Exeter City 2 Scunthorpe 2.

Report by Ross Reid 

Saturday 17 October 1998.

AN injury-time goal by Exeter City target man Steve Flack crowned a memorable fightback by never-say-die Exeter City against 10-man Scunthorpe. The Iron were 2-0 up at half-time, but two things changed the complexion of the match early in the second half. The first was the dismissal of Scunthorpe's influential John Eyre, just 30 seconds into the second half for a second bookable offence. Eyre, who had foolishly been booked in the 41st minute for back-heeling the ball away as Ashley Bayes tried to take a free kick, was red-carded by controversial Waterlooville referee Robert Styles after leaving his foot in on Chris Fry. The second turning point was Peter Fox's decision to substitute Fry four minutes later and introduce 18-year- old winger John Wilkinson. The substitution worked wonders as Wilkinson sparked City's fightback with a brilliantly volleyed first ever senior goal in the 75th minute following a throw-in on the left. After that, City could do no wrong and eventually their pressure led to the equaliser. How different it all seemed at half time. Despite a first minute effort by Flack which zipped past the post, City looked less than lively. In the eighth minute they were punished when the defence was caught square and Spaniard Alex Calvo-Garcia threaded a ball through to top scorer Jamie Forrester on the edge of the box and he made no mistake with his seventh goal of the season a rifled drive which beat Bayes at his near post. City responded with long-range efforts but rarely tested Iron keeper Tim Clarke, although Darran Row- botham fired just wide in the 43rd minute. A minute later Scunthorpe were 2-0 up after a 'training ground' corner routine. Justin Walker and Forrester exchanged passes before sending the ball back to Eyre wide on the right touchline. His lofted ball into the area was met firmly by skipper Chris Hope whose header beat Bayes. That goal finally sparked some life into lacklustre City and Rowbotham and Flack combined before the latter fired just wide in first-half injury time. The second half was a completely different story as City made the most of their one-man advantage. Iron man-of-the-match Walker needed to chest Lee Baddeley's header off the line, Flack scorched a left-foot drive just wide and Rowbotham forced another good save from Clarke. In the 66th minute, Goeff Breslan sent a right foot first-timer just wide from 25 yards and two minutes later - after John Gayle had been hauled off by boss Brian Laws Jason Rees curled a free kick just over the Iron's 'bouncing' wall, forcing Clarke to make the best save of the game. It all set up a breath taking finale in which Breslan went close again and substitute Barry McConnell also had two fine efforts before the last-gasp goal. Rees had been stretchered off, his re- placement Chris Curran knocked the ball in to the edge of the box. Skipper Jon Richardson tellingly got a touch to push the ball out to Breslan, wide on the right, his grass-cutter of a cross was met by Flack who pushed all and sundry out of the way, including his team-mates to ensure he forced the ball home from four yards.

Exeter City 
Bayes Fry Power Baddeley Richardson Gittens Rowbotham Rees Flack Holloway Breslan Substitutes: Wilkinson (for Fry, 50 mins), McConnell (for Holloway, 73 mins), Curran (for Rees, 88 mins).

Scunthorpe:
Clarke, Fickling, Housham, Logan, Wilcox, Hope, Walker, Forrester, (Marshall 50). Eyre, Gayle (Stamp 67), Calvo- Garcia, Sub not used: Bull.

Scorers:
Exeter
- Wilkinson, 75 mins. Flack 90 mins:
Scunthorpe
- Forrester 8 mins, Hope 44 mins.

Bookings:
Scunthorpe
Housham 9, Gayle 13, Eyre 41, Fickling 66, Logan 81, Calvo-Garcia 90.

Sending-off:
Scunthorpe - Eyre 46 mins.

Referee: Robert Styles (Waterlooville)

Attendance: 2,885.