Colchester United 0-0 Exeter City 

Even Colchester's manager, Bobby Roberts, had to admit that Exeter City were unfortunate to come away with just one point from a goalless draw at Layer Road last night. 
"There was not total commitment from our team and Exeter were definitely the unlucky side in the draw," said Roberts in his after match summing up. City had much the best of a scrappy game on a slippery pitch. Once they came to terms with the conditions, they found a hesitant home defence to their liking and proceeded to dominate the first half. Steve Neville, who replaced Tony Kellow after he had failed a fitness test on his injured shoulder, caused all sorts of problems for United's defence.
Good support
And he received some good support from John Delve, who was back to his best in midfield. Two good chances fell to Ray Pratt inside the first 20 minutes. First he headed wide of an open goal and then he put his volley into the terraces after stealing behind a square Colchester defence. Neville outpaced his Full-back on numerous Occasions and was unlucky with one shot which curled narrowly past the far post. Peter Hatch suffered a similar fate with a free kick as Exeter more like a home team in a one-sided first half. But in fact it was Colchester who came closest to scoring when Steve Wignall looped a header on to the top the bar with Ian Main well beaten. The second half saw something of a transformation as Colchester finally decided to push a Third man up front from their struggling midfield. Skipper Steve Foley, who inspired their six-goal blitz against Brentford 10 days ago, gave Colchester added strength up front and caused Jimmy Giles and John Hore their first big problems of the night.

However, United's general inability in front of goal continued and although they dominated the last half hour, Main was seldom troubled. Giles proved to be a tower of strength in the City defence, while young Roy Ireland did a perfect spoiling job on former Exeter player, Bobby Hodge, in midfield

Colchester 
Walker, Cook, Packer, Leslie, Wignall, Dowman, Hodge, Rowley, Foley, Lee, Allison. 

Exeter 
Main, Rodgers (M), Hatch, Hore, Giles, Roberts, Pratt, Rodgers (P), Ireland, Delve, Neville. 

Attendance: 2,780
Referee R.Toseland 

Match Report 2 
Walker's at his best to halt Exeter battlers

Colchester 0, Exeter 0

COLCHESTER lost a great chance of making up ground on the leaders when they failed to break through a dominant Exeter defence.

Indeed, Exeter almost snatched a surprise win, forcing a couple of desperate saves from Mike Walker. John Delve set up sev eral good moves for Exeter, and Steve Neville was lively in attack. Colchester's best effort was. Steve Wignall header that hit the bar