FRIDAY 11th MARCH 1977

GAY'S EVENTFUL DEBUT

Crewe Alexandra 2 Exeter City 0

Crewe Alexandra team: Brand, Lowry, Roberts, Lugg, Bowles, Bevan (Rimmer), D.Davies, Mayman, W.Davies, Humphreys, Tully.

Exeter City team: Key (Roberts), Gay, Hore, Weeks, Saxton, Hatch, Hodge, Kellow, Robertson, Beer, Jennings. Scorers: Crewe: Lugg, Humphreys.

Attendance: 2.500

Exeter City's new loan signing from Bolton Wanderers, Geoff Gay, will go into the record books as having one of the most remarkable Football League debuts for the club. He was booked in the 7th minute, and then played the last 33 minutes as a goalkeeper, after Richard Key had to be helped off the field with what seemed a serious right ankle injury.

With Gay taking over between the posts, City's other loan signing of the week, Lee Roberts, came on as a substitute. What a superb fight Exeter put up, and they were certainly unlucky to lose their 12-match unbeaten run. It was a tough, aggressive battle, which ended with Crewe's Kevin Tully being sent off in the closing minutes.

City produced some good build up play in the first half, and after the interval Crewe goalkeeper Drew Brand denied Exeter with some outstanding work. Crewe took the lead from the penalty spot in the 37th minute through Lugg, after Mayman had been bundled over in a ruck of City players. With Exeter going all out for the equaliser, it was Crewe who settled the issue late in the game when Humphreys netted with a shot that went in off a post.

if Exeter had taken the one or two chances that fell to them, they could well have come out of this game with at least a point.