Exeter C 1 Plymouth Argyle 1.

Match Report by Nigel Walrond.

Saturday 30th January 1999.

Referee: KA Leach

Att: 6746


EXETER City boss Peter Fox is still seeking his first victory over Plymouth Argyle. The St James' Park chief talked a good game in the days leading up to this eagerly-awaited 50th league clash between two old adversaries. But his players were unable to deliver the win which would have allowed Fox to have been as smug as he liked. If Fox's surprisingly bullish midweek comments were designed to stir up the Grecians, both on the pitch and the terraces - and that was surely their main intention - they had the desired effect as City stormed out of the blocks. They dominated the opening stages and were rewarded with a well-taken goal after nine minutes by Chris Fry - his first of the season. But Argyle responded with a strike befitting a Devon derby which for once lived up to all the pre-match hype in terms of entertainment value and good football. It came from a player City fans must be ut- terly sick of the sight of - Howard Forinton who netted Argyle's winner in the 1-0 victory over Exeter at Home Park in December. That was a scrambled effort, but yesterday's stunning finish from the edge of the penalty area will remain long in the memory of the 6,746 crowd. With influential trio Paul Gibbs, Mick Heathcote and Ronnie Maugé all back in the Argyle line-up, Pilgrims' boss Kevin Hodges opted for a 4-4-2 formation. And they could have taken a second- minute lead when City goalkeeper Ashley Bayes was forced to make a smart save from the lively Dwight Marshall after good work by Maugé. But in-form City quickly gained the upper hand with Fry - drifting in between midfield and the front two causing a ring-rusty Gibbs - who had only played one 90-minute reserve game since the beginning of October - plenty of problems. It therefore came as no surprise when Fry reacted quicker than Gibbs to Steve Flack's flick header into the box and steered the ball over keeper Jon Sheffield into the net. The home side continued to press and Flack could have made it 2-0-seconds later when he fired just wide of the post after a wayward clearance by Gibbs. This was Exeter's best period of the game with Jason Rees and Chris Holloway shining in midfield, Flack getting the better of Heathcote in the air and Brian Quailey showing some nice touches. Argyle had been restricted up to then to some surging runs by Chris Hargreaves, but then came their equaliser out of the blue. Flack cleared woefully from inside the box into a ruck of players, Barlow challenged for possession and the ball spun away to the unmarked Forinton, who lashed it into the roof of the net past a stunned Bayes from 20 yards. The goal proved a turning point and Argyle started to take control of the game from that moment on. Barlow, Maugé, Hargreaves and Darren Bastow impressed in midfield, Simon Collins was outstanding at centre back, helping Heathcote keep Flack quiet, and Marshall and Forinton looked sharp up front. But, for all their efforts, Argyle carved out few clear-cut opportunities against a solid- looking City back line. Bayes had to be at his best again to deny Marshall at the near post in the 59th minute and Hargreaves saw his header from Barlow's cross fly just wide of the post in the 77th minute, but there was little else. At the other end, Argyle still had to remain vigilant as Flack hooked badly wide from Quailey's flick-on and later nodded wide from Jimmy Gardner's cross. Fox introduced youngsters Geoff Breslan and Warren Waugh for Gardner and Quailey as he sought a winner and Waugh had a shot easily saved by Sheffield. But the game appeared to be heading for a draw until Argyle summoned up the energy for one last frantic throw of the dice. Gibbs' wicked curling left-wing cross was met by a leaping Maugé, but he could only direct his firm header straight at Bayes, who gathered the ball at the second attempt. Then, with only two minutes remaining, Bastow's pass beat the offside trap and Hargreaves stormed in from the left towards goal. The whole crowd waited to see if Bayes could stop the favoured left-foot shot from the former Hereford player. But Hargreaves inexplicably opted to pass across goal instead and the chance was lost. Argyle might have just edged the game, but there will be few complaints in either camp at the final result.

EXETER:
Bayes, Fry, Power, Clark, Richardson, Git- tens, Quailey (Waugh 60), Rees, Flack, Holloway, Gardner (Breslan 83). Sub (not used): Gale.

PLYMOUTH:
Sheffield, Ashton, Gibbs, Mauge, Heathcote, Collins, Barlow, Hargreaves, Marshall, Bastow, Forinton. Subs (not used): Branston, Jean, Beswetherick. The Pigans

Match Facts

GOALS:
Fry 9 (1-0)
Forinton 27 (1-1)

ATTENDANCE: 6,746

REFEREE: Ken Leach (Codsall, Staffs)

BOOKINGS:
Bastow (Plymouth)
SHOTS ON TARGET:
Exeter 3, Plymouth 4
SHOTS OFF TARGET:
Exeter 9, Plymouth 3
CORNERS:
Exeter 2, Plymouth 2
FOULS:
Exeter 10, Plymouth 13
OFFSIDES:
Exeter 5, Plymouth 8