Veteran keeper unable to keep cup hopes alive

HAWTHORNS legend Stuart Naylor made a brilliant return to the West Midlands last night. But the heroics of the veteran goalkeep- er weren't enough to keep Exeter City's hopes of a major Worthington Cup shock alive. Naylor - who made 410 senior appearances in a decade at West Brom - was outstanding in a 3-0 first round defeat at Division 1 giants Birmingham City. However, the 36-year-old was powerless to prevent the big-spending Blues pouching a first leg lead that has almost certainly put the tie beyond the reach of Peter Fox's minnows. Naylor admitted City were disappointed by the manner in which they conceded two first-half goals. "But it was a good experience for our younger players," he insisted. "And hopefully we can still give Birmingham a run for their money in the second leg." Strikes from teenage sensation Andy Johnson and substitute Dele Adebola sandwiched an own goal from Exeter skipper Jon Richardson. That gave shoestring City a daunting task when the two-legged clash resumes at St James's Park in a fortnight. Fox fielded a squad that included six former trainees and cost a paltry £20,000 Steve Flack and Shaun Gale the only men to command fees. In contrast, counterpart Trevor Francis' line-up had been assembled at a cost of £10.6 million! Ironically, it was Johnson, the only home-grown player in the Blues' side, who stole the limelight. The 18-year-old marked his first senior start with a superb 17th minute strike. And the England Youth hitman dubbed 'Birmingham's Michael Owen' I was a
constant menace to the Exeter rearguard. But City displayed a great deal of courage against their more-illustrious hosts. And the Division 3 outfit began promisingly when the contest eventually began following a delayed start caused by crowd congestion as almost 20,000 fans crammed into St Andrews. The visitors dominated most of the opening exchanges, with Flack causing numerous problems for the Blues' defence. It was the bustling frontrunner who provided the opportunity for Barry McConnell deputising in attack for the injured Darran Rowbotham to flash an early drive just wide of Kevin Poole's far post.

Birmingham weathered the surprise storm and Paul Furlong eventually forced Naylor into a smart stop. But it was slack defending that presented Johnson with the chance to fire Blues ahead. The debutant sprang a poorly-laid offside trap to latch onto Martyn O'Connor's pass and beat the stranded Naylor. That was a cruel blow for City after their positive approach. And Fox's hopes sustained a further blow shortly before the interval. Richardson attempted to clear Gary Rowett's inswinging 42nd minute corner but succeeded only in heading the ball past the stranded Naylor. Flack was promptly inches away from reducing the arrears with a glancing header that grazed Poole's far post. And Geoff Breslan almost gave Exeter a lifeline immediately after the interval. But Furlong and Darren Purse squandered chances to increase the deficit before the effervescent Johnson helped seal City's fate. The electric youngster raced away before delivering the inviting 75th minute cross that Adebola rammed home.