Exeter 1 Hereford 0

League 3rd Division.

Wednesday, December 27th 1977.

St James's Park, Exeter.

Attendance 6,722.

Bowker adds to the agony

After missing chances and being held to a goalless draw at home to Peterborough on Boxing Day, Hereford's misery was complete when they lost 1-0 at Exeter yesterday. And the man who piled on the agony was Exeter's midfield general Keith Bowker. He scored the killer goal in the 68th minute which pushed Exeter up the Third Division table. It followed a throw in by full-back John Templeman, Randall ran into space to take the ball and when he crossed Bowker scored with a firm header for his third goal of the season. Hereford had worked hard in the first-half and they might have gone ahead in the 16th minute when Steve Davey had a chance when unmarked on the edge of the box, but he lifted his shot over the bar.

Six Booked
But Hereford were lucky just before half-time when Tony Kellow hit a post from a penalty. Four Hereford players John Layton. Les Briley, Derek Jefferson, and Steve Emery were booked and two Exeter players were also shown the yellow card, player manager Bobby Saxton and loan signing Gary Heale.

Against Peterborough Hereford's experiment of playing six foot three inch central defender Julian Marshall at centre forward was not a success and he missed an easy chance in the first minute. But former Bristol Rovers winger Kenney Stephens ako missed a couple of gilt edged opportunities and striker Steve Davey was off target when he managed to break clear.

Report 2 
EXETER'S midfield master, Keith Bowker, moved up to head the winner twenty-two minutes from time after a Colin Ran- dall cross. Exeter badly needed that goal, because they squandered a penalty chance just before half- time, when Tony Kellow blasted the spot kick against an upright. Hereford lacked punch in front of goal. Their best chance fell to Steve Davey, but he lifted the ball over the bar when he was unmarked.


EXETER CITY
Key; Templeman, Hore; Bowker, Saxton, Hatch; Heale, Kellow, Randell, Roberts, Holman.
Sub: Giles

HEREFORD
Mellor; Price, Burrows; Layton, Jefferson, Sheedy; Stephens, Briley, Davey, Marshall, Emery.
Sub: Proudlove.

Referee: Mr L.F.Burden of Wimborne.
Linesmen:- Messrs E.A.Crickmore and K.V.Lambert.