Hull City 2 Exeter City 1.

Saturday 10 April 1999.

Referee: A Bates

Att: 5836

Alcide nets last minute winner for vital triumph

Tigers snatch victory at death


Hull City 2 Exeter City 1

LOAN-STAR Gerry Harrison returned to Hull City's starting line-up for the Third Division clash against Exeter at Boothferry Park this afternoon. Harrison, who missed the 1-1 draw at Cardiff on Monday with a back injury, added his vast experience to the Tigers' survival battle. He took over from Steve Swales at right back as manager Warren Joyce re-shuffled City's defence. With Jon Whitney serving a one-match ban, Mark Greaves held off the challenge of Welsh International Jason Perry to claim the No.3 shirt. Joyce, Gary Brabin and skipper Dave D'Auria continued in midfield while there was still no place for the 12-goal David Brown in attack. City again preferred Duane Darby and the inform Colin Alcide up front. Exeter, looking for only a second ever win at Boothferry Park, were without five first team regulars including dangerman Steve Flack and his first choice strike partner Darren Rowbotham. Leading scorer Flack was sidelined by suspension while Rowbotham failed a late test on a groin injury. Visiting manager Peter Fox included five centre backs in his starting line-up and looked set to battle for a point. The crowd was much smaller than last Saturday's match against Scar- borough and the North Terrace - which normally accommodates away fans-was completely empty. The game started in ominously scrappy style although Alcide did have a half chance in the third minute. A slip by Gittens saw the ball rebound to the City No.10 but his first time volley from 30 yards went way over the bar. Tosh was then warned for leading with his elbow in a challenge with Greaves. The game was briefly held up while Gale received attention after tangling with Darby. City immedi- ately forced their first corner of the afternoon but Wilkinson cleared. A long run from Tosh in the eleventh minute had City back-ped- dling but Greaves made a vital tack- le 25 yards out. D'Auria conceded a free kick in a dangerous position which led to Richardson firing a long-range shot well wide. The atmosphere inside the ground was strangely low key and a blustery wind was making life diffi- cult for both sides. Exeter, who has scored just one goal in their last six games, looked lightweight in attack. A mistake by Holloway who played a dreadful pass across the face of his own penalty area almost let City in after 15 minutes but Darby failed to get on the end of Williams' cross from the left. Hull finally put together a dangerous attack in the 24th minute. D'Auria hooked in a cross from the right which te failed to clear and Williams' drive from the left edge of the box brought a diving save from Bayes at his near post. At least, it was a shot on target. City pressed again two minutes later. Good work on the right from Alcide set up Harrison but he mis timed a header which flew high and wide. A foul on D'Auria then led to a trademark free kick from Joyce but this time Brabin's header from six yards flew over the bar. The Tigers were playing with more urgency and they almost took the lead in the 31st minute direct from a corner. Joyce's kick caught on the wind flew over Bayes' head and hit the angle of the bar and the right hand post before rebounding to safety. D'Auria then produced another dangerous cross which Git- tens managed to clear at full stretch. It was all City at this stage with Alcide causing all sorts of problems for water defence. In the 37th minute the big striker latched on to a pass from Darby and smacked in a 30 yard drive which brought a flying save from Bayes to his left. City continued to pile forward and good work from D'Auria on the right flank saw him stab the ball into the box where Darby's close range shot hit the side netting with Bayes struggling. On a rare avete attack, Wilkinson shot straight at Oakes. At the other end, Whittle rose to meet a cross from D'Auria but again his header flew over the bar. In the 43rd minute, City were finally rewarded for their efforts when they took the lead. Joyce played a great ball through to Derby who whipped in a cross from the right to the far post and Williams' volley curled away from Bayes and into the top corner-much to the delight of the South Stand faithful. It was Williams' first goal in the league since his move from Scarbor- ough at the end of November. In the last minute of the half, Darby almost robbed Gittens inside the box but referee Bates pulled up City's centre forward for a con- tentious foul.

HALF TIME:
HULL CITY 1. EXETER CITY 0.

Neither side made a change during the interval and City had a wake up call within seconds of the re-start when Wilkinson made good ground down the left and slung in a danger ous cross which was blocked by Williams inside the six yard box before Edwards hacked clear. Play immediately swung to the other end where Harrison's clever pass sent Darby away and his cross- cum-shot from the right flew across the face of an unguarded Exeter goal with Alcide just failing to get the all important touch. Exeter were playing with plenty of determination. In the 52nd minute Wilkinson's dangerous ball in from the left was knocked behind for a corner by Edwards. It was the visitors first corner of the game and led to them grabbing an equaliser. The ball was floated in from the left by Gale and McConnell stole in before a flat-footed Oakes to head home from point blank range. City needed a positive reply but it was Exeter who looked the sharper side and the visitors were winning crucial 50-50 challenges in the middle of the park. In the 61st minute, good work from Holloway set up McConnell but McConnell shot just wide.
A Joyce free kick in the 63rd minute almost created an opening for Greaves but Baddeley just got to the ball first. Two minutes later, Richardson became the first player to be booked when he hacked down Alcide from behind. The foul led to a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box but Joyce's shot cannoned into Exeter's six-man wall. City had a let off in the 71st minute when the lively Williams broke clear down the left but went for glory himself with the unmarked Rees screaming for the ball and Joyce got back to make a vital challenge. Darby was then booked for a late tackle on Gittens. City made a double change in the 73rd minute with McGinty and Brown replacing Brabin and Darby and there were signs of frustration creeping into the Tigers' efforts. However, they claimed the points in the final minute of the game when Alcide produced a vital winner to lift the Tigers even further away from the danger zone.

HULL (1) 2
Williams (43) Alcide (90)

EXETER (0) 1
McConnell (53)

Attendance 5,836

HULL:- Oakes, Harrison, Greaves, Edwards, Whittle, Brabin (McGinty 73), Joyce, D'Auria (Swales 90), Darby (Brown 73), Alcide, Williams. Bookings: Darby.

EXETER Bayes, Curran, Gale, Baddeley, Richardson, Gittens, Tosh, Rees, McConnell, Holloway, Wilkinson (Gardner 87). Subs not used: Fry, Breslan.

Bookings: Richardson, Wilkinson.

Referee: A Bates (Stoke-on-Trent).