McEwan sparkle rocks Exeter

By JOHN THOMPSON

Rotherham 2 Exeter 0

Rotherham lost little time in shaking off the trauma of their crushing defeat at Swindon in mid-week, turning on some fine football against outplayed Exeter. And without being unkind to Exeter, Rotherham should have at least equalled the Swindon tally of half a dozen goals. That they did not do so was due first to Exeter goalkeeper Ian Main and to their own poor finishing. Rotherham were first in positive action, and Main brought off a fine save from Vic Halom. Then Mick Gooding, restored to the wing, cut inside two defenders before crashing a shot into the side netting. Rotherham went on the rampage and after Gerry Forrest had surged through for a 20-yard shot which Main safely handled, Vic Halom split the Exeter defence only for Mick Gooding to over-run the ballwith the goal at his mercy. Only solid cover for Main by Lee Roberts and veteran John Hore kept Rotherham from going in front until the 34th. minute when Billy McEwan netted. Then, after 63 minutes. defender John Green finally forced the ball home from close range after McEwan's free-kick.

ROTHERHAM UTD. Brown Forrest, Taylor, Rhodes, Stancliffe, Green Gooding. McEwan. Halom Winn. Henson, Sub: Owen.

EXETER CITY-Main. Rogers M. Ireland. Hore, Roberts L, Neville Rogers, Roberts P. Kellow, Forbes, Pullar. Sub: Pratt

Rotherham United 2-0 Exeter City 

Attendance: 3,241

Match Report 2 

Exeter Stumble 

ROTHERHAM gave the improved Exeter team the message that they can follow next term. United, being steadily reshaped by manager lan Porterfield, were short only in finishing power, And that was true of Exeter, too, Exeter, with rare chances, seemed more likely to use them, but found 'keeper Brown in superb form. McEwan scored first with a fine angled shot after a mis-hit clearance attempt by Pullar. Neville was booked early an for a foul from behind on Henson. Exeter keeper Main had most of the problems in the first-half. He should have been beaten by Winn but the ball went wide. He then smothered a shot at Gooding's feet. When Exeter broke Brown made a magnificent dive to cut out a cross from Peter Rogers. Brown saved Rotherham when he dived at Kellow's feet and, from then on, Rotherham ran the show. They made certain of victory when Green netted.