CORNFORTH'S SHUFFLE WORKS WONDERS

Exeter City 2 York City 1

Tuesday 19th March 2002

The highlight of the first forty-five minutes was the sound of the match referees whistle for the half-time interval.

The floodlights may have shone brightly on this damp, drizzly, dimpsy, murky Tuesday March evening, but certainly neither set of players did in the first half. Yet, by the end of the game. Exeter City once again showed their gritty battling quality, against, a largely defensive York City, to pick up all three points.

There was no excitement whatsoever in the first half, so much so, that either keeper could have easily leant against his respective goalpost, and apart from collecting the odd back pass or taking a goal kick, read an old Jeffrey Archer novel. And when you realise that such a book could have proved to be more exciting than the game itself, then the fare on offer on the pitch must indeed have been particularly dire. But that is what it was, dire.

Could the Grecians reproduce their usual second half improvement and break the goalless deadlock after another John Cornforth roasting? One hoped so, for surely none of the smallest St James' Park crowd of the season, just 2,038, could sit or stand through another half like the first. But things got worse, as York took the lead. And it was another free header, from close range, just like the one conceded against Shrewsbury last Saturday. It came from a right wing corner, floated to the far post, and with the City defence stood statuesque- like, in nipped Lee Nogan to head home. It was so easy, and another bad goal to concede. Cornforth, like very other City fan had seen enough, and it was time to shuffle the pack. Introduced to the fray were Glenn Cronin and Steve Flack, and this sparked an immediate improvement and more zest being shown.

Seven minutes after the changes, Christian Roberts broke free of the right and hit a low skidding shot that zipped off the sodden turf past the outstretched hand of the York keeper for the equaliser.

Glenn Cronin added zip to City's midfield as a second half substitute against York City. At last, City were showing some attacking flair and for the first time the York defence were being worked, with Flack in particular causing more than a few problems. But the Grecians had to wait until the 88th minute before they notched, what had seemed earlier to be an unlikely winner. Jay Richardson, a 79th minute substitute, went scampering into the penalty are on the right hand side, and was unceremoniously scythed down. Up stepped Paul Buckle to fire home the spot kick. What had seemed to heading for a miserable evening to suit the weather, had shown a huge improvement and the collection of three points, thanks to an inspired double substitution by the City manager. The win ensured that the Grecians were mathematically safe from relegation, which was a huge relief and a big improvement on the previous couple of campaigns when the very destiny of the club was left until the last week of the season. Now it is a case of just how high in the table Exeter can finish.