Rochdale 1 Exeter City 1.

by our Special Correspondent 

Tuesday 10 November 1998

Referee: KM Lynch

Att: 1639


BATTLING Exeter City produced another late goal to snatch a rare away reward at Rochdale last night. Jon Gittens' 86th minute equaliser earned the Grecians a 1-1 draw and only their second point in eight Division 3 trips this term. The former Torquay favourite butted homè a Jason Rees corner to cancel out Paul Sparrow's opener. It was Exeter's NINTH consecutive second-half goal-following the stunning late comeback to beat weekend guests Southend. But a squandered first-half penalty chance prevented Peter Fox's men halting their marathon 13-month search for an away victory. Darran Rowbotham's 37th minute spot-kick brought a superb stop from home goalkeeper Neil Edwards - his third penalty save on the trot and Dazza's second successive miss. It took Gittens' header to rescue a point after Sparrow had broken the deadlock barely a minute before the Rowbotham blunder. But it was no more than City deserved for another spirited comeback. Referee Kevin Lynch did his best to spoil a keenly-contested contest with a series of bafffling decisions that angered both camps. City were put under the cosh from the start by a home side now beaten just once in eight league games. Goalkeeper Ashley Bayes was forced into a smart save to deny Mark Monington following one of Dale's numerous early corners. The hosts consistently showed the greater attacking menace but it took until the 35th minute for the contest to burst into life. Gary Jones' low cross was met by on-loan Peterborough marksman Miguel De Souza, whose touch brought a wonderful instinctive save from Bayes. But the luckless glovesman could only watch in horror as the ball rolled to defender Sparrow, who promptly netted from an acute angle. Exeter responded immediately with Edwards springing to his left to gather Chris Curran's firm header. Steve Flack -the Grecians' last-minute matchwinner against Southend- then raced into the Dale penalty box and was dragged back by Keith Hill. The former Plymouth Argyle defender was fortunate not be shown a red card and Rochdale were doubly relieved by Edwards' heroics. Rowbotham struck the ball well. But the ex- Stockport glovesman plunged to his right to deny the City top-scorer his sixth goal of the campaign. City came out for the second period in more determined fashion. The visitors pushed Rochdale back for lengthy spells. But, for all their pressure, Exeter lacked imagination and chances were limited. The best opportunities were created at the other end where both Monington and De Souza rattled Bayes' woodwork. Fox was lectured by referee Lynch as his growing frustration began to boil over. But he at last had something to smile about as Gittens rose to plant his header past the stranded Edwards.

TEAM CHECK

ROCHDALE:
Edwards, Williams (Stuart 64), Sparrow, Hill, Monington, Bayliss, Jones, Painter, De Souza, Bryson, Peake. Subs (not used): Bailey, Diaz..

EXETER:
Bayes, McConnell, Power, Baddeley, Richardson, Gittens, Rowbotham, Rees, Flack, Curran (Gardner 90), Holloway (Wilkinson 65). Sub (not used): Fry.

MATCH FACTS

GOALS:
Sparrow (36) 1-0,
Gittens (86) 1-1.

ATTENDANCE: 1, 639

REFEREE: Kevin Lynch (Knaresborough)

BOOKINGS:
Gittens, Flack, Wilkinson (Exeter),
Hill (Rochdale)

SHOTS ON TARGET:
Rochdale 5, Exeter 6,
CORNERS:
Rochdale 7, Exeter 7
FOULS:
Rochdale 19, Exeter 10
OFFSIDES:
Rochdale 11, Exeter 7