19th November 1983
FA Cup 1st Round
Exeter 1-1 Maidstone

Report by Robert Bowden

MARK O'Connor couldn't possibly have picked a better mo- ment to score his first goal since joining Exeter City on loan from QPR.

O'Connor's neat volley after 37 minutes not only livened up this dreary cup tie but also put Exeter in the game just when it looked as though they were going to be overrun by their non- League opponents.

After a nervous start Alliance League Maidstone rocked Exeter with a combination of intelligent passing and tough tackling.

They gave due warning of what was to come when live- wire Billy Hughes unleashed a 25-yard drive which had Bond at full stretch, and after 22 minutes Maidstone went ahead.

Hughes swung over a tame looking corner, but while the Exeter defence stood and watched, Maidstone skipper Martin Newson sprinted in to force the ball past Bond. Exeter had no one but themselves to blame for their predicament, having earlier squandered two glorious chances inside the first five minutes.

First O'Connor took ages to control the ball on the edge of the area, and Mick Crow swiped it away to safety, and then Exeter player- manager Gerry Francis carelessly slid the ball wide after being put through by Neville. O'Connor's goal came after good work between Neville and Taylor, and briefly it looked as though Exeter, without a win at St James' Park this season, would sweep the part-timers aside. Peter Taylor taunted his former colleagues with a series of darting runs and Maidstone full back Jon Moore had a miserable afternoon trying to contain Steve Neville. But, with Nigel Donn constantly snapping at Francis' heels, and Newson, always a good yard faster than Joe Auguste most of Exeter's attacks were effortlessly snubbed out.

After a ragged start to the second half Exeter frittered away another glorious chance when a shot from Keith Viney was deflected over the Maidstone defence to Peter Rogers. He had time and space to spare but succeeded only in nodding the ball tamely be hind for a goal kick. As Exeter floundered it was Maidstone second in the Alliance League last season who caught the eye. First Brian Thompson and Malcolm Stewart combined to present Mark Lazarus with a chance which he inex- plicably sidefooted wide. And minutes later Newson, who earlier had earned himself a stern rebuke from the referee after punching the ball into the net, went close with a legitimate effort fol- lowing a corner by Mick Crowe. Maidstone's England non-League international John Bartley spent a frustrating afternoon trying to escape from the attentions of Viney. But on the rare occasions he succeeded, he showed the sort of skill which made him top scorer in the Alliance League last season with 50 goals. His best effort came 10 minutes from the end when Micky Dingwell skipped away from Exeter full back Graeme Kirkup and sent over a cross which Bartley volleyed inches wide. It was another narrow escape for Exeter, who minutes earlier had been desperately unlucky not to get the winner.