'We are getting there, says Jim Iley 

THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, CITY
by Trina Lake (Echo Sport)


EXETER CITY'S enter- taining goal-less draw with promotion-chasing Hereford United on Saturday at last gave the faithful fans a glimmer of light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

They saw City give 90-minutes of effort and commitment against one of the best sides in the Fourth Division with the hint of a new, more pro- fessional attitude among the players.

Manager Jim Iley would not be drawn on whether City have finally turned the corner after three disastrous years but he, like most City supporters, was heartened by a refreshing determination in the team's approach.

"It was nice to see a team battling away, playing and working as a team. It was a great game, very exciting and we should have won. There were signs today that there are better things to come in 1985. We are still two or three players short of the squad I am trying to build, but we are getting there," he said. The frightening cracks which have appeared all too often in City's play this season epitomised by their collapse against Tor- quay United on Boxing Day were comprehensively filled in against Hereford with hardly a slip all after-noon.

The heavy pitch, which cut up badly and turned into a sea of mud around the centre circle, dictated that there would not be too much classic football played but both sides rolled their sleeves up and put their all into making the game as entertaining as possible for the spectators.

Former City manager John Newman, making a popular return for his first competitive match since leaving St James's Park for Grimsby, rightly judged that the had been given value for money, despite the lack of goals.

"The weather and the pitch played a big part in controlling the game but it was a fair result. Considering the conditions, it was very competitive and good enough for people not to be disappointed that they had paid their money to watch it," he said. On the balance of play City can consider themselves a little unlucky not to have taken all three points to continue their climb away from the dreaded re-election zone. But they were satisfied not to lose again and can go into the New Year with a lot more confidence than they have been able to muster in the last three months. City's latest three signings have made a considerable difference to the balance of the side. Full-backs Phil Coleman and Ian Davies, although not looking 100 percent match fit, have given the back four a great deal more composure. The Davies switch to defence has placed new midfield responsibility on Keith Viney's shoulders and what a fine effect he is having in City's engine room. His willingness to go in where it hurts and frighten a few members of the opposition with his tenacity has certainly toughened City's midfield with a benefit that runs right through the side. But the player who surely took the man-of-the-match honours for his tireless battling, intelligent distribution, and exemplary work-rate was City striker Trevor Morgan. he is now showing why Iley was so ecstatic about signing him, even at the expense of losing Steve Neville to Bristol City. Morgan is solid as a rock on the ball and sets up so many good openings that opposition defences can never feel totally safe when he is around. He is yet to find his trug scoring touch for City with just one goal in five games, but it is not for the want of trying. His first chance on Saturday came in the 12th minute after Ray Pratt and Viney had both tested Hereford goalkeeper Kevin Rose. Morgan was put through from Nick Marker's flick-on header from a Jim McNichol free kick but he snapped at his shot and sent it well wide.

Martin Ling, who played an important part in City's dominance of the first half, put him in again in the 23rd minute but this time he delayed his shot too long, it was blocked and Pratt could not get in the power he wanted when he connected
with the rebound. Two minutes later Morgan again found himself with the ball in a good position, but his goalbound shot was brilliantly saved by Rose. City continued to pile on the pressure and could well have broken the deadlock in the 26th minute, but Steve Harrower's header from a corner, looking a goal all the way, was headed out for a goal kick by Marker! Pratt had three useful chances late in an inspiring first half for City but it seemed that he must have used up his goal quota for the week against Torquay as nothing would fall quite right for him. Hereford hardly got a look in during the first 45 minutes. A poor Coleman back pass almost resulted in an own goal and Stewart Phillips managed one shot, but Jeff Wood had little trouble in stopping it. Marker and McNichol kept a very tight rein on Hereford's goal-grabbing strike pair of Phillips and Ollie Kearns, restricting them to less than a handful of chance between them. As Hereford started the second half in more positive mood, Kearns made a rare escape from Marker's atten- tions to test Wood with a near post shot but found no way through. Kearns needed all his defensive wits about him in the 65th minute when Davies broke forward but was denied a final shot by the Hereford striker. Hereford's best spell came midway through the second half when Wood had to punch clear a header from Kearns, Mel Pejic had a good shot stopped at the second attempt, and Ian Dalziel fired a blistering shot into the side netting. City survived and mounted a storming finish when they could well have snatched victory. Inside the final three minutes Hereford defenders cleared off their goal-line three times with Rose beaten, and Pratt had a good header well saved by the 'keeper. Midfield adversaries Viney and Jimmy Harvey were booked for kicking each other at various times, but in difficult conditions when tackles were awkward to time, it was generally a good-natured battle in the mud.

Exeter City: Wood, Coleman, Viney, O'Shea, Marker, McNichol, Ling, Harrower, Morgan, Pratt, Davies. Sub Howarth.

Hereford United: Rose, Price, Bray, Hicks, Pejic, Emery, Harvey, Dalziel, Phillips, Kearns, Carter. Sub Maddy.

Attendance: 3,115.