Southend United 1 (Shepherd) 
Exeter City 0

H-T 0-0

Hero Wood is upstaged


JEFF WOOD was the one Exeter player who could afford a wry smile after this defeat at Roots Hall last night.

Rejected by the Seasiders, where he spent a month's trial before the start of the season, Wood kept his side in the hunt with a string of brilliant saves which deservedly earned him the man-of-the-match tag.

His ability was first underlined in the 13th minute when he leapt to his right to turn aside a fierce Billy Kellock drive and from that moment onwards his confidence soared as the visitors came under increasing pressure. One diving save before the interval to defy Trevor Whymark even brought a pat on the back from the former England striker and another acrobatic leap to thwart Lil Fuccillo was almost as good.

But Wood's resistance was broken 18 minutes from time when Greg Shepherd seized upon a through ball from Peter Ellis to drill in a low shot from inside the box. Exeter's central defenders Jim McNichol and Nick Marker also came away with their reputations enhanced.
As the home side stormed forward, they broke up a series of attacks with some superb tackling and their ability to win the ball in the air.

But although City were forced to soak up a great de of pressure, they still had their moments to have salvaged a point.

None more so than ten minutes from the end when Ray Pratt broke loose only to see his 20 yard effort superbly turned round the post by 'keeper Jim Stannard.

Then in the final minute, the Southend goalkeeper again came to his side's rescue, this time keeping out fiercely-struck a free-kick from Danny O'Shea.

O'Shea had worked tirelessly in midfield to try and inject life into his attack but apart from the occasional runs by Steve Neville, City seldom looked like unloc- king Southend's defensive door.

Pratt and John Sims got though a tremendous amount of work in their attempts to make an impact but the visitors sadly lacked the strength and height of the suspended Roy McDonough to pose real problems.

Attendance: 1.952

Star player:
SOUTHEND: Greg Shepherd.
EXETER: Jeff Wood.