Soggy City plunge back into the relegation mire.

Match Report by David Hutchings

Exeter City 0 Bradford City 1.

Saturday 3 April 1993.

EXETER City's relegation worries are a long way from over after suffering their eighth home defeat of the season at St James Park yesterday. Just one goal separated the sides after Bradford capi- talised on a dreadful defensive mix-up. But City wasted chances to equalise. Despite the driving rain which turned the pitch into a mud bath, both teams pro- duced some good football and created openings aplenty. Exeter keeper Kevin Miller was again the star of the show and almost kept his side in it. But he was left stranded in the 51st minute after a good move involving former Argyle striker Sean McCarthy, Lee Duxbury and Steve Torpey. McCarthy slipped the ball to Duxbury. Miller saved his shot but couldn't hold it, and, when Jonathan Brown failed to clear the danger, Torpey stuck it home. Manager Alan Ball made a double substitution on the hour, bringing on Ronnie Jepson and Andy Harris for Eamonn Dolan and Jim McIntyre. And he may have rued not introducing them earlier, for Jepson was immediately in the thick of it. Almost with his first touch he hit an 18-yard shot that Bradford keeper Ian Bowling could only parry and Wayne Hesletine had to clear off the line. Then the striker held the ball up well, touched it to Chris White whose snap shot flew just wide of the upright. In the 70th minute Jepson nearly grabbed the equaliser after a cross from John Hodge left Bowling and Gary Williams in a terrible mix-up until the defender eventually scooped the ball clear. With 13 minutes from time Jepson set up Stuart Storer with an excellent pull-back from the by-line which the new City striker completly missed. Four minutes later Harris met White's cross with a powerful header which Bowling fingertipped onto the cross-bar. At the other end Miller excelled, diving at Torpey's feet as he broke through unmarked and palming away a vicious free kick from Williams. And he was also called on to make some fine stops in the first half. After 17 minutes Paul Jewell hit a hard, low shot which Miller turned around the post one handed. City's first chance came four minutes later when Storer beautifully flicked on Brown's long ball to Hodge. But Bowling was swiftly off his line to push the ball away from the advancing winger. White headed off the line from Torpey. Then Jewell cashed in on a poor clearance by Brown. He got through into the box and, with two fellow forwards screaming for a pass, he tried a shot which Miller saved with his foot. Bowling also neede an unorthodox touch after 34 minutes when Brown met McIntyre's corner with a diving header that was again scrambled off the line.

Exeter City 
Miller. White. Cook. Bailey. Daniels. Brown. Minett. McIntyre. Storer. Dolan. Hodge: Subs: Jepson (for Dolan, 61 mins), Harris (for McIntyre, 61 mins).

Bradford City:
Bowling; Williams, Hesletine, Lee Duxbury, Blake, Hoyle, Jewell (Stapleton, 84), Mike Duxbury, McCarthy, Torpey, Reid; Sub: McHugh.

Referee: Ron Groves (Weston-s-Mare)

Attendance: 2,547

Bookings: Reid (Bradford).