United caught out by sucker punches

Match Report by BOB STEELS

EXETER CITY 2
Pratt. 38 mins
McNichol 78 mins
SCUNTHORPE U 1
Lester 88 mins

Attendance: 2,658

SCUNTHORPE produced another purposeful performance at St. James Park on Saturday - but once again failed to deliver the goods. Frank Barlow's men were let down by a combination of bad luck and poor finishing at one end before falling to two sucker punches at the other. By the time Mike Lester did finally manage to find the net for them in the 88th minute, it was much to late to save the Iron a share of the spoils. Scunthorpe will be disappointed with the result, stretching their dismal away record in the League to now 25 matches without a win. They played well enough throughout to have claimed the full three points, but just could not manage to cash-in on their advantage during times when they were so much on top. After dominating nearly all the opening 45 minutes, and having at least an equal share of the second-half proceedings, United fell to two simple goals both from corners on the left. It is by no means the first time this season that the Iron have been found lacking in these similar set-piece positions, and it must be a source of worry to manager Barlow. At Exeter the back four looked so assured during running play, allowing the home attack so little scope. Yet defensively they were caught out twice at the near post from flag-kicks as the Devon outfit plundered the points Unchanged from their midweek Milk Cup triumph at Mansfield, Scunthorpe looked full of confidence in the early stages as they produced the right kind of attitude and commitment boss Barlow had called for. They looked much sharper than a City side who struggled to put their game together and who were forced on the defensive. Mike Brolly might have given his team a fourth minute lead with a better struck shot, but his right-foot effort bounced against the crossbar after a poor defensive header from cen- tre-back Nick Marker had left him with a clear opportunity inside the box. Exeter looked far from settled at the back as the visitors pushed forward virtually at will, using the full width of the pitch. Yet with both main marksmen Steve Cammack and Derek Bell sidelined through injury, Scunthorpe could not find the decisive touch inside the penalty area. The goal they deserved so nearly came in the 22nd minute when skipper John Green rose at the far post to power in a header from a Brolly corner. He was desperately unlucky to see it headed off the lie by midfield man Martin Ling with his 'keeper, Jeff Wood, comprehensively beaten. It was Green who was out of luck again just before the interval when he delivered yet another fine header from another Brolly corner this time only to be denied by the woodwork. With United failing to capitalise on their clear su- periority, it was Exeter who snatched the lead in the 38th minute following the first serious threat of the match. Former Sheffield United man Steve Neville, who had no joy on their right flank, switched to Exeter's left where he immediately found more success, forcing a corner from a strong run to the by-line. Neville himself took the flag-kick, floating it towards the near post, where midfield man Ray Pratt rose unchallenged to head home firmly past Joe Neenan from close range. Having thrashed Northampton 5-0 at home on the opening day of the season, Exeter found a little more dash and drive in the second-half, mainly through Neville, though it was Scunthorpe who went closest to the equaliser they sought. Julian Broddle never en- joyed quite the success he found at Mansfield in mid-2 week, but he did outstrip the City defence early in the half to fire in a left foot drive from the edge of the box which was only a shade too high. United's best chance fell on the hour to Brolly. Broddle's low raking cross from the left found him unmarked just beyond the far post, but from an acute angle he blasted his shot across the face of the goal and away to safety. A goal then would have given the Iron enough time to search for a winner. Instead, it was Exeter who struck again in the 78th minute from another left wing corner by Nevile. His cross was flicked on at the near post by striker John Sims, and in crowded goalmouth centre back Jim McNichol, a close season acquisition from Brentford, forced it over the line from close range. That was the killer blow for Scunthorpe, though they did manage a consolation goal just two minutes from time. Neil Pointon, one of their best performers at St. James Park, crossed from the left, Chris Cowling headed the ball back across goal from the far post and Lester pounced with a close-range header. It was a just reward for Lester for a hard-working performance against one of his former clubs. It came from a move which opened the Exeter defence up with such an ease that it must have left United wondering why they hadn't succeeded in front of goal much earlier

No faulting Scunthorpe in terms of attitude and work rate, but they did contribute to their own downfall in a match they should have taken some reward from.

Exeter: Wood, Kirkup, Marker, McNichol, Viney, O'Shea, Ling, Pratt, Neville, Sims, McDonough. Sub: Rogers.

Scunthorpe: Neenan, Longden, Whitehead, Green, Pointon, Brolly, Dey, Lester, Matthews, Cowling, Broddle. Sub: Webster. Caution: Green (Scunthorpe).

Referee: Eric Read (Southampton).