Deja-vu for Cornforth as City play Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde 

EXETER C 2 SHREWSBURY T 2

NICK BEER AT ST JAMES'S PARK

DEJA-VU all over again left Exeter City boss John Cornforth wondering why his side only seem happy with their backs against the wall. Had he been fitted with a heart monitor, mused the Grecians chief, it would have exploded some- time during an opening 45 minutes of mounting frustration. By the same token, pulse rates among home fans would have barely risen above comatose level during a dreadfully dull first half. But Cornforth and the City faithful exited St James's Park in a far healthier frame of mind following a knockabout second period featuring a pair of truly memorable Grecians strikes. Graeme Tomlinson's fifth goal of a stop-start season-a glorious glancing header straight out of the top drawer will have gained him a couple of places in the queue for new contracts this summer. And not to be outdone, winger Andy Roscoe showed again what a potent weapon he has become in the second half of this season with a clubbing drive. The bewildering part of it all is that, now they've rediscovered their goalscoring touch, the Grecians have suddenly lost their aura of in- vincibility at the back. For a side who kept five clean sheets on the bounce before Christmas, a recent record of 15 goals conceded in their last six outings is as inexcusable as it is inexplicable. frontman Luke Rodgers who measures 5ft 6ins in his long Dwarf-like Shrewsbury frontman studs opened the scoring with a free header on the edge of the six-yard box. Within four minutes of Tomlinson's second-half equaliser, Ian Woan's unremarkable cross was allowed to sneak through to burly defender Matt Redmile who crashed the ball home from similar distance. And despite Roscoe's instant reposte, City could not quite scale the summit of the latest mountain they had given themselves to climb. "I don't know what it is about first-half per- formances over the past three or four weeks," reflected Cornforth. "I think I'm going to have to start going ballistic at them before kick-off rather than waiting for half-time. "I was also very disappointed with the two goals we conceded, but I was pleased with the second-half performance Shrewsbury are a - good side, their points prove that, and yet we've taken four points from them this season." To be fair to both sides, the constant shrill of first-year referee Clive Penton's whistle contributed substantially to a dismally disjointed opening 45 minutes. Cornforth already in hot water with the FA following a post-match outburst at Rushden & Diamonds a couple of weeks ago was locked in' animated conversation with the match officials as he headed for the tunnel at half-time. Mr Penton rattled up 45 free-kicks and six cautions on his one-man mission to starve the paying punters of entertaining football. But the Grecians boss was sensible enough to keep his thoughts to himself, smiling slyly while advising the press corps: "You've seen the game, you write what you see." The Grecians made a concerted effort to catch their guests cold, forcing three corners in as many minutes at the start of the contest: Shrewsbury looked vulnerable when a Tomlinson effort deflected off defender Mick Heathcote into the path of Christian Roberts, whose cross failed to reach Steve Flack loitering with intent at the far post. And midfielder Martin Barlow a revelation over the past couple of games since being recalled in place of bug-ridden Glenn Cronin sent a flying header narrowly over after ghosting between two towering Shrews centre-backs. But the visitors steadily grew in confidence following a rocky beginning with 20-goal hitman Rodgers menacingly patrolling the offside line. And strike number 21 was not long in coming following a neat piece of footwork from Sam Aiston and a deep centre from Peter Wilding. Rodgers had meanwhile ducked under the Exeter radar and his unchallenged header from six yards out left Arjan Van Heusden grasping at thin air. The remaining 30 minutes of the first half boasted all the entertainment value of a stand-up comedy routine performed by Nigel Mansell. The one moment of note came when Shrews keeper Ian Dunbavin bolted out of his area to head the ball clear of the onrushing Roberts. Although Dunbavin clearly clattered the Grecians striker before collapsing to the ground, the referee stunned players and spectators alike by signalling a free-kick to the visitors. Flack paid the price for a listless first-half failing to reappear after the break following a dressing room dressing down from Cornforth.

And the boredom was finally shattered on 58 minutes when Barlow charged down a clearance from old Plymouth pal Heathcote before chip- ping towards the near post and Tomlinson dar- ted in front of his marker before neatly nodding the ball just inside the far stick. It was as you were just four minutes later when former Nottingham Forest flankman Woan was allowed a second bite of the cherry following a half-cleared corner. While the Grecians rearguard were distracted by chunky striker Tony Lormor's dummy run towards the near post, the ball navigated a path through to the unmarked Redmile who gleefully rammed home his second goal of the season. But the game was incredibly back to all-square just three minutes later, Roberts hooking across from the right edge of the area towards Barlow in the middle. The simplest of sideways passes teed up Roscoe, who will never have struck the ball more fiercely or accurately in his long career. After producing three goals in seven mesmerising minutes, the game understandably went off the boil. Shrews substitute Ryan Lowe might have snatched all three points following a mistake by Paul Buckle, but succeeding only in rolling his shot wide of both keeper and the far upright.

EXETER:
A Van Heusden, P Buckle, A Watson, C Curran, G Power, K Ampadu, M Barlow, A Roscoe, G Tomlinson, C Roberts, S Flack. Substitutes: S Fraser, G Breslan (for Ampadu, 76 mins), P Read (Tomlinson, 87), N Whitworth, J Richardson (Flack, 46).

SHREWSBURY:
I Dunvabin, P Wilding, M Redmile, M Heathcote, G Rioch, M Atkins, K Murray, I Woan, S Aiston, L Rodgers, T Lormor. Substitutes: M Cartwright, R Lowe (Lormor, 69), J Tolley (Murray, 77), A Tretton, C Murphy.

Goals:
Luke Rodgers 17 (0-1),
Graeme Tomlinson 58 (1-1),
Matt Redmile 62 (1-2),
Andy Roscoe 65 (2-2).

Booked:
Power, Flack, Roscoe, Breslan (Exeter), Redmile, Lormor (Shrewsbury).

Shots on target:
Exeter 3, Shrewsbury 4
Corners: Exeter 10, Shrewsbury 5
Offsides: Exeter 5, Shrewsbury 2
Fouls: Exeter 19, Shrewsbury 21

Attendance: 3,020.

Referee: Clive Penton (Wooindean)