Exeter pay the penalty for Clive's spy trip. 

Match Report By Robin Perry

Exeter City 1, Bristol Rovers 3

SUPER-SPY Clive Middlemas was the secret hero of Rovers' second impressive away win in five days a victory that shot them into fourth place in the Third Division.

The Eastville coach's instructions led to Phil Kite making a vital penalty save from goal ace Tony Kellow nine minutes from the end of the match at St James Park. A hotly-disputed decision against Gary Mabbutt for a foul on John Delve put Rovers' two-goal lead under serious threat. As Kellow took the spot-kick, Kite pounced to his left, parried the ball and, within another two seconds, made an even better save as Ray Pratt attempted to hammer home the rebound. "Clive watched Exeter in the League Cup at Cardiff and saw Kellow take a penalty," said Rovers 18- year-old keeper. "Before we left for Exeter, Clive had me out at the training ground at Hambrook, with Donnie Gillies hitting spot-kicks to my left. The advice and the practice definitely helped me save the penalty. The second stop immediately afterwards was reflex action and gave me a lot of satis faction. I reckon it was the best I have made for Rovers. "If Exeter had scored then, I think we would have been up against it in those final minutes and could have dropped two points."

Coach Middlemas commented: "Penalty-takers don't often vary their kicks and, after seeing Kellow at Ninian Park, I felt sure he would aim to Phil's left." Rovers' fifth win on the trot was a just outcome to an exciting West Country derby battle and was all the more creditable as the very thing manager Terry Cooper feared most happened when his rapidly improving team lapsed into their old habit of conceding an early goal.

After only four minutes a John Sparrow freekick was flicked by the head of Lee Roberts for Kellow to hit first time past Kite from close range.

But Rovers kept their composure and within six minutes equalised with a superb David Williams goal again following a free-kick. After Mike Barrett had been fouled by Sparrow, manager Cooper touched the ball to Williams, who lashed in past former City 'keeper Len Bond from 25 yards. Paul Randall let the ball run too far ahead of him as he was clear of Exatar" defence but Rovers were ahead by the 29th minute as skipper Aidan McCaffery headed home from an in-swinging Williams corner from the left, Archie Stephens and Randall both had headed goals disallowed for marginal off-side decisions before half- time. Exeter made a determined effort early in the second half but Rovers hit them on the break for Randall to make it 3-1 after a misjudged header back towards his own goal by right-back Steve Davey. Exeter kept fighting and Delve was unlucky with a first-time drive against a Rovers post. Then came the penalty escape but Rovers finished on top and should have soored again when Randall broke through only to allow Bond to smother the ball at his feet.

"After last season's disaster, we are getting used to winning again," said manager Cooper. "I only wish we were still in the Second Division because, on our present form, we could be doing well."