Exeter 2-1 Carlisle 

5th September 1981

Hero Hatch
by DAVID HARDING

Peter Hatch, switched to a midfield role because of Exeter's injury problems, emerged as their goal getting hero to break a stamina-sapping stalemate as the temperature soared into the 70s. 

Hatch's 55th-minute goal was beautifully taken. He resisted the temptation to let fly and judged his shot to place the ball well out of reach of keeper Trevor Swinburne.

Minutes later Hatch came close to getting a second when midfield man Mike Lester spotted him unmarked from the left but this time Hatch's shot went past the upright.

Carlisle could argue that Exeter went ahead against the run of play, but they had only themselves to blame for wasting a couple of early chances.

Yet Exeter might have gone ahead after only three minutes. A Mike Lester free kick was flicked on by Tony Kellow, and it looked as if Joe Cooke must score with his diving header. But somehow Swinburne pulled off a  superb save on the line. Exeter striker Ray Pratt escaped on his own but his shot at the end of a fine run was deflected for a corner.
Carlisle, playing patient football, gradually got back into the game. Hatch's goal was engineered by full-back Martin Rogers. and Pratt fed it through for the midfield man to score. Five minutes from the end Exeter seemed to have sewn the game up when Lester and Davey combined to set up a perfect chance for Kellow to put away. But there was an 88th minute shock for Exeter when Robson pushed a conso- lation goal for Carlisle past Bond from a narrow angle.