A home nightmare for Rovers 

Tranmere Rovers 0,
Exeter City 1

Match report by Mike Simpson 

THE time is long since past when Rovers could get away with blaming their appalling luck for home defeats, though soccer's God of Fortune has not smiled on Prenton Park this season. The smallest crowd this campaign saw Tranmere fail to capitalise on an hour of domination before a hopelessly shallow Exeter side took the initiative with a fluke. Mark Hilditch was ruled out after sustaining injury in a pre-match training session and Dave Miller cried off at a late stage with a stomach upset, so a feast of attacking football was never likely.

But the writing was well and truly in the wall when Worthington decided to operate with a sweeper (a sweeper, AT HOME?) and although visiting 'keeper John Shaw dived left and right to keep Rovers at bay the home side have only themselves to blame. The lone Exeter supporter who made his presence audible in the stand found himself the centre of attention on the hour. "Tell us who scored," chorused the Press. "Can't be one of ours," said the West Countryman "We can't score goals." But Jim McNichol took credit for a 25 yard effort from the right which skidded past Adkins.

The 1,031-strong crowd gave a noisy indication what they though as weary Worthington and his battered side trooped off. It wasn't a pretty sound.

Match Report 2.

Unlucky Rovers slip up

A FREAK goal brought misery for Tranmere Rovers at Prenton Park last night. Exeter City hardly raised a threat but won thanks to a speculative 25 yard shot by Jim McNichol after an hour's play. The ball bounced on a frozen bump on the six yard line and took a wicked deflection past a startled Nigel Adkins. It was Tranmere's  fourth home defeat in five outings. Rovers were frozen out by Exeter keeper John Shaw who made several excel- lent saves in front of their lowest crowd of the season, 1,031. Dave Burgess emerged with most credit for Tranmere. Gary Williams also tried hard but the luck on the night went to Exeter Now Tranmere face a battle to keep away from the re-election zone. 

Boss Frank Worthington had planned to play the side which won at Bury but Dave Miller was taken ill and Mark Hilditch was injured in a pre-match training session.