Stockport 2 City 2

Fanzine Report by Tony Biel

John Hodge had a happy return to his native North-West as the Liverpool born player hit a two goal salvo to lift Exeter's spirits. He has a habit of scoring goals against County, yet it could have been so different if Stockport had taken the chances early on. Chief culprit was Kevin 'The Tree' Francis, at 6ft 7in the tallest player in the league, who was guilty of some very bad misses. Exeter held their own though, and were unlucky with the few chances that came their way - either just wide or saved well by 'keeper Edwards. But in the 34th minute City struck lucky. A cross from Cookie was met by Hodge who looped a firm header over the stretching keeper. Jepson then went close with a shot that just went over the bar and another which went narrowly wide on the half time whistle.

Stockport had the better of the early exchanges in the second half, so it was no surprise when they levelled after City failed to clear a corner, Finley firing home through a ruck of players. Shortly afterwards, Exeter brought on Collins for Cook and the team began to play more fluently, but still couldn't break down the resolute Stockport defence.

City only had themselves to blame when County took the lead, trying to play the offside trap and failing, leaving Miller exposed. As he tried to punch clear the ball cannoned off him and behind as it headed towards the empty net., Gannon just beat the chasing defender, toe poking the ball over the line just as we thought we had a point.

We only had to wait two minutes though to see the situation resolved. Eamonn Collins, in space on the right hand side, set up Hodge with only the 'keeper to beat, and the scouser calmly shot past the stranded Edwards. We held on grimly for the final seven minutes with only some good saves from Miller and a couple of goal line clearances keeping City in the game. If it hadn't been for those glaring misses by 'The Tree' it could all have been so different.

Match report 2. 
STOCKPORT COUNTY 2, CITY 2

This was an excellent result for City against a side that had only lost out on promotion last season in the play-off final at Wembley.

The game was a personal triumph for winger John Hodge who scored both City's goals, on a ground where he had celebrated his first senior goal for the Grecians the previous season. County's Andy Frain hit Kevin Miller's cross-bar in the opening minute but City hit back with Gary Chapman having two efforts scrambled away before the ball broke to Tom Kelly whose volley unfortunately found County goalkeeper Neil Edwards. With 6'7" striker Kevin Francis in their attack it came as no surprise that County relied on the long high ball but the City defence coped well enough with this aerial menace. Hodge game City the lead in the 34th minute when he darted in between two defenders to head Andy Cook's cross into the roof of the net. City now dominated the rest of the half with Ronnie Jepson forcing Edwards to make a fine save from his 10 yard header but the second half saw a complete reversal with County putting pressure on the City defence. Alan Finlay hit their equaliser in the 52nd minute and Jim Gannon gave them the lead nine min- utes from time but two minutes later City substi- tute Steve Williams played a superb ball through to Hodge who controlled it and shot past Edwards for a deserved point.

8th September 1992
Rangees (h)
Friendly 

CITY 1, RANGERS 1

Scottish Premier Champions Rangers travelled to St James Park for this friendly as part of the deal that took Chris Vinnicombe to Ibrox.

Rangers £1.2 million striker Dale Gordon gave the visitors the lead after 21 minutes when he rifled the ball past Kevin Miller after Gary McSwegan had cleverly back-heeled the ball into his path. City brought on Steve Williams in the 65th minute and it was he that flicked on Eamonn Collins corner for his fellow substitute, Steve Moran to hook home at the far post.

City: Miller, Hiley, J. Brown, Whiston (Redwood 45), Cook, Hodge, Kelly, Harris (Collins 45), M. Brown (Williams 65), Jepson (Dolan 75), Dolan (Moran 45).

Rangers: Maxwell (Scott 45), Pressley, Nisbet, Watson, Vinnicombe, Gordon, Dodds, S. Robertson, L. Robertson, McSwegan, Morrow.