Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Exeter City 1.

Match Report by Andrew Arlidge

Saturday 13 February 1999. 

DARRAN Rowbotham's 100th goal for City ensured he enjoyed another successful day at Brighton's temporary home in Gillingham. The prolific striker marked his return to the side with the goal which ensured only City's second travel- ling success since his double helped them to victory in the cor- responding fixture last season. Rowbotham turned in Chris Fry's cross for his sixth league goal of the season after 64 minutes at the Priestfield Stadium. It brought a valuable double for the Grecians against a disappointing Brighton, whose misery was completed eight minutes from time when striker Gary Hart was sent off for a second bookable offence. City made two changes to the side which drew 0-0 at Chester. Graham Power and Rowbotham came in for Shaun Gale and on-loan striker Brian Quailey, who both had to settle for a place on the bench alongside Chris Curran. Exeter dominated the first half and posed a serious threat as early as the second minute when Steve Flack headed a Fry cross just over. Flack threatened twice more inside the next two minutes, forcing keeper Mark Walton into a clumsy fumble before drilling a 20-yard shot wide. City were completely in control but again failed to take advantage of poor home defending on 17 minutes. Left back Paul Sturgess sliced a clearance and Walton missed a punch, but Rowbotham failed to cash in. Flack looked to have finally broken the dead- lock and given the visitors a deserved lead on 26 minutes when he stabbed in Fry's cross only to have the strike ruled out by an off-side flag. Further disarray in the home goal followed when Walton dropped Fry's corner but again the persistent Rowbotham could not take advantage. Brighton, despite two wins and a draw under new manager Jeff Wood, produced a dire showing, failing to master a single goalbound attempt before the break and only giving Exeter keeper Ashley Bayes a touch of the ball from a couple of half-hearted corner routines. Play was more evenly shared after half time and, following Fry's wayward shot, the Seagulls finally created a chance after 55 minutes and should have taken the lead. As City's defence surged out following a half-cleared corner, Andy Arnott sprang the off-side trap with a pass which put three players clean through, one of which, leading scorer Richard Barker, blew the chance. Brighton finally came alive after Rowbotham's strike but Kerry Mayo's free-kick was charged down, Arnott's header was cleared off the line by Graham Power and Hart's 75th minute header went straight at Bayes.

BRIGHTON:
Walton, Mayo, Sturgess (Moralee 67), Arnott, Johnson, Allan, Armstrong, Bennett, Hart, Barker (Davies 59), Culverhouse. Sub (not used); Hobson.

EXETER:
Bayes, Fry, Power, Baddeley, Richardson, Gittens, Rowbotham, Rees, Flack, Holloway (Curran 81), Breslan, Gardner. Subs (not used): Gale, Quailey.

Referee: Andy D’Urso

Attendance: 4005

Fox tribute to ton-up Darran

EXETER City boss Peter Fox was thrilled with Darran Rowbotham's goal scoring milestone which ensured victory at Brighton. Rowbotham's strike midway through the second half ensured a 1-0 win and was the 100th he has scored for the Grecians. Fox said: 'For him to get 100 goals for us is a tremendous achievement and I am delighted for him that it was a winning goal. "That will give him coinfidence to stay in the side. I've just been waiting for an opportunity to bring him back in and as we did not score last week I thought the time was right to make use of his experience. 'I hope he stays in the side and gets many more goals for us.' But Fox also praised the rest of his side which picked up only a second away win in 37 games. "The defenders were top notch last week and again today and this gives us a real platform to build on. We've got to be looking to match teams like Brighton so to come here and beat them is smashing. 'It's a nice double for us against Brighton and all credit to the players.' Report, page 38.