3rd May 1977

Barnsley (Away)

From a programme article by Stuart James in 2002/03

City had staged one of their all time great comebacks. Trailing 3-0 at Barnsley, they hit back with a vengeance to win 4-3, with goals from Alan Beer (2), Tony Kellow and Lammie Robertson.

City were seemingly heading for a disastrous result in the first half, and heading for a real blow to their promotion hopes. They were trailing 3-0 at half-time and the odds were stacked higher than a Barnsley slag heap. But in the last 28 minutes of the game Exeter made a spectacular comeback to score four times and win the match.

City's first goal didn't come until the 62nd minute, and their winning goal came six minutes from time, in a game that was described as one you simply had to see to believe it! The City team remained in Yorkshire to prepare for their match at Doncaster on the Saturday, with promotion very much on the cards.

Barnsley had taken the lead in the 33rd minute when Graham Felton's shot appeared to take a deflection on it's way into goal. Two minutes later Exeter conceded another goal. Pickering struck a first time shot past City keeper John Baugh. Worse was to follow two minutes prior to the interval.

While the linesman was flagging for offside, Baugh roiled the ball out assuming there was going to be a free-kick, but the referee didn't agree and Joicey promptly hammered the ball back into the net, much to the consternation of the City team.

The Grecians transformation began in the 62nd minute when Alan Beer headed past Springett to make it 3-1. A corner in the 75th minute resulted in Lee Roberts putting in a header that bounced off the bar and Tony Kellow was on the spot to nod the rebound in. Two minutes later Exeter equalised from the penalty spot through Lammie Robertson after Bobby Hodge had been brought down. Then with just six minutes remaining the unbelievable happened. Beer headed in the winner to make a night to remember for all time.

City team: John Baugh, John Templeman, John Hore, Graham Weeks, Lee Roberts, Peter Hatch, Bobby Hodge, Tony Kellow, Lammie Robertson, Alan Beer, Nicky Jennings.