Aldershot 0-1 Exeter City 

SUPER CITY IN TOP SPOT

EXETER CITY sit proudly at the top of the Fourth Division today following their hard-earned 1-0 Boxing Day knock-out of Aldershot at the Recreation ground.  After a shaky start, City gradually imposed their authority on the game and lan Benjamin's 30th minute headed goal was no more than they deserved. They were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty too and City manager Terry Cooper's angry protest earned a rebuke from the referee.

However, the match was never easy for City against a determined home side, whose fluency and flair created all the early chances.
After only two minutes, Aldershot's Northern Ireland international, Ian Stewart, worked his way through from the right to the edge of the box and slipped the ball back to Glen Burvill, who blasted just past the crossbar. Then Charlie Henry sent a superb long pass through to Stewart, who playing with the skill and precision of the First Division, weaved his way through the defence, and blasted at goal, only to see his effort beaten out and his second shot skim the far post. A City supporter shouted. "Come on Exeter, Southend were stuffed 2-0". This cry from the stand seemed to wake City and they started to play the kind of football that has taken them to the top. On 26 minutes, a Danny Bailey pass from the right into the middle of the Aldershot box was deflected out to the hard working Brian McDermott. He chipped in to the near post, and leading scorer Darran Rowbotham headed over the bar. back. However, in their next attack City scored. A free kick from the right by McDermott found Ian Benjamin at the far post and he headed powerfully past despairing 'keeper David Coles. A second goal was on the cards a minute before the interval when a blatant handball by Aldershot defender Mark Ogley in the penalty box was considered accidental by the Cambridgeshire referee Mike Bailey, who ordered play to continue. This provoked Exeter manager Cooper into a fit of rage which earned a warning from Mr Bailey

Both teams had opportunities in the second half, but failed to take them as Exeter defended magnificently to collect the three valuable points. City operated a sweeper system with Jim McNichol sidelined with 'flu and his ob- vious replacement, Lee Rogers, out of action with a ricked neck. Cooper drafted in trainee defender Tony Frank- land for his third senior game and loan signing Gary Elkins from Fulham made a steady debut at full-back after being booked in the 15th minute for a foul. Cooper said afterwards: "It was a good team performance. We had to soak up a lot of pressure but Kevin Miller did not have a lot to do. "We were not as fluent as we are at home with a 4-4-2 formation, but Aldershot have some experienced footballers and they have scored a lot of goals here. But we have kept a clean sheet because our tactics worked. "We can now relax at Southend on Saturday I wanted three points from one of these games and we have got those from Aldershot so we can have a right go at Southend."

Aldershot:
Coles, Brown, Phillips, Henry. Ogley, Williama Wignally, Claridge, Puckett, Stewart, Randall Sub (not used) Coombs

Exeter:
Miller, Hiley, Benjamin, Frankland, Taylor. Whitehead. Rowbotham, Bailey, McDermott, Neville, Elkins. Subs not used: Cooper, Batty.

Scorers: Benjamin
Attendance: 3101

Summary 
Boxing Day saw a Visit to Aldershot and their best crowd of the season, just over 3,000, came out to watch. City's constructive attacking football has been the main talking point of the season, but this was a game in which the stability of the defence was tested strongly.

It was nice to have further proof that the side is strong in all departments, something which seemed a little dubious after the Scunthorpe and Peterborough jamborees earlier deciding goal came from an in the season. The Ian Benjamin header after half an hour, prolonging the Christmas celebrations for the 400 travellers.