City Off Target

SHODDY shooting which has cost Exeter so dear this season was sadly in evidence again as they crashed at Southend last night.

They recovered well after going in 2-0 down at half-time but squandered enough chances to have salvaged a point in a storming second half rally, Southend were pegged back for long periods after the break and ware left grateful to that woeful finishing for allowing them to end a depressing run of Just one victory from their previous 11 outings. The game was only 60 seconds old when Southend stunned Exeter with a goal from their first serious attack. A hopeful ball was pumped in from the right and when it ran loose new striker Dean Neal, making his home debut after signing for £6,500 from Millwall at the start of the month, blasted the ball into the roof of the net. Exeter's defence looked decidedly wobbly early on and home winger Alan Rogers put in two great crosses which they only cleared with difficulty but the Devon men weathered the early pressure and Danny Keough drove in one shot which flashed just wide. After half an hour Darren Gale broke through the middle only to be robbed by a great saving tackle from Gary Stebbing. It proved crucial because Southend went two-nil up from their next attack with question marks left hanging over City 'keeper to John Shaw. There seemed little danger as Shane Westley's header from a 33rd minute left-wing corner looped towards the goal but Shaw seemed to misjudge the flight and the ball dropped into the net. Exeter certainly got their game together after a half-time pep talk from boss Colin Appleton and home 'keeper Jim Stannard rescued his side twice within 10 minute of the restart. First he dashed out of goal to book clear as Steve Harrower beat the offside trep and then did well to push a thundering Keough drive over the bar when the ball looked dentined for the top corner of the net. Winger Martin Ling brought a good eave out of Stannard and then former Exeter atriker Roy McDonough playing D the heart of Southend's back four did well to block a goal-bound Tony Kellow shot 12 minutes from time. Kellow had come on after 72 minutes for the out of touch Gale Near the end both Harrower and Ling pulled the ball wide of the gaping set to leave Exeter still hunting for a qual fro their lust four matches.

Attendance 1,653

Star players:
SOUTHEND Paul Clark
EXETER Jun McNicholl

Southend (2) 2
Neal, Westley
Exeter (0) 0

Attendance 1,653