EXETER CITY 1
O'Connell penalty.
HARTLEPOOL UNITED 0 

Half-time 0-0

Played at St James's Park, Exeter.

Wednesday March 2nd 1988.

Attendance 1,573.

Exeter City:- Gwinnett; Harrower, Viney; Massey, Taylor, Watson; Carter, Cooper, Edwards, O'Connell, Rowbotham.

Hartlepool United:- Carr; Barrett, McKinnon; Nobbs, Smith, Tinkler; Honour, Toman, Whellans, Baker, Borthwick.

The drama of this game was the story of two penalties in two minutes. Exeter scored theirs, while Toman, for Hartlepool, crashed his spot kick against the upright woodwork. The result of that flurry of penalty kicks was that the City notched up their first victory in seven games, and while the three points were mighty welcome, they were somewhat fortunate bounty.

The Promotion chasing Northerners had looked the superior side and had done most of the attacking, but they only flattered to deceive in that most of their offensive play petered out against a sound City defence.

Hartlepool also did not help themselves when their top scorer, Baker, missed two good chances in the first half. Exeter were awarded their penalty when Nobbs handled the ball in trying to keep O'Connell's shot out of the net. O'Connell stepped up confidently to take the kick and beat Carr all ends up, blasting the ball high into the net in the Tony Kellow style.

But it looked as if Exeter's lead was to be short-lived when two minutes later Cooper brought Smith down, Mr Hamer this time indicating a penalty at the other end of the field. But Toman's shot rebounded from the crossbar and was kicked well clear by the relieved City defence.

In the closing stages Gwinnett came to Exeter's rescue with a superb save from Borthwick, Baker skied a centre from Borthwick over the bar from less than ten yards' range.