Kellow penalty earns victory

Exeter City 1, Halifax Town 0

23 OCTOBER 1985

Attendance 1719.

Exeter
SHAW McNICHOL VINEY HARROWER IMPEY MARKER LING JACKSON KELLOW GALE CRAWFORD

Orient 
ROCHE, PODD. WARD, SHAW, KNILL BROWN. GALLAGHER LOWE ?  LONGHURST SANDERSON

EXETER City got the precious points they needed to push a little further away from the danger zone but it took a penalty to bring them victory. For unhappy Halifax there was no break in their record of not having won an away game this season in their record of not having won an away game this season. It was a determined battle from both sides but for long periods there was more endeavour than football. Exeter always had the edge but just after they had gone ahead they were put on the rack by some fierce Halifax pressure. The goal that brought victory was a spot-kick three minutes into the second half by Tony Kellow which makes him City's top scorer with four goals. But if Exeter's final touch had been sharper they would have won by a bigger margin. Indeed, in the 75th minute, Martin Ling did get the ball into the net only for it to be disallowed because referee Brian Stevens had whistled for a foul on team-mate Allan Crawford. Ling was a constant thorn in the Halifax side and it was from one of his passes that the winning penalty He sent Gary resulted. He Jackson away on a lone run into the box but the midfielder down was by Steve brought Ward. Referee Stevens had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Kellow made no mistake. Exeter then had to withstand some fierce pressure with John Shaw making a couple of good saves and Keith Viney coming to the rescue with a strong header to prevent Simon Lowe from reaching the ball. After that the home side regained control of the match and deserved their win. There was more effort than expertise from both sides in a goal-less first half. Halifax had two lively wingers but their central strikers could not take advantage. Barry Gallagher set up a half chance for partner Paul Sanderson but he struck his shot wide. Exeter replied as Darren Gale won the ball in the air from a Viney cross. The ball fell to Kellow but he lifted his shot over. Viney's massive striking ability was twice revealed. Keeper Paddy Roche saved one effort and the other was blocked. Exeter's solitary first half effort came in the 22nd minute when a Ling corner was played out to midfield man Steve Harrower, who weaved his way through the defence before a shot that was inches wide. In another raid Halifax's Phil Brown was very much on target. His massive drive soared over the goal and went straight through the window of one of the houses in St. James' Road, over looking the ground!

Attendance: 1,719.

Star players:
EXETER Martin Ling.
HALIFAX Paul Sanderson.

PF