Match 47
7th March 1990
Halifax Town (h)
Exeter City 2-0 Halifax Town
Shaun has such a striking night
TAYLOR IN AT DOUBLE
Report by Trina Lake
EXETER CITY skipper Shaun Taylor scored the goals that took his side three points clear at the top of Division 4 last night and then spoke confidently about the club's promotion chances.
We've got to believe we can do it now We're in a great position with 16 games to go and if we can keep our home record going and pick up a few more points away we re there said the 27- year-old defender. As Wimbledon manager Bobby Gould, Bournemouth boss Harry Redknapp and scouts from a number of other clubs including Watford looked on Taylor scored in the 30th and 5th minutes to dispatch poor Halifax and extend City & unbeaten home run to 23 games It is the first time he has scored twice in a game and only the woodwork denied him a hat-trick. He was passed fit just hours before kick off after recover ing from a painful ankle injury. and played with heavy strapping that restricted his mobility. That didn't stop an exuberant celebration of his goals and a man of the match award but afterwards he modestly deflected personal glory and said I thought we did well as a team. I may have scored but if it wasn't for everybody else doing their job well and working hard we wouldn't have won. City were in confident control throughout the match and cheers of "The reds are going up" echoed resoundingly around St Jamess Park from another bumper crowd of 5,528. Halifax worked hard but never looked like causing an upart and forced City goalkee per Kevin Miller into just two serious saves all night. The Yorkshire outfits offside trap frustrated City in the first half and they found goalkeeper David Brown in outstanding form when they did break through. He dealt confidently and impressively with a string of dangerous crosses while de fenders Chris Hedworth and Paul Fleming came to the rescue with goal line clearances before City's irresistible football was finally rewarded. The inevitable first goal came with Halifax caught napping at a throw in Jim McNichol got behind the defence and fired the bail across for Taylor to force in from close range. City continued to dominate, snuffing out attempted Halifax breaks with ease and carving out openings at will. But the nearest they came to increasing their lead before the berak came on 44 minutes when Taylor stretched to meet a Clive Whitehead free kick and the ball crashed against the crossbar. Halifax, had to wait until the 52nd minute for the first shot on goal Miller saving a 20 yarder at the second attempt from Derek Hall who put another long range effort wide minutes later.
The respite from pressure was shorti lived for the Shaymen who fell further behind 13 minutes into the second half. And it was the old one-two that worked wonders again with McNichol heading down a Brian McDermott corner and Taylor stooping to nod the ball past Brown. It made a change for Taylor and McNichol to steal the a melight from Darran Rowbotham and Steve Neville but that usuaily deadly strike pair combined in one breathtaking 73rd minute move that deserved a goal. Only a world class save from Brown prevented Neville from scoring with a far post header from Rowbotham's unselfish cross in a superb counter-attacking move that also involved McDermott. City continued to mount wave upon wave of attacks, punctuated briefly by one Neil Matthews shot that drew a sprawling save from Miller in the 77th minute
Only a combination of indecisive finishing, desperate de fence and tore good work from the busy Brown saved. poor Halifax from greater embarrassment. They had three players - Hedworth Mitch Cook and Dean Martın booked for fouls while Steve Nevilie received a yellow card for an off the ball incident and Tavlor blemished an otherwise faultless nights work by being cautioned for kicking the ball away at an opposition free kick. There were a number of eye-catching performances from Terry Cooper's side and Taylor's was among the most outstanding but it would be no surprise if right back Scott Hairy were to attract a big money offer before the March 29 transfer deadline. He defended with confidence almost arrogance, and teased the Halifax left flank mercilessly in his persistent support of the attack. And at only 21, he must represent a tremendous investment for any First or Second Division manager.
Exeter City
Miller Hiley Dryden. McNichol, Taylor Whitehead, Rowbotham, Bailey McDermott Neville, Batty. Subs (not used) Eshelby, Rogers
Halifax Town
Brown Fleming Cook Hedworth. Graham Martin Hall (Naylor 75) Watson (Harrison 75), Richardson, Fyfe, Matthews.
