ROGERS 'ROBBED' IN DRAMA OVER WINNER!
Report by GORDON HINES. 

EXETER City came back from the dead yesterday. Two goals down, and then 3-2 in arrears with 10 minutes to go, they snatched a dramatic point from the jaws of defeat.

Indeed, they went within an ace of pulling off a sensational triumph when Martyn Rogers forced the ball over the line four minutes from time. But Bristol Referee Eric Read would have none of it. He pointed to a linesman's hoisted flag for offside after Tony Kellow's lofted shot had come back into play off a post. The entire Exeter side looked deflated after their Herculean efforts to get back into the game.

But they can have few grumbles about the result after the manner in which they gifted Wrexham three goals Dave Pullar and the com- bination of centre half Grant Davies and 'keeper Len Bond were guilty of mistakes for the first two. And then the otherwise impeccable Stan McEwan virtually handed the Welsh club their third. Exeter defence really does present a major headache for Manager Brian Godfrey and, on the evidence of yester- day's overall lack-lustre display, there seems little chance of the Devon club swimming clear of relegation waters unless there's a mighty shake up. Pullar, operating in the unaccustomed role of right back, was excused by Manager Godfrey for allowing Steve Buxton in for Wrexham's first goal. Nevertheless, it was an elementary mistake and Buxton was left in the clear to score at the second attempt after his first shot had cannoned back into play off Bond's legs. Wrexham went two goals up in the 56th minute with another colossal defensive error. Davies, on loan from New- port County, was part villain when he allowed a Jake King free kick through to Bond. The 'keeper, for his part, was caught in no-man's-land when the ball landed on the -edge of the six-yard box and striker Jim Steel headed over him for an outrageous goal. It looked odds-on a fourth home defeat in five games for Exeter until left back Keith Viney took over. He bridged the gap in the 71st minute with a sweetly-struck goal from the edge of the penalty box after a Peter Rogers' pass. Then Viney equalised four minutes later with another unstoppable left-footed drive; his shot whistling beyond a wall of Wrexham defenders after skipper John Delve had rolled a short free kick into his colleague's path. Exeter now had the game by the scruff of the neck. Yet they allowed Wrexham to snatch the lead again in the 80th minute when Steel was given far too much space by McEwan. He hammered the ball past Bond and once again it looked curtains for City. Exeter, though, refused to die. And they equalised five minutes from time when Steve Neville scored his 11th goal of the season after running on to a Kellow flick. Goalkeeper Eddie Niedzweiki managed to get a hand to the ball but he wasn't able to take sufficient pace off the shot and it rolled gently, albieit tantalisingly over the line. Then came the Martyn Rogers' disallowed goal, although there were no complaints from the Exeter camp afterwards

Rogers was a little peeved, true, but Manager Godfrey thought it a fair decision. "The linesman's flag was up very early. Rogers was in an offside position before Kellow's shot came back off the upright,' he said. Godfrey left his sick bed he's been suffering all week with a severe chest cold to watch the game. His temperature must have soared even higher with the way in which Exeter played, particularly in the first half. Their distribution was sadly lacking and they missed a host of half-chances. Kellow, back after a seven week absence through injury, was the main culprit.

Exeter Team

Bond, Rogers (M.), Viney, Pullar, Davies, McEwan, Neville, Rogers (P.), Kellow, Delve, Gibson

Exeter City 3 Wrexham 3

Exeter Scorers 
Viney (2), Neville

Wrexham scorers
Buxton, Steele (2)