Ling the goal king

EXETER CITY 3 Ling (2), Morgan HARTLEPOOL 2 Gollogly, Dobson

Match Report by Trina Lake 

MARTIN LING'S new found hunger for goals was satisfied with a double helping on Saturday in Exeter City's reassuring if not totally convincing win over Hartlepool at St James's Park.

The ever-improving teenager set up a 40th minute equaliser for Trevor Morgan after' John Gollogly had! headed Hartlepool into a shock 17th-minute lead and then went on his own mini goal binge in the second half. He struck first in the 69th minute, then, just like Oliver Twist, went back for more eight minutes later to score what turned out to be a crucial third goal as Hartle- pool's late onslaught brought them an 81st minute reward from Paul Dobson. Ling's two-goal burst brings his professional tally to a grand total of three and the first-ever came just five weeks ago with the winner against Halifax. Manager Jim Iley, who converted him from a midfielder to a striker, is understandably delighted at Ling's newly developed match-winning instinct. "Ever since he got that first one against Halifax, he's looked like scoring in just about every game. He's been a different player since he's been pushed forward. He has the ability to get past defenders so easily and it's great that he's found his scoring touch at last," said Jim Iley.

Ling and Morgan have developed an uncanny understanding and that paid dividends when City needed it most in the absence of injured top goal-getter Ray Pratt. Iley reckons that they can tear any Fourth Division defence apart and they cer- tainly gave Hartlepool's back four a rought time on Saturday, Morgan with his prowess in aerial combat and Ling with tricky runs down the right flank.

But they had to take a back seat to the inspired Danny O'Shea in the open- ing quarter of an hour as City took total command in their bid to wipe out the harrowing memory of last weekend's disaster against Colchester.

O'Shea was involved in four attempts on goal in the first nine minutes. He had three efforts superbly saved by Alan Stevenson and teed up a free kick for Phil King to drive goalward but the Hartlepool 'keeper somehow managed to touch the ball out for a corner.

Jim McNichol, who played an effective anchor role in midfield, also went close with a 15th minute free kick but won't be happy with his loss of defensive concentration two minutes later when Hartlepool took the lead with their first attack of note. Phil Brown sent in a dangerous deep cross from the right which just eluded Lee Smelt and midfielder Gollogly had crept forward unnoticed to head home from close range. He made another penet- rating run in the 22nd minute and looked to be pulled back from a great scoring chance by McNichol but Surrey referee Ray Lewis ignored Hartlepool's appeals for a penalty.

The North Easterners were enjoying a great spell until the Morgan-Ling com- bination stopped them in their tracks with an equaliser.  Ling, never too happy with his crosses, this time put in the perfect centre for Morgan to loop a glancing header over the helpless Stevenson and into the net.

City had their own penalty appeals turned down 13 minutes into the largely life- less opening to the second half. Tony Smith clearly handled under pressure from Morgan and Ling but the referee was only 10 yards from the incident and waved play on.

As the game seemed to be dying an agonisingly slow death a quite remarkable goal breathed new life into it to give City the lead for the first time.

Brown hesitated far too long over a simple clearance from just inside his own half and the ball was charged down by Morgan. In a breath-taking interchange of passes Morgan put Ling clear. He decided against shooting and squared again for Morgan who took the ball round Stevenson and passed back along the goal-line for his striking partner to sidefoot in from two yards. Ling tried to return the favour in the 76th minute when McNichol threaded a great pass through to him. His teasing low cross was met by the lunging Morgan who could only steer it past the post from inside the six yard box. But within a minute City had increased their lead.

O'Shea put the hard- working Kevin Smith through, he unselfishly played the ball into the path of Ling who squeezed a shot just under Stevenson's body and in.

From then on it should have been plain sailing for City. Their defence, undoubtedly missing the presence of suspended former skipper Keith Viney, had dealt fairly comfortably with Hartlepool's often lively attack until a last desperate 10 minute fling. Hartlepool threw every- thing forward and pulled a goal back to give themselves renewed hope of snatching a point. King hesitated over dealing with a long kick from Stevenson, Kevin Dixon punished the indecision by whipping in a low cross and with Graeme Kirkup ball watching on the far post Dobson slid in to turn a shot past Smelt to make it 3-2. Smelt came to City's rescue with a great finger- tip save from Graeme Hed- ley's floated 18-yard free kick in the 85th minute and that just about killed off Hartlepool's hopes of a draw.

Kevin Smith spoilt an encouraging afternoon's work by getting himself needlessly booked for kicking the ball away in the 89th minute.

Exeter City: Smelt, Kirkup. King, O'Shea, Marker, McNichol, Ling, Burgher, Morgan, Smith, Phillipson-Masters. Sub Howarth (on for Burgher 59 minutes).

Hartlepool: Stevenson, Robin- son, Stimpson, Gollogly, Smith, Brown, Hogan, Hedley, Dobson, Dixon, Taylor. Sub Proudlock (on for Taylor 76).

Attendance: 1,578.