'We should have won'-Simpson

Exeter City 1 Hartlepool 1

"A POINT away from home is always very valuable, but we should have had both," said Hartlpool manager John Simpson after this match. And he wasn't complaining about his players dropping a point, but was referring to an amazing decision by Dunstable referee R. G. Shephard which earned Exeter their equalizer early in the second-half, Hartlepool centre-half Bill Green, who still lives in Newcastle, was going for a loose ball in the penalty area with Alan Banks when the referee suddenly blew his whistle and pointed to the spot, indicating that Green had been pushing. Banks, however, was just as surprised as his team- mates at this decision, for he hadn't even changed direction let alone stumbled or fallen. John Mitten. son of former Newcastle, manager Charlie Mitten, and himself a former Magpie, sent goalkeeper Des McPartland the wrong way from the spot to put his side back on level terms. Hartlepool had deservedly gone ahead with only their second away goal of the season in the 18th minute. Harry Kirk picked up a wing clearance and sent full-back Tony Bireum- shaw chasing for the ball down the right. Home goalkeeper Peter Shearing got to it first but he fumbled and Bircumshaw planted it into the net. After the match Exeter manager John Newman said: That penalty was the luckiest break we are likely to get for a long time." And he was right, for without it Hartlepool looked good enough to go on and score even more. Bircumshaw's goal means he has scored four times this season-not bad for a full-back-and he is the club's leading scorer.

EXETER
Shearing: Crawford, Morris: Parkers, Balson, Wingate: Rdwan, Banks, Gadston, Mitton: Corr

HARTLEPOOL
McPartland: Bircumshaw, Dawes: Gill. Green Crook: Young, Parry, Sharkey, Clarke, Kirks.