Southend City v Exeter City April 6th 1979

Three minutes after the start of the second half a penalty was awarded Exeter for a foul on Neville by Otulakowski, Southend's recent acquisition from West Ham at a cost of £50,000. Although the tackle looked harmless enough the referee, Mr Toseland of Kettering, had no hesitation, and it was noticeable that none of the Southend players made a protest.

Neville quickly recovered from his tumble to step up and strike his shot from the penalty spot into the net well wide of Cawston. Apart from the penalty kick, the only times either 'keeper was ever worried was in the 36th minute, when Main managed to grab the ball at the second attempt after Pountney's shot had rebounded off his body, and again ten minutes from the end, when a pile-driver from Parker crashed against the crossbar.

After seven games without defeat the City have now taken over from Southend as outsiders for promotion, but they still have to play most of the teams which are above them in the League table. The crowd at Southend numbered 6,733. Result:- City 1 Southend 0.

The Programme