SATURDAY 24th FEBRUARY
WREXHAM 1 EXETER CITY 1

To say the least, there were quite a few rumours flying around the City end of the Racecourse Ground before the game. Upon taking my seat in the stand was at first informed that Dazza would be winging his way in the direction of Stamford Bridge and Terry was being interviewed for the Argyle job on Monday. The announcement that Rowbotham was substitute only helped to fuel the discussions.

Without Darran in the first period, our attack was very tepid. The only real threat came from a Clive Whitehead pass which set up Paul Eshelby, but the debutant was tackled as he shaped up to shoot. To be honest, Wrexham were not much better but Darren Wright's header on the stroke of half time was just inches over the bar.

The sight of Rowbotham warming up at half time gladdened all the City travellers, and within five minutes he was starting to look a real theat around the Wrexham area. However, just as City were beginning to control the game, the Welsh club took the lead. A corner fell to Nigel Beaumont and his shot was deflected past Kevin Miller.

City then decided enough was enough and at last they began to show some urgency up front. Neville's superb header clipped the post and Richard Dryden, back after injury but not his usual self, shot over the bar when he really should have scored. Beaumont cleared off the line and headed out from under his own crossbar while O'Keefe parried a Taylor shot to Eshelby but he couldn't steer the ball in.

Then on eighty-four minutes a touchline fracas between Sean Reck and Clive Whitehead ended with both being showed the red card. It was clear that Reck's dismissal was for punching Whitehead but the question we were all asking was why the City man was sent off as well. The referee later said that both players had been sent off for violent conduct - what was violent about Clive lying on the pitch in agony really is beyond me!

We were all incensed but our anger turned to joy from the resulting free kick. Danny Bailey floated the ball into the area and Jim McNichol looped his header just below the crossbar. The away contingent, virtually all congregated in the seats above the away terrace, celebrated with much gusto Paul Land dislocated his shoulder in the scenes of joy (serves him right for spreading that crap about Terry !), and was lead across the pitch at the end with his arm in a sling. Predictably the City support chorused 'If you've all got one hand, clap your hands' 

Despite the television highlights, where only about twelve visiting fans are visible in the terrace, there was certainly a mighty contingent of City supporters at the Racecourse. If anyone disputes that there were 600 of us there, put bluntly, you can bugger off. The Border Stand seats 2,000 people and it was easily one third full ... and besides, did you hear the roar on the tele' when City scored ?

MATCH DETAILS

WREXHAM TEAM O'Keefe, Salathiel, Wright, Reck, Beaumont, Youds, Preece (Armstrong 86), Macken, Sertori, Worthington, Bowden.

CITY TEAM Miller, Hiley, Harrower (Rowbotham 45), McNichol, Taylor, Whitehead, Eshelby, Bailey, Batty, Neville (Rowe 75), Dryden.

SCORERS:
1-0 Beaumont 58, 1-1 McNichol 84.

ATTENDANCE 2,126 (600 City fans).

SENDINGS OFF: Reck and Whitehead 64.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Paul Batty.