Grecians unbeaten run extended 

Exeter City 2-0 Maidstone United 

Report by Mark Halliwell

EXETER City got back to winning ways after three successive away defeats with this deserved, yet hard earned victory.

Despite City's superiority throughout, they had to be content with second half goals from Darran Rowbotham and a 30 yard effort from substitute Paul Batty, wildly deflected home by defender Les Berry, to extend their unbeaten home record to 21 games. Winger Brian McDermott sent a teasing cross over from the right wing within the first minute with Clive Whitehead, advancing at the far post, just inches away from it. Moments later, Whitehead himself curled a centre from the other flank inches wide of the post. Four minutes later Ian Benjamin rose to direct Scott Hiley's perfect centre goalwards and Mark Beeney was glad to fingertip the ball over his crossbar to safety.

After eleven minutes, City had the ball in the net, only for referee John Carter to wipe it out immediately. Whitehead cut into the box from the left, Beeney fumbled his effort and Rowbotham forced the ball over the line, only for the official to rule that the country's top scorer's foot was dangerously high. As City's wave of attacks continued, Maidstone had defender Darren Oxbrow to thank for a inch perfect tackle on Steve Neville inside the box.

Tempers became a little frayed after Beeney had fallen gratefully on Shaun Taylor's goalbound header. Jim McNichol following up on what he hoped would be a fumble by the Maidstone keeper was spoken to along with a couple of Maidstone defenders after a minor fracas. It took Maidstone 27 minutes to mount their first serious attack, but Mark Gall, scorer of 20 goals this season, miskicked with just Miller to beat. McNichol became the first player to be booked after 34 minutes as Gall, beginning to make his electric pace tell was brought down as he threat- ened to burst through the centre of City's defence. City skipper Taylor joined him in the book seconds before the break for another tackle on the elusive Gall. Sandwiched in between, Paul Rumble and Steve Butler also incurred the wrath of referee Carter, Rumble being booked for not retreating at a free kick, and Butler receiving a caution for dissent. Just as it seemed City would never break through. Rowbotham popped up 13 minutes after the break-with the first goal. McDermott's corner was returned to him, he swung a cross back into the box, and McNichol's header was flicked home by Rowbotham running in at the far post. Butler, who had a quiet afternoon compared to striking partner Gall, shrugged off the challenge of young defender Tony Frankland, drafted in at left back, and sent in a floating chip over the advancing Miller but agonisingly wide of the upright. At the other end, Beeney was performing heroics to keep City out, notably after 67 minutes when he dived to his right to claw away McNichol's downward header from McDermott's corner.

Still Gall was the only man likely to reach the City defence, but Scott Hiley, just as it seemed Gall had shaken him off, produced a fine tackle to stop him in his tracks. Miller, despite being inac- tive for long periods was alert enough to push over Howard Pritchard's cross, and then to gather safely from substitute Ken Charlery's chip. Butler was close to unwittingly grabbing an equaliser. for Maidstone after 76 minutes. Charlery's cross reached Danny Bailey but his attempted clearance ricochetted off Butler's head and flew inches wide of the upright with Miller beaten. But two minutes later City broke and scored again to seal the points. Paul Batty, only on the field for four minutes after replacing the injured Whitehead, unleashed a 30 yard rocket which struck centre half Berry on the shoulder, the deflection taking it into the top corner past a static and bewildered Beeney.

Exeter City 
Miller, Hiley, Benjamin, McNichol, Taylor, Whitehead. Rowbotham, Bailey. McDermott, Neville, Frankland

Subs: Batty (for Whitehead, 73 mins) Rogers (not used).

Maidstone:
Beeney, Barton, Cooper (sub: Charley 63 mins), Berry, Golley, Oxbrow, Gall, Elsey, Pritchard (sub: Sorrell 76 mins), Butler, Rumble.

Referee:- Mr John Carter (Christchurch)

Bookings:
McNichol, Taylor (Exeter); Butler, Rumble (Maidstone).

Scorers: Rowbotham, Berry (og)
Attendance: 4181