish to spadework from Chris Myers, Rowbotham and Steele.

Moore nodded over before Crowe's party piece and there was still time for Fox's attacking accomplices to miss further openings: Williams defiantly denying Crowe when Rowbotham unselfishly fashioned an 86th minute chance and then Dazza when the top-scorer had bustled clear in stoppage-time.

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Page last updated: 17 June 1997