Jim earns vital win 

Tuesday 10th April 1990

Match Report 

EXETER CITY took a giant stride towards promotion last night with a crucial win that extended their lead at the top of Division 4 to four points. and may doomed have Colchester to relegation. It was a game they had to win if they were still to be considered serious championship contenders and they did it with a performance full of commitment, confidence and true professionalism. And the man who won it for them epitomises those qualities Jim McNichol. rugged in defence, single-minded in attack, struck his 10th goal of the season in the 60th minute to secure City's first away win of 1990. There was a feeling of unbridled jubilation among players and staff on the long trip back from Essex They feel they are on their way to Division 3 and the fans who were there to witness this important result agree, as their confident chants pro claimed.

"The Reds are going up" came the cry from the terraces, perhaps a little premature with seven games to go. But after hearing how the other promotion contenders had contrived to strengthen City's position, the bold prediction assumed greater credibility. Manager Terry Cooper admitted afterwards I can hardly believe how the other. results have gone for us. It's tremendous." "We've played some rubbish away from home at times this season but tonight we were superb. And if we're not careful, we're going to go up," he added proudly. Gone was the dejection of last week's defeat at York and the disappointment of dropped home points against Stockport on Saturday. Self belief replaced self doubt as City dominated their relegation haunted hosts.

Cooper made one significant change to the starting line-up, bringing in Richard Young for Kevin Summerfield up front. And the manager's orders for solid defending and purposeful attacking were rigidly followed. Nobody shirked responsibility and that's something we haven't been able to report consis tently this season. City took the initiative from the first whistle but Colchester goalkeeper Andrew Marriott was not seriously tested until the 38th minute when a McNichol shot forced him into a low save to his left.

McNichol also sent a towering header just wide and Tom Kelly, looking far more assured and comfortable in midfield than he did at the weekend, got his head bravely to a Scott Hiley cross on the 18 yard line and sent Marriott scrambling to keep the ball out. The Colchester 'keeper had less trouble dealing with tamer efforts from the lively Steve Neville. Shaun Taylor and Danny Bailey as City applied continuous pressure while Kevin Miller was largely redundant in the first half. He looked to be in trouble though in the 48th minute when battling Trevor Morgan and Tom English combined to tee up Tony English but with only Miller to beat from 10 yards, he lost all composure and blasted the ball out of the ground. City's miserly defence allowed Colchester only the odd half chance from then on the back four superbly supported at all times. There was never any real doubt about the result with City in such determined mood. The goal that secured those three precious points and completed City's third double of the season came from a set piece. Whitehead, whose service. to the front men was excellent throughout, swung in a free kick right footed. It was cleared but only as far as Kelly, he hoisted the ball high into the danger zone, Taylor headed down and McNichol lashed it into the back of the net. It was the first goal Colchester had conceded at Layer Road in 555 minutes of football and one the home side never looked capable of equalising. And they let in a second late on but were reprieved by referee David Reed from West Heath Angus McPher son, sharp and tenacious at left back, burst forward and squared from the byline, forcing Karl Goddard into a panic clearance that cannoned off Young and into the net but Mr Reed said the City striker had handled. Young's disappointment aside, it mattered not, especially when the other re-sults from Division 4 filtered through. Second placed Grimsby were sent crashing to their first home defeat in 10 games as Peterborough pulled of a shock 2-1 victory. Chesterfield were held 2-2 by Scarborough and Carlisle slumped 3-1 at home to Aldershot. Southend had former City striker Roy McDonough sent off at Burnley after just 15 minutes but hung on for a 0-0 draw.

And now you're going to believe us, the Reds are going up.

Teams 

Colchester United

1. Andy Marriott
2. Marcelle Bruce
3. Karl Goddard
4. Billy Gilbert
5. Scott Daniels
6. Neale Marmon
7. Tommy English
8. Tony English
9. Trevor Morgan
10. Richard Wilkins
11. Les Taylor
Sub(s):
12. Robert Scott - replaced Tommy English
13. Eamonn Collins - unused

Exeter City

1. Kevin Miller
2. Scott Hiley
3. Angus McPherson
4. Jim McNichol
5. Shaun Taylor
6. Clive Whitehead
7. Tom Kelly
8. Danny Bailey
9. Brian McDermott
10. Steve Neville
11. Richard Young

Goalscorers 60' Jim McNichol

Colchester U 0-1 Exeter City 

Attendance 3369

Referee D.Reed.