Saturday 4th November 1978

Third Division

Exeter City 3 Tranmere Rovers 0

Exeter City looked set to rocket up the table after a bonfire night bonanza against lowly Tranmere Rovers. The game started out something of a damp squib, but warmed up in the second half as City produced plenty of football fireworks. Despite their poor away record, the visitors gave City a difficult opening spell and it was 15 minutes before the Grecians had a shot on goal, when Peter Hatch drove over the crossbar. City gradually had more and more of the play, although it must be said that the game was a pretty drab affair. However, City were rewarded with a goal right on the stroke of half-time. Colin Randell sent the ball across for Keith Bowker to slide home his 9th goal of the season.

City continued to press forward after the interval, but they were still having difficulty in making most of their superior possession. Just as the game seemed to be drifting away from them, Exeter bounced back with a second goal. It came in the 66th minute when Steve Neville sent over a pinpoint cross for Bowker to head past West. Four minutes later it was 3-0. Hatch netted with a screamer of a shot from 35-yards which gave the Tranmere keeper no chance. Exeter might have gone further ahead in the closing stages when Bowker and John Delve were guilty of missing good chances.

City team: Vince O'Keefe, John Templeman, Tony Mitchell, Colin Randell, Jimmy Giles, Lee Roberts, Steve Neville, Tony Kellow, Keith Bowker, John Delve, Peter Hatch.

Tranmere team: West, Mathias, Cahill, Parry, Postlewhite, Evans, O'Neil, Bramhall, Moore, Peplow, McAuley.

Match Summary 

The City won this game by a convincing margin, which was deserved, and Tranmere who stood up well to Exeter's pressure before the interval, faded out altogether in the latter stages. Tony Mitchell came into the team at left back in place of Hore and Delve captained the team. Bowker and Hatch scored within a minute of each other in the second half after Bowker had given Exeter the lead before the interval. At Mill Road Exeter City Reserves met defeat by Barnstaple Town to the tune of 5-1. Doyle for Barum and Ireland with a penalty for Exeter scored in the first half, following which Barnstaple, playing fast and clever football got four more goals through the agency of Roy Clark, who scored three, and Dave Rudge, who scored the last one.

The Programme