Fulham get stung

Report By Martyn Dean

Exeter City 1-0 Fulham 
Attendance: 3,367


EXETER CITY pulled off one of the biggest con- fidence tricks of the season to lift themselves further out of the relega- tion mire at St James's Park last night. Peter Rogers provided the pay off with his fifth goal in six games as promotion chasing Fulham slithered to a 1-0 defeat their first in 15 matches. But it was Tony Kellow and Len Bond who helped to set up "the Sting" with a double act to rival Paul Newman and Robert Redford. 

Kellow, revelling in his new role as the Cornish "con merchant," revealed afterwards that he had used a subtle ploy to help thwart a 46th minute penalty which could have earned Fulham at least a share of the points. "As they were preparing to take the kick, I said to one of their blokes: He normally hits it to the goalkeeper's left doesn't he?" "He said: 'No. The right,' so then I pointed in that direction so that Len could see.' Bond picked up the signal loud and clear. "I saw Kells pointing and I thought I might as well go all the way," said Bond. Even given the understanding between the pair, Bond must take most of the credit for the way in which he stretched to palm away Kevin Lock's kick from just inside his right hand upright. It was Bond's third penalty save of the season, but all the more pleasing in that it helped him to keep his first clean sheet since his spate of injury problems began. "It was a year ago that my troubles started with that cartilage injury," he said. "It takes a while to get over all the knocks, but I think the sharpness and the confidence are beginning to come back now." Even Fulham's manager Malcolm MacDonald was full of praise for Bond afterwards. "It was a well-struck penalty and brilliant a save," he said. "Give Len Bond the credit don't knock Kevin Lock for missing it." But while Bond basks in glory, the other half of the penalty saving team faces an uphill struggle to be fit for Saturday's trip to Preston. Kellow aggravated his hamstring injury after only a couple of minutes and played through the second half with his leg heavily strapped. "We kept asking him if he wanted to come off, but Tony felt he could get through the game," said City's manager Brian Godfrey. "He showed a lot of cour- age and he managed to con- tribute something." Godfrey admitted that there must now be some doubt about whether Kellow will recover in time for Saturday. "He will have to be 100 per cent fit otherwise there is no point in taking him," said Godfrey. However, the good news for City is that Dave Pullar may be able to play at Preston with a lightweight plas- ter of a bandage protecting his cracked wrist. Apart from the penalty save, the other big talking point after last night's game concerned the mud bath that passed for a pitch. Referee Howard Taylor made three inspections before finally giving the go ahead. Both managers agreed afterwards that it was the right decision even though further heavy rain during the match made con- ditions almost impossible. At times it looked as if the players were trying to kick a medicine ball out of a giant bowl of chocolate semolina. In that context, it was perhaps not too surprising that the two top scoring teams in the third division managed only one serious goal attempt between them in the first half. That came in the 44th minute when Fulham's strike twins Gordon Davies and Dean Coney both had shots blocked at point blank range by Bond. However, it looked as if the pattern would change at the start of the second half when Fulham were awarded that penalty. Young Graeme Kirkup, who turned in an otherwise accomplished performance, showed his inexperience when he pulled down Davies. But, as Godfrey said afterwards, he will learn from that mistake and fortunately it did not prove to be a costly error. In fact, if anything the penalty turned out to be something of a turning point for it was only after Bond's save that City began to look really positive in attack. And fittingly it was Peter Rogers the outstanding player on the pitch (or should it be pond) who - provided the goal which finally sunk Fulham. A long cross from Martyn Rogers was knocked through to him by Nick Marker and he managed to squeeze his shot past Gerry Peyton.

13th February 1982
Reserves 
Cardiff City Reserves (h)