True grit keeps City up.

Newport County 1
Williams
Exeter City 1 
Peter Rogers 

Match Report by Trina Lake 

PHEW! Exeter City live to fight another day in the Third Division but only just. They have a reputation for keeping supporters on the edge of their seats but never has the tension been greater than at Somerton Park on Saturday. Time looked to have run out on City's desperate struggle against relegation. They trailed by a single goal and defeat, even by the slender margin, would have meant Fourth Division football at St James's Park next season. But as the seconds ticked the end of a disappointing eason Peter Rogers scored what must surely be the most important goal of his life. The dramatic equaliser came in the 87th minute. Keith Viney floated in his first corner of the match and Rogers headed in from close range.

"That was the best goal I've ever scored for Exeter City," said the unassuming Rogers, who was nudged in the back as he scored that vital point saver. He revealed after the match that his cousin, centre back Martyn Rogers, had made sure City's players knew what had to be done by getting coach Malcolm Musgrove on to the pitch to clear mud from his eyes in the last 15 minutes. City's match had kicked off at 3.15 pm so Musgrove knew the results from the other relegation battles affecting City when he went on to treat the City defender. Reading had beaten Wrexham, Milwall had won at Chesterfield, and Orient had hammered Sheffield United so Rogers urgently spread the word-"We need a goal." Steve Neville passed the message to Peter Rogers just seconds before he scored and there was absolute ecstasy among the City players as they realised the goal made them safe. Rogers rushed to receive the jubilant acclaim of the hundreds of City fans gathered behind the goal. They had given their team tremendous throughout support a nerve wracking 90 minutes and the equaliser with all it entailed was just reward for their loyalty. "That was a goal for the fans," said Rogers. It looked for a long period though as if their trip across the River Severn had been in vain, especially the first half when Newport threatened to send City reling into Division Four witlh a barrage of attacks. Big Tommy Tynan let City off the hook early on by firing a shot wide but the 33-goal striker was shown just how to finish in the 17 minute by a young man making his Football League debut. Teenager Ceri Williams a  talented left winger, was left  unmarked in front of goal and calmly controlled a tricky cross before driving the ball past the helpless Len Bond.

City's ploy of playing five men across the back had failed but the system somehow managed, more by luck than judgment to limit Newport to a single goal and as long as the  score stayed that way there was a chance. The conditions made the game something of a lottery. The pitch was waterlogged and the ground staff were still forking it when the teams came on to warm up. Torrential rain fell throughout the match to make matters worse. City had defended desperately but knew that like so many times before they had given the opposition far too much time and space. They came back out primed for the fight in the second half and started much more brightly. All looked lost, however, in the 54th minute when Newport's Neil Bailey cracked the ball into the back of the net. But Coventry referee Keren Barratt ruled his effort out for offside. Newport claimed it should have been allowed to stand. The man judged offside was Tynan, who put in the cross for Bailey but as he pulled the ball back he stepped over the dead ball line and off the pitch to prevent the linesman, flagging against him. It didn't work and that proved to be the turning point for City.


They began more effectively after break but as the minutes slipped by it seemed they would never get the goal they so desperately needed. Substitute Ray Pratt on for Tony Kellow, missed one difficult far post chance and the battling Martyn Rogers had a useful shot well saved by Newport 'keeper Mark Kendall. City pushed Stan McEwan up into midfield in a late bid, gambling everything on attack, something that hasn't always paid off this season. But it worked on Saturday when it mattered most. The final whistle could not come quickly enough for City after that thrilling climax to a nerve-jangling game. Newport put them under late pressure and the referee added on more than two minutes for the stoppage when Martyn Rogers was booked for a foul on John Aldridge who received attention.

Exeter City:
Bond, Kirkup Viney, Phillips, McEwan, M. Rogers, Delve, Harle, P. Rogers, Neville, Kellow. Sub Pratt (on for Kellow).

Newport County:
Kendall, Jones, Relish, Bailey, Oakes, Stround, Lowndes, Aldridge Tynan, Reid Williams, Gwyther (on for Aldridge).

Attendance: 3,520.