7th January 1987
Football League Trophy Group
Bristol Rovers v Exeter City 

Freight Rover Trophy
Preliminary round

Bristol R (0)1 (Micalef) 
Exeter (0) 1 (Marker)

Attendance: 1608

Exeter go through! On the Coldest night ever at Twerton Park. 

Gary's blunder so costly for Rovers. 

Report from the Bristol Post 8/1/1987

BRISTOL Rovers were today counting the cost - of the miss of the season by Gary Penrice.

It came six minutes from the end of the Freight Rover Trophy game at frosty Twerton game Park and blew Rovers' chance of being in the draw today for the knock out stages of the competition. After losing 3-0 in their group match with City at Ashton Gate, Rovers needed to beat Exeter to stay in the event. Bobby Gould's team approached the task in suitably positive style and constantly carried the game to well organised Fourth Divi sion opponents. But their finishing failed to match enterprising build ups and, with time running out, all Rovers had to show for determined efforts was a Tarki Micallef equaliser natched after Exeter had snatched the lead through Nick Marker against the run of play. Then a neat inter-passing move down the right between David Mehew and Vaughan Jones resulted in a cross to Penrice, back in the side following injury. The acting skipper swept a first-time shot onto the near post. With former Bristol City keeper John Shaw floundering, the ball re- bounded to the little midfielder, who blasted it over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
"Going out of the tournament so early has cost the club thousands of pounds," said vice chairman Roy Redman. "City made us only too aware last season of what a money-spinner it can be."

Philosophical fans saw it as Rovers getting a taste of their own medicine after being under the cosh for so long in the Third Division derby match at Ashton Gate and pinching victory with a late goal. Exeter, who drew at home to City in their first group match, knew a similar result would see them through. They kept five men at the back including former Rovers skipper Aidan McCaffery, However, they could not be accused of negative tactics. Yet their attempts to attack Rovers on the break met with little success...until a disastrous moment ten minutes into the second half. A long ball through the middle from Paul Batty hit Jones on the back and ran on for Marker to chase. The 21-year-old midfield man rounded keeper Timmy Carter and, despite being forced wide to the left, scored with a superb chip. It took Rovers five minutes to equalise. Micallef, who had taken over at the start of the second half as substitute for the injured John Scales, swept home a first-time shot after a Geoff Twentyman free- kick had been headed down in the penalty area. A minute later, Gary Smart art was close to scoring but his close- range effort was beaten away for a corner by Shaw. Loan-signing Robbie Turner, from Cardiff City, came on for his debut as Rovers' second substitute and immediately made an impact. His low-driven cross from the left was scrambled clear by a harassed Exeter defence.

Another Turner pass was struck goalwards by Micallef but deflected onto the crossbar and over by Exeter sweeper Keith Viney before Rovers' hopes were finally dashed as Penrice was left holding his head in disbelief after the easiest of chances was squandered.