Gillingham 2
Bowman, Price

Exeter City 3
Roberts (L.), Lester, Rogers

JITTERY CITY ALMOST THREW AWAY POINTS

EXETER survived Gillingham's grandstand finish to register their first away win of the season at Priestfield Stadium. They were 3-1 up and coasting to their best win of the campaign when Gills' striker Price headed home two minutes from time. Then Exeter suddenly developed a bad case of the nerves and in the time that remained they could easily have let victory slip away. However, Len Bond saved from Steve Bruce; Danny Westwood chipped over the top, and Bowman had a goal bound shot deflected off target. An equaliser then would have been particularly tough on Exeter for they thoroughly deserved to win after outplaying Gillingham for long periods. Exeter suffered an early shock but recovered quickly and always looked the more likely to score. The excellent Joe Cooke and his co-defenders had an easy time of things against a powder puff attack and although John Delve and Tony Kellow were disappointing, Peter Rogers and Mike Lester provided plenty of danger for the Gillingham back line. In the end, though, the turning point came 18 minutes into the second half when Exeter were awarded a controversial second goal. It came after keeper Ron Hillyard saved brilliantly from Dave Pullar at the expense of a corner. The flag kick found Lester and he drove low and hard into the six yard box where Lee Roberts toe poked past Hillyard. Bruce appeared to kick the ball off the line but Referee Tony Ward was in a perfect position to award the goal, despite Gillingham's protests. The game didn't start as well as that for Exeter because they were a goal down inside three minutes. Gillingham's build-up was good between Sitton and Goodwood but the goal itself had luck as Cooke lashed a clearance against Bowman's legs and the ball looped up and over Bond, and into the far corner of the net. There were not many chances in the first half after that, but Exeter looked more convincing going forward in the 16th minute when and were denied an equaliser Sitton produced a super saving tackle to stop Kellow.

Exeter's offside trap Gillingham out, but the constantly caught home side could have scored when Ford joined the attack, took a through ball from Price and turned well to shoot over. Ironically it was from a Gillingham attack that Exeter levelled. It came five minutes from half time and it followed a great save by Bond at Westwood's feet. Bond's clearance found its way downfield, Kellow got to the by line and pulled the ball back for the unmarked Lester to thump home from 12 yards. Kellow also had a couple of good chances which he put wide before Roberts scored the controversial goal that virtually killed off Gillingham's hopes. Gillingham produced one exceptional move in the 72nd minute from which Bond saved brilliantly from Westwood's diving header, but once Rogers glanced Prince's cross past Hillyard ten minutes later, Exeter were home and dry.