Exeter City relegated to Division 3 finishing 22 (out of 24). 

Fans can be optimistic on this form

Exeter City 4 Burnley 1.

by Ed Hogg at the Park

Saturday 7 May 1994.

AS Exeter City's relegation fate has grown increasingly clear, the St James's Park hardcore have shrugged off the "Going down with the Barnet" taunts in typically witty fashion. When their destiny was finally determined in a 3-0 defeat at Port Vale nine days ago, City fans earned the applause of their Valiants counterparts with a chanted suggestion that the Football League was in fact upside-down. And there was a fleeting moment in the weekend's apparently meaningless 4-1 triumph over Burnley they now look to wreck Plymouth Argyle's play-off ambitions - when that suggestion could almost have been genuine. Richard Pears, who had collected the Young Player-of-the-Year trophy before kick-off, brought the Park faithful to their feet with a stunning 54th minute maiden league strike. The celebrations, on pitch and terraces, belonged more to a promotion party than a relegation wake. But the City fans who have witnessed the Division 2 decline of Terry Cooper's outfit - and the home contingent for the Clarets' visit again struggled to reach 1,500 - have grounds to store their scarves for three months with optimism. Again Exeter could have reasonably sought charitable status for the defence as their guests failed to take a string of excellent chances. But going forward, particularly in a stirring 14-minute second-half spell that produced three City goals, Cooper's men provided evidence that the bedrock for an immediate escape from Division 3 is in place. Pears, still five weeks shy of his 18th birthday and willed to find the target by fans and Pressmen alike, is potentially Exeter's finest goalscoring find since Tony Kellow was plucked from Falmouth 18 years ago. The flowing move that led to Pears' goal was begun by Anthony Thirlby, maturing apace in his sev- enth league start and fellow 18-year-olds Martin Phillips and Jonathan Richardson continued to look the part in front of scouts from Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester City. Winger Stuart Storer, potentially lethal against left backs in the bottom flight but firing blanks since Christmas, stormed back into peak form and was involved in three of the City goals. And two-goal Mark Cooper should have finally silenced the sceptics' mutterings about nepotism when Cooper Snr brought his midfielder son back to Exeter in February. Cooper Jnr's eight-goal haul from 21 starts would be creditworthy for a top three side. If City had stayed up he would rightfully have taken the lion's share of the credit. It was Cooper Jnr's ferocious 30-yard free-kick that brought the contest to life after 26 minutes. Bizarrely, considering his dead-ball reputation, Burnley constructed a one-man wall and Cooper's low swerving effort scorched through Marlon Beresford's grasp. Immediately John Francis spurned his third chance at the other end before another Cooper free-kick, this time from 35 yards - whistled inches wide. Within 50 seconds of the break the visitors were back on terms, the diminutive Adri- an Heath nodding down Gary Parkinson's cross for ex- Argyle midfielder Warren Joyce to squeeze his shot past Allen McKnight. But four minutes later, and with the Clarets claiming that the clearly-offside Robbie Turner was interfering with play, Cooper thrust Exeter back in front. Storer raced past Les Thompson and delivered a precise near-post cross for Cooper to crash a diving header past Beresford. The same source provided Pears goal. Storer set free by Thirlby's sweeping pass presented the teenager with a sweet far-post volley that gave Beresford no chance. After Turner's control had let him down when Phillips had tormented the Burnley rearguard and supplied an inch-perfect cross, City increased their advantage. Storer's cross was half- cleared, Jon Brown nodded it back in, Pears swivelled to volley against Beresford's right-hand post and Turner gratefully accepted the rebound. 

MATCH FACTS:- THE TEAMS

Exeter City
McKnight, Brown, Minett, M. Cooper, Daniels, Richardson, Storer, Thirlby, Turner, Pears, Phillips. Subs (not used): Gavin, Bailey, Fox.

Burnley
Beresford, Parkinson, Thompson (Farrell 57), Davis, Pender, Randall, McMinn (Smith 46), Joyce, Heath, Francis, Eyres. Sub (not used): Williams.

OFFICIALS
Referee Clive Wilkes (Gloucester) Linesmen A. Monks and M. Sims

CITY STATS

Scorers Cooper 26, 50; Pears 54; Turner 64
Shots/headers on target 9
Corners 7 Bookings Turner

BURNLEY STATS

Scorers Joyce 46
Shots/headers on target 5
Corners 6
Bookings Francis, McMinn, Joyce

ATTENDANCE 3,155

CITY SLICKER Mark Cooper