SEAN SAVES DESPERATE CITY AGAIN

Darlington 2 Exeter City 2.

Saturday 15 March 2003

Referee: G Laws

Attendance 2476

Match Report - by Steve Johnson at Feetham's

EXETER picked up another vital point in their bat- tle against the drop when they drew 2-2 with Darlington at a sun-kissed Feetham's Ground yesterday.

The Grecians, who had gone into the con- test with five points from their last three games, had led at the interval but were forced to settle for a share of the spoils af ter a hard battle in the north east. The home side made the brighter start as Barry Conlon tested Kevin Miller with a low shot and Neil Wainwright fired a shot narrowly wide

Home keeper Andy Collett was out of his goal smartly to clear the ball ahead of the advancing Sean Devine before the Grecians made the vital breakthrough after 18 minutes. Darlington, with only one win from their previous ten outings, failed to clear Devine's cross from the by-line to allow Carl Pettefer the opportunity to lash home from close range. Three minutes later, leading scorer Steve Flack headed narrowly over from an Andy Roscoe corner as Exeter went all out for the all important second goal. At the other end. Wainwright's right wing cross was met perfectly by the unmarked Conlon but his header lacked sufficent power and was easily saved by the visitors keeper.

Exeter had seized the initiative at this stage and Devine headed straight at Collett from another Roscoe setpiece. The ever dangerous Devine then burst through only to fire in a powerful shot which Col lett did well to keep out at full stretch. Exeter, aiming to avenge a 4-0 defeat in the corresponding fixture at St James Park back in October, generally defended well although it needed a superb last ditch tackle by Chris Todd to deny Conlon in first half stoppage time. The home side were back on level terms just two minutes before the break through Danny Mellanby, who held off his marker to toe-poke the ball past Miller. A foul by Graeme Power on Conlon led to a rejuvenated Darlington taking the lead four min utes later. Barry Pear- son's faithfully struck free kick was deflected into the path of Mellanby, who directed his shot past the helpless keeper. There was further dan ger for the visitors when Matthew Clarke got on the end of a Nicholls' corner, but his header whistled inches wide. Manager Gary Peters made his first substitution of the afternoon with Glen Cronin replac ing Martin Thomas be fore Roscoe sent a 23 yard free kick just over the bar. In their next opening. Santos Gaia scuffed his shot a couple of yards over the top.

Exeter deservedly re-stored parity after 70 minutes as Devine turned quickly and struck a superb shot past Collett into the bottom corner of the net. In the closing minutes but the home side squandered the better chances as sub lan Clark and Conlon both missed gilt edged chances.

Exeter City 

Miller, Hlley, Gaia, Todd, Power, Thomas, Ampadu, Pettefer, Roscoe, Flack, Devine