CITY HELP THE AGED. Double offer for veteran Quinn.

by Ed Hogg at London Road 

Peterborough United 4 Exeter City 1.

Monday 31 August 1998.

Referee: A Hall

Att: 4256


Evergreen Peterborough striker Jimmy Quinn has promised he won't retire until the goals dry up." At this rate the former Northern Ireland international will still be playing when he's drawing a pension.
Quinn-just two months short of his 39th birthday is the oldest marksman continuing to ply his trade in the Football League. He has plundered almost 300 senior goals for seven different clubs since making his professional debut for Swindon in 1981. But the ravages of time have done little to diminish Quinn's appetite for the game. And he won't be ready to hang up his boots while defences continue to offer the benevolence demonstrated by Exeter City. Peter Fox's men stylish 2-0 winners over visiting Carlisle 48 hours earlier - slumped to a 4-1 reverse at London Road yesterday. Quinn accepted two invitations as the Grecians were again left empty-handed on their Division 3 travels. Fox admitted: "You simply can't afford to give a striker of Jimmy Quinn's calibre chances like that." Quinn's rapid-fire double and another first-half gift for frontline partner Leon McKenzie quickly erased Darran Rowbotham's stunning opening goal of the campaign. Andy Edwards' brilliant second- half strike twisted the knife. City had started brightly enough. They forced a series of early corners as the hosts, without a string of regulars through injury and youth international commitments, appeared ill- equipped to halt their search for a first home maximum. The pressure eventually bore fruit Rowbotham smashing home a fabulous 25-yarder after Geoff Breslan, Glen Crowe and Barry McConnell had done the spadework. But it took Barry Fry's side just 40 seconds to level and Posh never looked back:

20 mins...Exeter goalkeeper Ashley Bayes fumbled and Quinn pounced to net from 15 yards. 1-1
25 mins...Scott Houghton was allowed to deliver a left-wing cross and Quinn was unattended at the far post to nod past the exposed Bayes. 2-1.
43 mins. Jon Richardson's header left Bayes stranded and McKenzie gleefully accepted his third goal of a loan spell from Crystal Palace, 3-1.
McKenzie-who had already fired straight at Bayes when well-placed tore a hamstring scoring and was immediately withdrawn. And City promptly wasted a marvellous chance to reduce the arrears.
Steve Flack had minutes after the restart with a ferocious angled volley that grazed Bart Griemink's crossbar. And Flack and Rowbotham both went close before Edwards thundered home a volley direct from Simon Davies' 62nd minute corner. Still City created enough chances to salvage a share of the spoils. Pedantic referee Andy Hall strangely overlooked Adam Drury's clumsy foul on McConnell - Rowbotham was cautioned for prolonging his penalty claims. Breslan and Dazza then combined to fashion a shooting chance for Flack only for the giant frontrunner to be denied by the woodwork. Griemink saved superbly from Shaun Gale's quick free- kick-plunging to his left to turn the 78th minute curler around his left-hand upright. The flying Dutchman then blocked bravely at Rowbotham's feet e before foiling Crowe, McConnell blazed over from 12 yards and Rees scuffed an 87th minute effort wide after Breslan's cross had been partially cleared.

PETERBOROUGH UNITED:
Griemink, Hooper, Drury, Gill, Bodley, Edwards, Davies, Payne, McKenzie (Grazioli 44th), Quinn, Oughton.

Subs not used: Scott, Martin.

GRECIANS: Ashley Bayes, Shaun Gale, Graeme Power (Noel Blake 46th), Chris Fry (Steve Flack 28th), Jon Richardson, Jon Gittens, Darran Rowbotham, Jason Rees,Glen Crowe (Chris Holloway 73rd), Barry McConnell, Geoff Breslan.

Scorers:
Peterborough - Quinn 22nd, 25th, McKenzie 41st, Edwards 62nd.
Exeter -Rowbotham 19th.

Bookings:
Exeter - Gittens, Fry, Rowbotham, Rees.

Referee: Andy Hall (Birmingham).