DELVE LAYS ON A WINNER

Report By DEREK LEAN

EXETER CITY 1. ROTHERHAM 0

EXETER left it mighty late to end what had looked like being another night of frustration for them, but finally three minutes from time, they got the goal which gave them two precious points. Although generally he had a quiet debut, new £15,000 signing from Plymouth Argyle, John Delve turned out to be the hero as he made the vital and telling pass that led to that all-important goal.

Delve curled a long through ball out of defence and the Rotherham defence simply failed to clear it quickly enough. Keith Bowker got a touch to the ball but it was Tony Kellow who was on the spot to steer it into the net. It was Kellow's 15th goal of the season and it came in the nick of time, just when it seemed as if Exeter would bring their tally of dropped home points this season to over a dozen. On the balance of play Exeter deserved the win but it turned out to be a dour game and a not very inspiring victory. Even so, with Exeter fighting to stay away from the relegation zone-against a side in precisely the same boat-this goal was as welcome as a breath of spring. Exeter throughout had looked the better side but there was still not the fluency or confidence to their play that had marked their approach work earlier in the season.

With both sides so anxious for points it was apparent from the start that nothing was going to be given away. Exeter did have the better of things in the first half, but there were few concrete chances and even less of those which had been carved out by strong incisive play.

Exeter's star man was without doubt Colin Randell in midfield. He worked tirelessly and was constantly probing and pushing his men forward. Too often, though for Exeter, things petered out in front of goal. Rotherham certainly had their chances to spring a surprise, and their most dangerous forward was right-winger Richard Finney, who more than once in sudden individual bursts threatened to put his side ahead. At the start of the second half Exeter stepped up the tempo of their attacking play, but after Rotherham had twice escaped by the skin of their teeth the game went back to that struggle where patience and perseverence were going to be the qualities that counted.

Exeter's first real threat came early in the first half when Ran- well was not far wide of the mark with a 25-yard shot. Then Kellow linked up well with winger Harry Holman and the Rotherham goalkeeper Tom McAllister had desperately to push Holman's shot away for a corner. Finney gave Exeter a couple of frights, but then Kellow and Holman again went into partner- ship to open up the Rotherham defence, but this time Holman's shot was safely collected by McAllister.

McAllister made a brilliant save at the start of the second- half to a header from Bowker that had looked certain to go in. Then Randell flashed a shot just over the bar and on top of that) Bowker missed a great chance when slap in front of goal. He, too, shot over. Finally, the deadlock was broken, enabling Exeter to face Saturday's home match with Lincoln with more confidence.

Attendance: 4,016.