Match 04
25th August 1979
Mansfield Town (h)
Exeter as grey as the day
EXETER CITY 2, MANSFIELD 1
An Injury time winner, dramatically snatched by David Pullar, brought Exeter the much-needed relief of their first League victory this season. But there was little else to enthuse over. Although in terms of possession and attacking run of play Exeter clearly came out on top, there remained a lack of fluent fusion as a complete team. Even so after a disastrous start to their League programme of two defeats and six goals conceded, everyone was grateful that though it had to be pulled out of the fire in the nick of time the all important win was achieved. Manager Brian Godfrey was the first to admit: "We did not play well. We know that. But we have broken the ice. "After those two defeats we were lacing a bit of confidence. Hopefully the win will do the trick."
Most of the first-half was as drab and scrappy as the greyness of the day. The only real colour was the scarlet of carnations in a floral motif presented to skipper John Hore before the kick-off to mark the club's 75th anniversary. The real action came in the second period. Exeter's first goal was in the 52nd-minute, almost a comedy of confusion. A Steve Neville corner produced all sorts of problems. Peter Rogers lunged a weakly hit shot and Derrick Dawkings could not prevent the softest of shots trickling over the goal-line. Four minutes later Steve Taylor broke free on his own and although Vince O'Keefe came to the rescue with a remarkable save, the ball went loose for Terry Austin to lash the equaliser. Then came that injury-time winner. It was Peter Hatch's cross that sparked off the danger. Defender Ian Wood in trying to clear headed onto his own bar and Pullar was there to thrash the rebound into the roof of the net.
Exeter lost full-back Martyn Rogers at the end of the first half with a groin injury and he had to be stretchered off.
ECFC 2-1 Mansfield Town
Scorers: P. Rodgers, Pullar
Attendance: 3.475.
EXETER CITY 2, MANSFIELD 1
An Injury time winner, dramatically snatched by David Pullar, brought Exeter the much-needed relief of their first League victory this season. But there was little else to enthuse over. Although in terms of possession and attacking run of play Exeter clearly came out on top, there remained a lack of fluent fusion as a complete team. Even so after a disastrous start to their League programme of two defeats and six goals conceded, everyone was grateful that though it had to be pulled out of the fire in the nick of time the all important win was achieved. Manager Brian Godfrey was the first to admit: "We did not play well. We know that. But we have broken the ice. "After those two defeats we were lacing a bit of confidence. Hopefully the win will do the trick."
Most of the first-half was as drab and scrappy as the greyness of the day. The only real colour was the scarlet of carnations in a floral motif presented to skipper John Hore before the kick-off to mark the club's 75th anniversary. The real action came in the second period. Exeter's first goal was in the 52nd-minute, almost a comedy of confusion. A Steve Neville corner produced all sorts of problems. Peter Rogers lunged a weakly hit shot and Derrick Dawkings could not prevent the softest of shots trickling over the goal-line. Four minutes later Steve Taylor broke free on his own and although Vince O'Keefe came to the rescue with a remarkable save, the ball went loose for Terry Austin to lash the equaliser. Then came that injury-time winner. It was Peter Hatch's cross that sparked off the danger. Defender Ian Wood in trying to clear headed onto his own bar and Pullar was there to thrash the rebound into the roof of the net.
Exeter lost full-back Martyn Rogers at the end of the first half with a groin injury and he had to be stretchered off.
ECFC 2-1 Mansfield Town
Scorers: P. Rodgers, Pullar
Attendance: 3.475.
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