SILENCE OF THE LAMBS Hendrie quiet as City book second round place

Exeter City 4 Tamworth 1.

ED HOGG Reports from St James Park.

Tuesday 24 November 1998.

Referee: Anthony Leake

Att: 3152

FA Cup 1st round replay

PETER Fox resisted the temptation to gloat after his Exeter City outfit crushed Tamworth's FA Cup giantkilling ambitions last night. City clinched a mouthwatering second round home clash against Westcountry rivals Bristol Rovers with a 4-1 romp against the Dr Martens League minnows. The scoreline failed to underline the measure of Exeter's superiority. Visiting boss Paul Hendrie had tipped his part-timers to inflict an embarrassing defeat on the Division 3 club - before and after the Grecians' late escape at Tamworth 10 days ago. And the outspoken former Celtic Birmingham City and Halifax midfielder had claimed: "I've seen better non-league sides than Exeter." But Darran Rowbotham double, Steve Flack's second-half effort and an own goal from Tamworth glovesman Tony Rowe silenced the Lambs. However, Fox was happy to turn his attention to the December 5 visit of the Pirates - still searching for their first away victory of the Division 2 campaign. "I'm looking forward to a cracking tie against Bristol Rovers," he smiled. "It's a South West derby and we'll have a very good crowd. "I know Rovers feel they owe us after we beat them in the (FA Cup) first round a couple of years ago. "But it's a home tie and we've got a tremendous record at St James's Park." Fox added: "We were nearly on the end of a cup upset at Tamworth. "But I said then that on a decent pitch we would get at them and cause them real problems. We did that in style at times. "I was a bit disappointed with the goal we conceded and we should probably have been five or six up at the time. "We had plenty of chances and we outbattled, outplayed and outclassed Tamworth." Fox-who had employed teenage midfield trio Chris Holloway, Geoff Breslan and John Wilkinson in the original tie -opted for experience. The ploy worked. Recalled pair Chris Curran and Shaun Gale were both influential and Billy Clark, back in action after a three-month absence for a hernia operation, made an encouraging contribution as a substitute for the hamstrung Lee Baddeley, City started briskly- Rowbotham heading fractionally wide from Jimmy Gardner's early corner; Rowe sprawling to deny Curran; Flack and Curran both denied by frantic blocks. But they scarcely looked back after Rowe, under pressure from Baddeley, fumbled Gardner's flagkick into his own net. Rowe partially redeemed himself by saving smartly from Chris Fry. And Flack wasted two opportunities to increase the deficit, nodding wide from a Graeme Power cross and promptly butting against the crossbar when Gale did the spadework. The hosts then had a brief scare when the livewire Warren Haughton raced clear only to scuff his shot wide of Ashley Bayes' left-hand upright. Immediately it was 2-0. Rowbotham escaped the attentions of Jon Howard to head home a superb Fry cross. And Dazza claimed the 99th Exeter goal of his career to put the outcome beyond realistic doubt before the interval. Flack and Fry combined neatly on the right flank, Rowbotham swivelled into space and his shot was deflected past the wrongtfooted Rowe via Howard's shins. Flack volleyed wildly over soon after the restart. But the bustling striker made no mistake after latching onto Bayes' long 51st minute punt-holding off the not-inconsiderable Batchelor before finishing neatly. Rowe soon denied Gardner and then thwarted Fry after Rowbotham and Flack had created the opening. Gary Smith, whose goal had given Tamworth the lead at Kettlebrook Road, reduced the arrears with a handsome 75th minute curler. But it was mere consolation. The margin of victory would have been more realistic if Rowe had not brilliantly saved Flack's stooping late header.

EXETER:
Bayes, Gale, Power, Baddeley (Clark 43), Richardson, Fry, Rowbotham, Rees, Flack. Curran, Gardner (Wilkinson 86). Subs (not used): McConnell, Potter, Holloway.

TAMWORTH:
Rowe, Warner, Shaw, Steele, Batchelor, Howard, Crawford, Walker (Hatton 69), Smith, Dixon (Yates 46), Haughton. Subs (not used): McNamara, Wood, Roddock.