Scorers: Taylor 2
Attendance: 5528
Shaun has such a striking night
TAYLOR IN AT DOUBLE
Report by Trina Lake
EXETER CITY skipper Shaun Taylor scored the goals that took his side three points clear at the top of Division 4 last night and then spoke confidently about the club's promotion chances.
We've got to believe we can do it now We're in a great position with 16 games to go and if we can keep our home record going and pick up a few more points away we re there said the 27- year-old defender. As Wimbledon manager Bobby Gould, Bournemouth boss Harry Redknapp and scouts from a number of other clubs including Watford looked on Taylor scored in the 30th and 5th minutes to dispatch poor Halifax and extend City & unbeaten home run to 23 games It is the first time he has scored twice in a game and only the woodwork denied him a hat-trick. He was passed fit just hours before kick off after recover ing from a painful ankle injury. and played with heavy strapping that restricted his mobility. That didn't stop an exuberant celebration of his goals and a man of the match award but afterwards he modestly deflected personal glory and said I thought we did well as a team. I may have scored but if it wasn't for everybody else doing their job well and working hard we wouldn't have won. City were in confident control throughout the match and cheers of "The reds are going up" echoed resoundingly around St Jamess Park from another bumper crowd of 5,528. Halifax worked hard but never looked like causing an upart and forced City goalkee per Kevin Miller into just two serious saves all night. The Yorkshire outfits offside trap frustrated City in the first half and they found goalkeeper David Brown in outstanding form when they did break through. He dealt confidently and impressively with a string of dangerous crosses while de fenders Chris Hedworth and Paul Fleming came to the rescue with goal line clearances before City's irresistible football was finally rewarded. The inevitable first goal came with Halifax caught napping at a throw in Jim McNichol got behind the defence and fired the bail across for Taylor to force in from close range. City continued to dominate, snuffing out attempted Halifax breaks with ease and carving out openings at will. But the nearest they came to increasing their lead before the berak came on 44 minutes when Taylor stretched to meet a Clive Whitehead free kick and the ball crashed against the crossbar. Halifax, had to wait until the 52nd minute for the first shot on goal Miller saving a 20 yarder at the second attempt from Derek Hall who put another long range effort wide minutes later.
The respite from pressure was shorti lived for the Shaymen who fell further behind 13 minutes into the second half. And it was the old one-two that worked wonders again with McNichol heading down a Brian McDermott corner and Taylor stooping to nod the ball past Brown. It made a change for Taylor and McNichol to steal the a melight from Darran Rowbotham and Steve Neville but that usuaily deadly strike pair combined in one breathtaking 73rd minute move that deserved a goal. Only a world class save from Brown prevented Neville from scoring with a far post header from Rowbotham's unselfish cross in a superb counter-attacking move that also involved McDermott. City continued to mount wave upon wave of attacks, punctuated briefly by one Neil Matthews shot that drew a sprawling save from Miller in the 77th minute
Only a combination of indecisive finishing, desperate de fence and tore good work from the busy Brown saved. poor Halifax from greater embarrassment. They had three players - Hedworth Mitch Cook and Dean Martın booked for fouls while Steve Nevilie received a yellow card for an off the ball incident and Tavlor blemished an otherwise faultless nights work by being cautioned for kicking the ball away at an opposition free kick. There were a number of eye-catching performances from Terry Cooper's side and Taylor's was among the most outstanding but it would be no surprise if right back Scott Hairy were to attract a big money offer before the March 29 transfer deadline. He defended with confidence almost arrogance, and teased the Halifax left flank mercilessly in his persistent support of the attack. And at only 21, he must represent a tremendous investment for any First or Second Division manager.
Exeter City
Miller Hiley Dryden. McNichol, Taylor Whitehead, Rowbotham, Bailey McDermott Neville, Batty. Subs (not used) Eshelby, Rogers
Halifax Town
Brown Fleming Cook Hedworth. Graham Martin Hall (Naylor 75) Watson (Harrison 75), Richardson, Fyfe, Matthews.
Scorers: Taylor 2
Attendance: 5528
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