McHale task looks near-impossible

Scarborough 1-2 ECFC

Exeter Scorers:
Rowbotham, Batty

Attendance: 2124


DESPERATE Scarborough are in a worse state than when they sacked Colin Morris as manager a week ago. Now caretaker boss Ray McHale has the near-impossible task of injecting life into a small squad depleted of its best players and rock bottom in confidence. That was evident during the second half of Saturdays game as high-flying Exeter hassled the Seasiders into surrendering an early lead and stealing the points with a last minute winner. Transfer-listed striker Paul Dobson put Boro ahead in the 20th minute, heading home Steve Richards' head-on from Steve Saunders' corner.

But that was the only highlight, besides a solid performance by Notts County central defender Nicky Law at the start of his months loan at Seamer Road. Gary Brook missed a perfect chance after being set free by Dobson just after the break, but the Blackpool-bound striker failed to control the ball, allowing Dave Walter to gather on the edge of the box. The Grecians stepped up the pace and the inevitable 70th minute equaliser came when lan Ironside failed to hold Brian McDermott's fierce shot and top scorer Darren Rowbotham cracked in the follow-up. Boro fell apart and slumped to their sixth sucessive defeat when Paul Batty rose well to head home Danny Bailey's cross from the right.

SCARBOROUGH:
Ironside. Short. Kamara. Law. Richards. Bennyworth, Saunders (Clarke 62 mins). Graham. Dobson (Robinson 82 mins), Brook. Olsson.

EXETER CITY:
Walter, Hiley, Young. (Harrower 62 mins). McNichol. Taylor, Batty, Rowbotham. Bailey McDermott. Neville. Dryden