Exeter City 1-0 Doncaster Rovers

28th November 1975

A HAPPIER PROBLEM FOR NEWMAN

Keith Bowker's winning goal in Exeter City's 1-0 victory over Doncaster on Friday night has opened up the Fourth Division promotion race and put the City in with a chance. But another flawless performance by Peter Hatch has set manager John Newman an enviable problem.

For Newman has to decide whether to persevere with Hatch as a central defender. Or restore him to his original left-back position now that Dave Munks is fit. Hatch switched positions at the start of the season, only as a temporary measure while Munks shook off the effects of a cartilage operation.

In that time, however, Hatch has been consistently outstanding, and his Doncaster performance was one of the best individual displays by a City player this season. But what of Munks? He pursued his comeback trail in the reserves against Exmouth yesterday, and is ready to stake a claim to the first team.

Furthermore, Newman is keen to have Munks in his Fourth Division line-up because of his vast experience and reading of the game. So what will Newman do? Surely he can't unroot Hatch in his present form alongside centre-half Bobby Saxton? My guess is that Newman will overcome his problem and benefit from both worlds. Hatch will continue in the No. 6 jersey while Munks will return to challenge John Templeman and transfer listed Brian Joy for the right-back berth.

Whatever Newman works out, it's a pleasant position for any manager to be in