Exeter City F.C. - Match Details

Saturday 22nd March 1997

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Manager Peter Fox duly admitted: "Three more wins should put us safe." "We might well pick up more points away," he said after his side jumped to 18th berth, their highest Division 3 placing of 1997. "We don't feel too comfortable at home. The boys feel more relaxed away. Without Steve Flack, we lack a physical presence up front at home. Teams tend to sit back and find it very difficult to break them down."

On a history-making afternoon, City belted four goals in an away league match for the first time since a 4-2 win at Rotherham in March, 1991. It was the first time Exeter had scored four away in a competitive match since winning 4-1 at Terry Cooper's Birmingham in the Coca-Cola Cup in August, 1992 and scoring four under Fox's management for the first time.

Exeter, dismal at home to Scunthorpe seven days earlier, stunned their play-off aspiring hosts by opening up a remarkable 3-1 lead inside the first 27 minutes. They led after 10 minutes through the latest superb finish from top marksman Darren Rowbotham, his ninth goal of the term in 23 starts. The recalled Tim Steele put him through on the right and Rowbotham lashed an angled right-foot shot past a startled Ian Ironside into the top corner from just inside the penalty area. But the shock lead was short-lived, referee Frazer Stretton stunning City by awarding Boro a 16th minute spot-kick for an alleged foul by Lee Baddeley on Gareth Williams. After Stretton had disallowed David Currie's initial penalty - the on-loan Carlisle striker had checked his run-up before scoring - goalkeeper Ashley Bayes was sent the wrong way by Currie's second effort.

Yet if the home fans though this was the cue for City to cave in due to a possible miscarriage of justice, step forward Steel to provide his contender for any Grecians Goal of the season award. From fully 25 yards, Steele - whose only previous City goal had come against Brighton back in September - struck a magnificent shot which screamed past Ironside.

"That was the goal of Tim's life." smiled Fox. "He keeps on threatening to do that in training."

Six minutes later, Rowbotham and Crowe played a one-two which ended with Crowe's shot being deflected past the hapless Ironside by an outstretched leg belonging to his own defender Stuart Hicks. Following Fox's midweek spying trip on the Seadogs at Cardiff, assistant manager Noel Blake was relieved of his normal central defensive duties and pushed into midfield to stifle dangerman Gary Bennett's creative influence.

After Boro pushed Bennett further forward in the second period, Blake dropped back alongside the impressive Lee Baddeley and captain Jon Richardson in a bid to quell the expected home onslaught. But Williams was still left unmarked to reduce the arrears seven minutes into the second half after Bennett had flicked on Craig Midgley's cross.

Back came City again two minutes later, Crowe volleying home after Blake had headed Nickey Medlin's free-kick across the penalty area.

Rowbotham then latched onto John Kay's back pass and skipped past Ironside only to find the ball on his less-favoured left foot. By the Time Dazza had worked his way into a shooting position, Ironside scrambled the ball clear for Exeter's sole corner of the 90 minutes.

Medlin - making an impressive appearance of the term - then scampered clear of the offside trap, collecting Rowbotham's through ball only to shoot into the seats. Nerves were jangling in the away dugout when Williams again brought Scarborough back into contention 17 minutes from time. And only a miraculous injury-time save from Bayes - one of his typical stunning reflex stops - prevented them grabbing a point. Bayes flung himself full length to his left to finger-tip the unmarked Bennett's Half-volley around the post. "It was an absolutely fantastic save," praised Fox. "That stopped us losing two points."

A 4-4 draw doesn't bear thinking about. As Fox, his nerves shredded, said:"Who'd be a manager on days like this?"

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Page last updated: 17 June 1997