Match 14
16th October 1999
Carlisle U (h)
No reward for midfield star as City waste goal chances
REPORT by ED HOGG
IT should have been the perfect end to a perfect week for Exeter City's Jason Rees. Last Tuesday the diminutive midfielder made a successful return to action in a behind- closed-doors friendly at Walsall just 13 days after major sur- gery to cure a groin problem. By Friday, Rees had convinced Grecians boss Peter Fox that he was fit for a record-equalling Nationwide League comeback against Carlisle. And the following afternoon Rees proved the point with the brilliant strike that ended his search for a first senior goal at St James's Park.
But Rees among the most competitive men ever to have pulled on a City shirt will have been devastated by the eventual outcome. Scott Dobie snatched the late equaliser that robbed Exeter of the chance to clamber back into the Division 3 automatic promotion zone. Rees makes up for his lack of inches with a ferocious competitive streak. It's that steely determination which enabled the 29-year-old to stage a phenomenal recuperation from his hernia operation. Collecting the Man-of-the-Match award will have done little to console Rees after Exeter had squandered an opportunity to bank maximum points from the opening phase of a home double. Fox's men must now rediscover the winning formula against visiting Swansea tomorrow. City without the same rhythm or menace that had demolished Shrewsbury a week earlier-failed to capitalise on their first-half domination. And they wasted a handful of chances to put the contest beyond reach after Rees had made the spectacular 54th minute breakthrough for the Grecians. Experienced Carlisle goalkeeper Andy Dibble failed to gather Barry McConnell's corner, Gary Alexander calmly fed Rees and the fiery Welshman unleashed an 18-yarder that ripped into the top right-hand corner. Dibble now with the 13th club of his peripatetic career - had kept City at bay in the opening period. The hosts should have seized the intiative as early as the seventh minute but skipper Jon Richardson headed too close to Dibble after racing forward to meet Gary Alexander's cross. Dibble soon saved smartly from Shayne Bradley after Barry McConnell had fashioned a 19th minute shooting chance for the on-loan Southampton striker. Bradley then failed to make the most of an opening provided by Chris Holloway's right-flank industry. David Brightwell produced a fab- ulous goal-line clearance after Bradley had raced clear and scurried past the outrushing Dibble. And Alexander immediately saw his venomous 33rd minute drive deflected agonisingly wide. Carlisle's solitary first-half chance had seen Stuart Naylor gather a tame effort from leading marksman Richard Tracey. Paul Harries then failed to capitalise on an inviting 48th minute cross from Graham Anthony. And Carlisle were finally punished for an apparent lack of both ambition and imagination when Rees netted his maiden St James's Park strike on his 36th home - appearance for the club. McConnell quickly robbed Brightwell and forced Dibble into an excellent reaction save at his near post. Holloway latched onto a 66th minute Rees pass but saw his left- foot effort smothered by the goal- keeper. And a Brightwell made a crucial tackle to prevent Bradley capital- ising on McConnell's surging 78th minute run. Fox sent on burly striker Steve Flack in an attempt to add greater menace to his frontline and the striker was booked inside 30 seconds of his introduction for an over-zealous challenge on Adrian Clarke. But Clarke picked himself up and promptly delivered a dangerous right-wing cross. Dobie stooped to butt past the exposed Naylor and Cumbrians boss Martin Wilkinson mysteri- ously felt justification for claiming that his side merited a share of the spoils.
REPORT by ED HOGG
IT should have been the perfect end to a perfect week for Exeter City's Jason Rees. Last Tuesday the diminutive midfielder made a successful return to action in a behind- closed-doors friendly at Walsall just 13 days after major sur- gery to cure a groin problem. By Friday, Rees had convinced Grecians boss Peter Fox that he was fit for a record-equalling Nationwide League comeback against Carlisle. And the following afternoon Rees proved the point with the brilliant strike that ended his search for a first senior goal at St James's Park.
But Rees among the most competitive men ever to have pulled on a City shirt will have been devastated by the eventual outcome. Scott Dobie snatched the late equaliser that robbed Exeter of the chance to clamber back into the Division 3 automatic promotion zone. Rees makes up for his lack of inches with a ferocious competitive streak. It's that steely determination which enabled the 29-year-old to stage a phenomenal recuperation from his hernia operation. Collecting the Man-of-the-Match award will have done little to console Rees after Exeter had squandered an opportunity to bank maximum points from the opening phase of a home double. Fox's men must now rediscover the winning formula against visiting Swansea tomorrow. City without the same rhythm or menace that had demolished Shrewsbury a week earlier-failed to capitalise on their first-half domination. And they wasted a handful of chances to put the contest beyond reach after Rees had made the spectacular 54th minute breakthrough for the Grecians. Experienced Carlisle goalkeeper Andy Dibble failed to gather Barry McConnell's corner, Gary Alexander calmly fed Rees and the fiery Welshman unleashed an 18-yarder that ripped into the top right-hand corner. Dibble now with the 13th club of his peripatetic career - had kept City at bay in the opening period. The hosts should have seized the intiative as early as the seventh minute but skipper Jon Richardson headed too close to Dibble after racing forward to meet Gary Alexander's cross. Dibble soon saved smartly from Shayne Bradley after Barry McConnell had fashioned a 19th minute shooting chance for the on-loan Southampton striker. Bradley then failed to make the most of an opening provided by Chris Holloway's right-flank industry. David Brightwell produced a fab- ulous goal-line clearance after Bradley had raced clear and scurried past the outrushing Dibble. And Alexander immediately saw his venomous 33rd minute drive deflected agonisingly wide. Carlisle's solitary first-half chance had seen Stuart Naylor gather a tame effort from leading marksman Richard Tracey. Paul Harries then failed to capitalise on an inviting 48th minute cross from Graham Anthony. And Carlisle were finally punished for an apparent lack of both ambition and imagination when Rees netted his maiden St James's Park strike on his 36th home - appearance for the club. McConnell quickly robbed Brightwell and forced Dibble into an excellent reaction save at his near post. Holloway latched onto a 66th minute Rees pass but saw his left- foot effort smothered by the goal- keeper. And a Brightwell made a crucial tackle to prevent Bradley capital- ising on McConnell's surging 78th minute run. Fox sent on burly striker Steve Flack in an attempt to add greater menace to his frontline and the striker was booked inside 30 seconds of his introduction for an over-zealous challenge on Adrian Clarke. But Clarke picked himself up and promptly delivered a dangerous right-wing cross. Dobie stooped to butt past the exposed Naylor and Cumbrians boss Martin Wilkinson mysteri- ously felt justification for claiming that his side merited a share of the spoils.
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