Wednesday 12th May 1982

Division Three

Exeter City 1 Huddersfield Town 0

Attendance: 2,888

Quick thinking by Exeter City's great clubman and their longest serving player, Peter Hatch, brought the goal that they desperately needed to end their relegation worries.

He broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. His long throw was headed straight back to him by Lillis, and Hatch volleyed a dipping shot over the head of Cox into the net. It was a brilliant piece of opportunism which preserved Exeter City's Third Division place for the following season.

For such an important match for Exeter, the attendance was very disappointing, with less than 3,000 present inside St James' Park. It was a night and an occasion in which the tension was clear for all to seeCertainly it was not a match in which much quality football was on show.

It was scrappy and peppered with mistakes, but in the end Exeter's determination and drive proved to be enough to get the result that was so important.

Luck was not always on City's side however, with Tony Kellow having a goal disallowed for offside and Martyn Rogers having a shot blocked on the line. Huddersfield lost midfielder Hanvey early on, receiving a leg injury in the first 20 seconds. He finally limped off in the 16th minute. Exeter were also assisted when the visitors squandered a couple of first half chances. The Grecians came close to putting the result beyond all doubt in the 76th minute when Kellow crossed for Peter Rogers, whose header flew inches past the post.

It may not have been a particularly memorable match, but nevertheless an important one from City's point of view.

City team: Len Bond, Martyn Rogers, John Sparrow, Nicky Marker, George Foster, Phil Roberts, Ray Pratt, Peter Rogers, Tony Kellow, John Delve, Peter Hatch.

Huddersfield team:
Cox, Brown, Burke, Stanton, Valentine, Hanvey (Hotte), Lillis, Kennedy, Robins, Wilson, Cowling.