Super City in top spot

Report by Trina Lake

EXETER CITY. 3 
Barry, Harrower, Cooper
NEWPORT COUNTY. 0

Exeter City powered their way to the top of the Fourth Division on Saturday with a ruthless performance against Newport County. They were held up for more than an hour by some brilliant goalkeeping from Paul Bradshaw but such was City's single-mindedness that they were rewarded with three goals in the last 22 minutes. And it was particularly pleasing to see those goals, coming from three midfield players when only two came from that department in the whole of last season. The enterprising Paul Batty got City off the mark in the 68th minute, Steve Harrower netted No. 2, 10 minutes later and Richard Cooper headed the third five minutes from time. It was the perfect way to bounce back after Wednesday's Littlewoods Cup knock-out by Second Division Bournemouth and manager Colin Appleton had to admit: "I really didn't expect a 3-0 win after getting beaten in extra time in midweek. There were a few tired legs out there but they stuck to their guns and got their reward." Appleton defended his de- cision to substitute striker Brendan O'Connell for Tony Kellow in the 64 minute saying he wanted to preserve his goal a game record. It was a move that brought booing from all ar- ound St James's Park. "I took him off because he hadn't scored. Nothing is ever personal. I wasn't redressing the balance because I had pulled Dean Edwards off on Wednesday, Something needed to happen and when you've got Tony Kellow on the bench you can do something about that," he explained. Then, maybe I might just be lucky," he added with a twinkle in his eye. Kellow's 64th minute arrival certainly had the desired effect. He had a hand in the first two goals, so consigning his old club to the foot of the Barclays League. Up until then Newport had fought a valiant rearguard action, Bradshaw repeatedly coming to the rescue when his stubborn five-man defence was breached. He made fine first-half saves to deny midfield tiger Paul Olsson, O'Connell and Edwards while other promising openings came to nothing with hurried or wayward finishing. City's dominant defence and unyielding midfield restricted Newport to less than a handful of half chances in the entire match. Sweeper Roger Gibbins came forward to head wide twice from crosses by Paul Giles, the only man booked by Dorset referee Paul Durkin. Gibbins also had a shot beaten out by John Shaw and Robbie Taylor blasted a reckless drive over the bar. While Shaw was a mere spectator for most of the afternoon, Bradshaw worked his socks off trying to keep Newport in the game. He made a superb reflex save to prevent former Newport utility man Roy Carter from breaking the deadlock with a 55th-minute header and flung himself acrobatically across the goal to push the ball away. Appleton introduced the redoubtable Kellow and for the umpteenth time he inspired a transformation. One deft touch in front of goal and Newport were panicked into a half-hearted clearance, seized on by Batty who beat one defender before driving the ball low across the face of goal and in off the far post. Kellow's long cross from the right in the 78th minute found Harrower on the edge of the penalty area. He chested the ball down expertly and turned to tuck the ball just inside Bradshaw's right-hand post. Harrower was especially pleased with his first goal of the season after a frustrating afternoon. Hew looked more leaden-legged than most from Wednesday's exertions and had struggled to find his touch until squeezing in that 18- yard shot. Goal No. 3 again came from that productive right flank, Batty and Edwards combining to provide the perfect centre for Cooper to steer a confident header past the helpless Bradshaw. Edwards, desperate to break his early-season duck, spurned the chance of a fourth in the 87th minute. In typically determined fashion he worked himself into a great position but pulled his shot well off target with only the keeper to beat, underlining his overeagerness to get on the scoresheet. His time will surely come though if City continue to create chances with the exciting regularity they have done in the opening five gemes of this oh-so promising campaign. 

Exeter City:
Shaw, Nisbet, Viney.Marker, Cooper, Carter, Batty, Ed- wards, O'Connell, Olsson, Harrower. Subs: Kellow (on for O'Connell 64 minutes), Hiley.

Newport County:
Bradshaw, Hodson, Lewis, Gibbins, Williams, Brignull, Giles, Thackery, Taylor, Evans, Tupling. Subs: Sherlock (on for Brignull 82 minutes), Collins (on for Evans 68 minutes).

Attendance: 2,628.