Dave's scissors' plunge wounds Exeter's pride. 

Exeter City 0  Blackpool 1 (Bamber)

Saturday 30 January 1993.

Match Report David Hutchings 

TEENAGE winger Martin Phillips was the one bright spot in this dour contest which left City nursing to their sixth home League defeat of the season. Alan Ball brought his 16-year-old discovery on after 23 minutes in place of the injured Peter Whiston. His mazy skills delighted the St James Park faithful. But Phillips didn't get enough of the ball and often he was brushed aside by the bigger Blackpool defenders. City were sunk after just two minutes when Blackpool ace striker Dave Bamber netted the only goal. It came after Scott Daniels fouled Trevor Sinclair on the left. The free-kick was floated in but only half cleared. And Bamber, with his back to goal, executed a spectacular scissors-kick that left stand-in keeper Vince O'Keefe with no chance. City had only a handful of chances in the entire game. One of the best came after 20 minutes. Blackpool keeper Matt Dikens flapped at a corner, allowing Steve Moran to get in a header at the far post. He did everything right, di- recting the ball back towards the goal and down. But there was just too much power on the header and it bounced in front of the goal-line and flew just inches over the cross bar. The game was never going to be a classic with Blackpool desperate for points. But too often both sides were hitting and hoping and never got the ball on the floor. Despite that, Blackpool looked the more likely to score again with David Ayres and Sinclair going close and O'Keefe making an excellent save from Jamie Murphy. After the break Bamber broke through again after a mistake by Andy Cook. But the defender recovered well to get in a vital tackle as Bamber dithered. O'Keefe was called on twice more in the second-half to save his side, stopping ef- forts from Steve Thornber and diving at Sinclair's feet just three minutes from time. City operated in fits and starts. But there were flashes of the style that saw them hold League leaders Stoke in midweek. After 63 minutes, there was a fine build up down the right wing involving half the team and ending with Moran's header flying just wide. A minute later Cook crossed, Ronnie Jepson headed on and Moran's goal-bound effort was hooked off the line by Gary Briggs.

Exeter City 
O'Keefe, Hiley, Cook, Bailey, Daniels, Whiston, Harris, Brown, Moran, Jepson, Hodge Subs: Tonge (for Harris 73 mins); Phillips (for Whiston 23 mins)

Blackpool:
Dikens, Davies, Thornber, Horner, Briggs, Gore, Leitch, Sinclair, Bamber, Murphy, Ayres.

Referee: Micky Pierce (Portsmouth) ***

Attendance: 3,384.

Bookings: Cook (Exeter).