Pool are rocked by late goal
Hartlepool 1 Exeter City 1

Match Report By MARTIN HOWEY

The Fireworks arrived late last night to spoil Hartlepool United's party. Just when it seemed Graeme Hedley's 76th minute goal was going to carry high riding Hartlepool into the top six, Exeter put a damper on the proceedings with an amazing equaliser. 'Pool, so much in com- mand it was untrue in a cracking nights enter- tainment always looked liked to explode. But it took the introduction of super sub Paul Dobson to provide the vital spark. Dobson, the match winner a fortnight ago in a similar role, set up Hedley's goal with only his third touch. But a John Sims shot, which beat "keeper Alan Stevenson via a eruel deflection, prevents poor Pool making more rapid progress. The home side peppered Exeter's goal with shots from all angles during the first half hour with Stevenson a virtual spectator. Kevin Dixon twice, Mark Taylor twice and Phil Brown all tried their luck though striker Les Mutrie really should have set the ball roll- ing after 15 minutes. Taylor fed the big striker just inside the area but with only Geoff Wood to beat he opted for the chip allowing the keeper to save comfort. ably. Roy Hogan picked up his third booking of the season as Pool added some bite to their obvious superiority. But the final ball more often than not proved the home side's downfall and Exeter, growing in confidence. actually managed a shot at goal just before the break. Hedley almost broke the deadlock seconds before the interval but his fierce left foot drive from the edge of the area was brilliantly topped over by the impres sive Wood.

A superb last ditch tackle from John Brownlie prevented a certain goal as Kevin Smith stole into the six yard box. But Pool, given a fright by Exeter's bright start to the second half, were soon on the rampage again and twice in the space of ten minutes they had the over- worked Wood at full stretch again. Hogan got on the end of a fine build up to flight a left foot effort from 18 yards but the Exeter keeper showed tremendous agility to turn it behind. Then after 63 minutes he produced the save of the game denying Dixon what would have been a magnifi- cent goal as he crashed in a 25-yard shot following a neat one-two with Mutrie. A series of Hartlepool corners had the shaky Exeter defence in tatters and with 20 minutes to go manager Billy Horner threw on Dobson for Wardrobe in a move which almost won the night The substitute, running wide on the left, crossed low and when the ball came back off the despairing keeper Hedley was on hand to poke home his fourth goal of the season. But with five minutes remaining Exeter grabbed a goal they never really deserved. Sims pivoted 12 yards out for his shot to take a wicket deflection and leave Stevenson helpless.

HARTLEPOOL.-Stevenson. Robinson, Brownlle, Hedley, Smith, Brown, Dixon, Mutrie, Wardrobe (Dobson 70 min.), Hogan, Taylor.