Bury 1 Exeter City 0.

Saturday 30 November 2002.

Referee: Mark Clattenburg (photo) 

Att: 2739

BBC match report –

Liam George's first goal for Bury gave the Gigg Lane club victory against Exeter.

George's short-term contract came to an end after the game but his 82nd-minute winner did his chances of earning a longer deal no harm.

The former Luton Town striker fired home after good work by substitute David Nugent but the winner was nothing more than Bury deserved.

They dominated the match apart from a couple of moments and restricted Exeter to several long-range shots by Steve Flack.

However, Bury lacked the killer instinct in front of goal, though Kevin Miller made an outstanding save to deny Jon Newby.

Just when it appeared Bury were heading for their first goalless draw in 29 games, George nipped in for the winner which kept Bury firmly in the promotion places.

Bury: Garner, Barrass, Swailes, Redmond, Nelson, Stuart, Johnrose, Billy, George, Newby, Preece. Subs: Forrest, Woodthorpe, Nugent, Lawson, O'Shaughnessy.

Exeter: Miller, Hiley, Gaia, Pilkington, Virgo, Roscoe, Walker, Cronin, Pettefer, Flack, Barnard. Subs: Fraser, Coppinger, Sheldon, Lock, Moor.

Referee: M Clattenburg (Co Durham)

FA Youth Cup 3rd Round 
5th December 2002
Watford 

Watford were dealt a harsh lesson in not making the most of their chances, dumped out of the FA Youth Cup by their counterparts from Division Three Exeter City. The Hornets enjoyed 75% of possession an all the territorial advantage which, given some sharper finishing, would have yielded several - never mind just one - killer blow to their determined opponents from the west country. But as a Golden Boys' goal failed to arrive, the Grecians, packing anything between eight and 11 men behind the ball throughout the tie - happy to defend against their more illustrious hosts - had their hopes gradually lifted of scoring from a breakaway half-chance or counter-attack. The crucial opener went Exeter's way after 66 minutes via a well-worked free- kick routine, the killer second coming seven minutes from time in more
unfortunate circumstances for Watford. With the full first-team playing squad and management team watching on, the young Hornets signalled their intentions within 90 seconds when forward Ashley Young showed neat close control to engineer a shot which Exeter keeper Martin Rice had to move smartly to his left to gather. Midfielder Paul Coyne sent a 35-yard half-volley narrowly over on the half-hour mark, then when a corner was cleared wide, Jamie Collins returned a looping cross into the box which made Rice hurriedly back-pedal to push to safety. Six minutes from the break, winger Ben Hammond burst pace two challenges and forced Rice to scoop the ball behind with a low drive from the corner of the penalty area. In injury-time, after a foul on Watford's French striker Hameur Bouazza 20 yards from goal, Rice had to react smartly to prevent Mark E Beyer's  quick free-kick from sneaking in.

Hornets picked up where they left off after the break, in and around City's box but reduced to long-range pot-shots and moments of individual opportunism, unable to create much in the way of clear-cut chances. On 47 minutes, Bouazza volleyed a sharp chance wide. Coyne contested Daniel Mead's cross with the keeper and the ball spooned up and wide to the striker who had only an instant to fashion an effort on goal. Five minutes later, E'beyer, with little option ahead of him, tried his luck from 30 yards and stung the hands of the surprised Rice with the pace of the shot. Then, with 66 minutes on the watch, the Grecians scored from a quick free-kick routine. The ball was played down the side of the wall to the byeline, then cut back for striker David O'Connor to sweep home through a forest of bodies from six yards. Disaster struck seven minutes from time for Watford - and in particular goalkeeper Liam Watson - as they pressed forward for an equaliser. City skipper Lewis Reed hoisted a high free-kick into the Hornets' box from around 45 yards out towards the touch- line. Watson, under no serious pressure, misread the flight of the ball and got underneath it before fumbling it backwards into his own net. It was a horrible moment for a keeper who has been the model of consistency for David Hockaday's Academy League Under-19 team this season. And sure enough, when the final whistle blew, the young stopper was inconsolable, taking the shock defeat worst of all Watford's players.

Watford: Watson, Herd, Mead, Cowen (Walsh 84), Williams, Collins, Hammond (Fisher 64), E'beyer, Bouazza (Catchpole 78), Young, Coyne. Subs not used: Elliott, Tinkler.

Exeter City: Martin Rice, Rhys Tippett (Jimmy Kiely 21), Dean Moxey, Kevin McShane, Lewis Reed, Dominic Rivans, Daniel Clay, Lee Parker, David O'Connor, Sean Canham, Edward Forbes. Subs not used: James Alexander, Jon Harris, Scott Bowker, Nathan Murphy.