Dixie reads the riot act.

Wrexham 1-1 Exeter.

Match Report by John Hall

CLUB SKIPPER Steve Charles rescued Wrexham from disgrace in a game they had expected to win easily. His 74th minute penalty saved the point and also saved the places of one or two players who might otherwise have been dropped for tomorrow night's home game with Tranmere. They earned the wrath of manager Dixie McNeill whose disappointment was plain for all to see.

"I've said I'll make changes and I will if I don't get more effort throughout 90 minutes against Tranmere," he said. "Half of the time we were just going through the motions. I can't understand how a team nearly at the top of the league can have this attitude."

For a side that has taken only one point from four matches, Exeter were a revelation with numerous raids that proved they had no intention of going home empty handed. They took the lead after 71 minutes, making the most of a rare lapse by Wrexham's young keeper Mike Hooper. He failed to take a chip across the goal from Gary Jackson and let it go through for Steve Harrower to turn into the net. Suddenly Wrexham realised they had a job to do. Jack Keay hoisted a high cross into the goal mouth where Charles seemed to try to try a shot that was going harmlessly adrift when it struck the hand of teenage defender Phil King. The Exeter defenders' protests that it had been unintentional were brushed aside as the referee gave the penalty and Charles scored his fifth goal of the season, though goalkeeper John Shaw dived and nearly stopped it. 

Shaw had earlier saved from David Gregory and Neil Salathiel. He was fortunate when he fumbled a free kick from Keay and dropped it in front of Gregory whose hasty snap shot flew into the stands. Another shot from Gregory was too hard for Shaw to hold and Jim McNichol came to the rescue by heading clear. Within minutes of falling behind, McNeil showed his displeasure and substituted John Muldoon who gained a chance of glory by making space for a shot and wasted it by tapping the ball tamely into the keeper's hands.

WREXHAM:
Hooper; Salathiel, Comstive, Williams, Keay, Emery, Cunnington, Horne, Steel, Charles, Gregory. Sub: Muldoon.

EXETER CITY:
Shaw; King, Viney, McNichol, Impey, Marker, Ling, Jack- son, Kellow, Williams, Harrower. Sub: Platt.

REFEREE: Trevor Jones (Macclesfield).

ATTENDANCE: 2,417.