SATURDAY 8th JANUARY 1977

CITY CHASE A PROMOTION PLACE.


Exeter City 1 Barnsley 0

Exeter City team: Key, Templeman, Hore, Weeks, Saxton (Clapham), Hatch, Hodge, Kellow, Robertson, Beer, Jennings.

Barnsley team: Springett, Murphy, Collins, Pugh (price), Saunders, Pickering, Felton, Joicey, Peachey, Millar, Brown. Scorer: Exeter: Kellow.

Attendance: 3,784

Exeter City are rapidly closing in the Division Four leaders. They are currently sixth in the league and just one point away from a top four place. Barnsley as expected, were a stubborn and well organised side at the back. Exeter had more of the game and the important point was that they kept working and plugging away to finally break down their opponents.

The vital breakthrough came in the 65th minute from top scorer Tony Kellow. Once City scored, they began to make more impression on the Barnsley defence. Bobby Hodge and Alan Beer were involved in the build up to the Exeter goal which ended with Kellow sweeping in an unstoppable rising shot from four-yards.

It might have been so different had Felton put away an easy chance or Barnsley in the first half and only a good save by Richard Key stopped him from opening the scoring. Nonetheless, Exeter deserved their victory and again it proved to be an excellent advert for what team effort is all about. 

THURSDAY 13th JANUARY 1977

BOBBY SAXTON APPOINTED EXETER CITY MANAGER

Exeter City have appointed a new player-manager. He is 33-year-old defender Bobby Saxton. He was officially appointed today after being chosen from a total of 26 applications for the post left vacant by John Newman's departure for Grimsby Town.

"It has always been my ambition to go into management," said Saxton. "I am sure we have a chance of promotion and I am sure I can keep it going."

City chairman Gerald Vallance announced the appointment this morning to the playing staff.

"We had a short list of four people for the vacancy," explained Vallance. "We felt that Bobby Saxton has great determination and will do a good job for Exeter City." It is understood that City midfielder, Lammie Robertson was also on that short list for the manager's post at St. James' Park. With Saxton in the player-manager role, Jack Edwards, who had been caretaker boss since Newman left the club, will now revert to his post of trainer.