'SUPERMAN' KELLOCK NAP CHOICE'
Port Vale 3-1 Exeter

PORT VALE players quickly dubbed newcomer Billy Kellock "Superman" after his explosive debut at Vale Park yesterday, writes CHRIS HARPER.

Midfielder Kellock scored twice, made another goal, then had an enforced spell in defence as Vale chalked up their biggest League win for more than four years. "The lads reckon I should wear a red cape," quipped Kellock, who acknowledged the part his new colleagues had played in his instant impact. "I had one training session with them, but there is no problem fitting into a team with good players," he said. Port Vale have probably some of the best in the Fourth Division and they are in a false position in the table."

Kellock proved to be a player of many parts, yet claimed he was not firing on all cylinders. It was his first game in four weeks following suspension at Southend and he said he was not match fit. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old Scot did more than enough to impress Manager John Rudge. who said: "Billy is an influential player, who likes to get in the box. This is something we have been missing from midfield. As well as his ability, his voice is important on the pitch." After a run of seven League games without a win, Vale's return to form was a tonic at the start of the New Year. Mr. Rudge says: "Some of the performances have been better than results suggest. "We lost at Colchester in our previous game, but the team did well and I believe that is where the seeds of victory were sown." It was not all good cheer for Vale. Ever-present centre-back Philip Sproson was sent off in the 59th minute, along with Exeter's lan Davies, and qualifies for a two-match ban later this month. Fortunately for Vale they had laid the foundations of victory with a 3-1 lead and Kellock, who had played sweeper for Southend, slotted comfortably into the Vale back four, with Oshor Williams switching into midfield. While Kellock earned most of the accolades, it was the hard-working Robbie Earle who collected the bottle of whisky as the sponsors Man of the Match.'

Earle started the ball rolling by setting up Vale's first goal in the 29th minute, then had to wait until 20 minutes from time before deservedly putting his own name on the scoresheet. Vale had a couple of early scares before opening their account. Earle appeared to be pinned to the bye-line, but somehow managed to produce a superb cross that bruched a defender on its way to Kellock, whose bullet of a header gave Wood no chance. Exeter were soon level. A cross from Ling on the right was cleared only as far as the lurking Morgan, whose first-time shot on the turn fron the edge of the box beat Siddall for direction rather than pace. The game swung back in Vale' favour on 42 minutes. Earle was adjudged to have been pushed by Marker and Kellock drove home the resulting penalty award. Exeter's defensive work was dreadful at times, no more so than five minutes into the second half when Ally Brown did not even have to jump to head home a Kellock corner-kick to give Vale some comfort. After both sides had been reduced to 10 men it was all. Brown headed home another corner-kick, this time from Ian Griffiths in the 65th minute, and a quickly taken free-kick by Oshor Williams put Earle in for Men, fifth with a low-angled drive that was deflected past the keeper.

PORT VALE
Siddall; Webb, Bromage, Hunter, Sproson, Cegielski, Williams, Earle, Brown, Kellock, lan Griffiths. Substitute, Lodge.

EXETER 
Wood; Coleman, Viney, O'Shea, Marker, McNichol, Ling, Harrower (Howarth, 64mins.), Morgan, Pratt, Davies.

Referee: Nr. T. Fitzharris, of Bolton.

Attendance: 3,306.