Hartlepool United 4 Exeter City 3.

Report by Arthur Pickering 

Saturday 12 September 1998.

ANOTHER away defeat for Exeter City left manager Peter Fox fuming. And City's small band of travelling fans weren't too pleased either after watching their side fail to earn anything, despite scoring three away goals. But then an own goal, followed by bad defen- sive marking, handed the initiative to the home team again. Once more City fought back, leaving Fox dancing with delight on the touchline. But again, the point they thought they had won was snatched away as Hartlepool scored their winner with two minutes remaining. It was unlucky 13 for City as Hartlepool took a 13th minute lead, the defence missing out on a Paul Stephenson cross, leaving Chris Beech unmarked at the far post for a simple tap-in. Then came the fight- back as Exeter scored twice in seven minutes to take the lead. In 28 minutes defender Graeme Lee put in an awful headed clearance after Shaun Gale's cross and Darran Rowbotham cashed in. He picked up the ball wide on the right and slotted a powerful low shot into the far corner. Seven minutes later man-of-the-match Jason Rees split the home defence and Barry Mc- Connell beat the offside trap before racing clear to score from 15 yards. But just when City thought they were going in ahead at the break, Hartlepool hit back. There were only seconds left when the tricky Stephenson again crossed from the right and veteran centre back Noel Blake turned the ball into his own net at the near post. Worse was to come. Eleven minutes after half-time Hartlepool were in front again as a corner from dangerman Stephenson was powerfully headed into the top of the net by Lee. Exeter showed the sort of fighting qualities Fox has been demand- ing from them by com- ing back yet again and on 68 minutes Row- botham's deep cross from the right found Geoff Breslan un- marked at the far post to score with a low shot from 10 yards. City thought that they had a point, and their spirit possibly deserved one. But their defensive  form was nothing to shout about, and with two minutes left Hartlepool hit them again. Stephenson had gone off now so it was the turn of Darren Knowles to cross from the right and Beech was given time to chest the ball down, have one shot blocked, and then score from six yards. It was too late for City to stage another fight-back and they faced the longest journey of their league season with little to cheer them. In fact, manager Fox gave them plenty to think about with his af- ter-match comments as all four home goals came from crosses and corners. 'We spent Thursday working on defending corners and crosses and then this happens,' he fumed. "Noel Blake actually took the coaching session and 48 hours later he defended like that.' Blake conceded an own goal and was one of five City defenders of- ten over-run by the home attack. Fox added: 'We need character away from home, and at the mo- ment it appears we haven't got it. 'There are three or four fringe players who 1 do have character, and it may be their chance now.'

HARTLEPOOL UNITED:
Hollund, Knowles, Ingram, Barron, Lee, Beech, Miller, Midgley (Smith 76th), Clark (Davies 46th), Howard, Stephenson (Stokoe 86th).

EXETER CITY:
Ashley Bayes, Shaun Gale, Graeme Power, Noel Blake (Glen Crowe 90th), Jon Richardson, Jon Gittens, Darran Rowbotham, Jason Rees, Barry McConnell (Steve Flack 85th), Chris Holloway, Geoff Breslan. Sub not used: Lee Baddeley.

Bookings: Hartlepool - Stokoe.

Shots on target:
Hartlepool 7, Exeter 6.

Corners:
Hartlepool 12, Exeter 3.
Fouls: Hartlepool 14, Exeter 12. Offsides: Hartlepool 2, Exeter 4.

Referee: Paul Robinson (Hull).

Attendance: 2,106,