Exeter go so close to glory

OXFORD UNITED 0, EXETER CITY 0.

CITY not only held on to a valuable point at Oxford last night, but ofter threatened to snatch their first away win since November. A brave if sometimes agricultural defensive display revolved mainly around their valuable on loan player from Plymouth. GeorgeFoster, and goalkeeper Len Bond, who plugged the gaps valiantly. Promotion-seeking Oxford were frustrated by the loss through injury of strikers Keith Cassells and Peter Foley, and skipper Billy Jeffrey, while late in the match right-back John Doyle was carried off. Even so, Tony Kelow and Peter Rogers both had moments when they could have won the match and Kellow should have sewn it up six minutes from time. To start with City were contained to long-range efforts, but Oxford were going forward with some purpose as Bond discovered in the fourth minute when he had to take urgent action against Paul Lythgoe. The Oxford man was comprehensively floored, but outside the area, and all that resulted was a talking to and a free kick which Foster headed over the bar. Bond also came out quickly to foil Tim Smithers in the 15th minute and four minutes later made a useful save from the same player. Then Exeter, suddenly feeling they were in with a chance, responded in the 21st minute when Mitchell put Kellow through, but the striker screwed his shot hopelessly across the goal.

Then Ray Pratt made Roy Burton move quickly with a brisk first-time shot, and John Delve hit one just wide through a crowd of players. Just before this, it had been Bond to the rescue again with good positioning after a Lythgoe-Thomas one-two and Lythgoe missed an open goal in the 38th minute. Both sides might have scored in an explosive opening to the second half. In the 47th minute Bond made a remarkable save to tip away a Lythgoe shot that was curling in. Then it was Exeter's turn in the 51st minute when Peter Rogers suddenly found a gap and hammered in a shot that Burton brilliantly diverted with one hand. Exeter were now looking increasingly confident and even Nick Maker got into the act, but curled his shot wide after being put clear on the left. In the 66th minute it was back to reality when an unwise back pass by Delve put Ollie Kearns away. He seemed to have rounded Bond but the advancing goalkeper just managed to get a touch for a corner. Then came a comedy of errors in the 84th minute when Oxford's young substitute, Mark Wright, headed the ball down to Kellow, whose first shot was blocked, and then he got another which appeared to be going in when Gary Briggs cleared off the line.

OXFORD.(0) 0 EXETER.(0) 0

Attendance 5,098