Exeter City 4
Viney, McEwan (pen), Neville, Pratt

Bournemouth 2
Morgan 2

Attendance: 3,008

5th February 1983

Match Report by GORDON HINES

SERVICE GETS IT RIGHT AND CITY MOTOR ON

EXETER City's goal machine was back to perfect working order yesterday. Certain parts had failed to function in recent weeks, allowing the St James' Park club to drop into the Third Division relegation zone.

But the engine was ticking over smoothly against Bournemouth with goals nicely spaced from Keith Viney, Stan McEwan, Steve Neville and Ray Pratt.

Victory wasn't without some scares, however, and there was one second half period when City looked to be sliding to their fourth home defeat on the trot. The Cherries led 2-1 with a brace of goals from striker Trevor Morgan before City moved into overdrive and cruised to victory. The six goal sequence began in the 26th minute, with Viney's opportunist goal.

The City full back was on red alert when a McEwan shot came back off the crossbar. He squeezed the ball in from a couple of yards, before 'keeper Ian Leigh could make up ground after touching McEwan's blockbuster' onto the woodwork. Bournemouth created numerous chances and equalised seven minutes before the interval with the first of Morgan's near post goals.

It was a real blow for Bournemouth. For only a minute earlier they had introduced substitute Trevor Lee for striker Tony Funnell in a bid to keep pressure on Exeter's sometimes shaky defence. In the event, caretaker manager Harry Rednapp's decision had the reverse effect and City went on to hammer a fourth and final nail in the Hampshire club's coffin when Peter Rogers set up another goal. On this occasion it was Pratt on the end of the move, sliding along in the mud to get the vital touch. It capped a spirited City revival and victory was no more than the Devon club deserved. Then the Cherries took the lead in the 52nd minute when the Exeter defence failed to 'pick up' a Jimmy Neighbour corner and Morgan headed the ball beyond 'keeper Len Bond. Exeter equalised three minutes later when Pratt won a penalty. McEwan stepped up in the continued absence of injured

Tony Kellow and scored with a firm shot into the opposite corner after Leigh had committed himself into plunging to his right. Neville made it 3-2 in the 69th minute when Peter Rogers created space for himself along the left and angled the ball across goal to Neville on the far post. Neville did the rest, sticking out a boot to beat Leigh, as the goalkeeper struggled to deal with Peter Rogers' teasing centre. McEwan was booked in the first half for a foul on Morgan, and City will be anxiously waiting for the referee's report. If he receives four points for dangerous play, then he could face an automatic two-match suspension for passing the 21 points mark in the disciplinary league 'table'. Peter Rogers was also cautioned by Hinckley referee Jeff Bray for a 78th minute trip on substitute Lee.

City: Bond, M. Rogers, Davies, McEwan, Viney, Harle, Delve, P. Rogers, Gibson, Neville, Pratt. Sub Pullar.

Bournemouth: Leigh, Heffernan, Sulley, Spackman, Brignull, Golac, Neighbour, Madden, Morgan, Funnell, Nightingale. Sub Lee.