Veteran shot-stopper admits crucial mistake

REPORT by ED HOGG

VETERAN goalkeeper Stuart Naylor accepted responsibility for the howler that cost Exeter City another chance to underline their promotion credentials.

Naylor was guilty of the gaffe that gifted Swansea's Jamaican international striker Walter Boyd a 54th minute opener last night. And a brilliant Jason Rees equaliser wasn't enough to prevent the Grecians' winless home sequence stretching to three contests. That prevented Peter Fox's men clambering back into the Division 3 automatic promotion places after they had missed a similar opportunity in last weekend's 1-1 draw with visiting Carlisle. Naylor has been calm and assured since his close-season recruitment to replace the hugely-talented but desperately inconsistent - Ashley Bayes. However, Naylor's miscued goal-kick presented Boyd with his third goal in as many ap- pearances since the Caribbean star arrived at the Vetch Field. And the 36-year-old former West Brom stalwart immedi- ately shouldered the blame. "Stuart held his hand up in the dressing room," said Fox. "It was a bad kick. "Defensively, we're doing OK this season. We've only con- ceded 13 goals in 13 games but we could still do better."

Fox was disappointed with Exeter's two-point haul from back-to-back home contests against Carlisle and Swansea. But he insisted: "Against Carlisle we played very, very well for 85 minutes and were a bit unfortunate to concede a late equaliser. "We didn't play that well to- night, but you have to give my players credit for their workrate." The performance of fastidious referee Steve Tomlin dom- inated much of the post-match debate. Tomlin issued eight cautions and red-carded Rees in a scrappy contest punctuated by a staggering 40 free- kicks. Exeter, with giant striker Steve Flack restored to the frontline, started positively but were unable to maintain the momentum. Swansea's Stuart Watkin headed wide when he was left unchallenged to meet a seventh minute Jonathan Coates cross. And Martin Thomas immediately scuffed his shot after latching onto a Matthew Bound pass. Ex-Tiverton favourite Jason Smith nodded against the City crossbar from another Roberts cross. But Swansea glovesman Roger Freestone was forced into a splendid 10th minute block after typically crisp work from Gary Alexander. And Jon Gittens, Alexander and Flack all went close before the interval. Naylor hadn't been seriously tested before his bizarre blunder. Chris Curran might have rectified the situation, but was dispossessed by Watkin, and Boyd skipped past Jamie Robinson's last-ditch challenge before fin- ishing smartly from an acute angle. Boyd, 38 goals in 61 internationals, could be the Division 3 bargain of the season following his free transfer recruit- ment from Jamaican club Arnett Gardens. He netted twice on his debut in a 2-0 win over Rotherham last week and has pledged to smash the Swans' 68-year-old goalscoring record. Boyd's squad number 35 indicates the target established by Cyril Pearce in 1931/32. Flack headed narrowly over as Exeter sought an immediate equaliser. And Jon Richardson and Chris Holloway both squandered inviting openings before Rees struck his second stunner in consecutive games. There was no obvious danger when the midfielder collected 25 yards out. But the tigerish Welshman curled a sublime ef- fort past the stranded Freestone. That was enough to clinch a second successive Man-of-the- Match accolade, despite Rees' subsequent dismissal for a second bookable offence. "Jason's goal was an even better strike than his one against Carlisle," purred Fox.