2nd December 1972
Football League
Exeter 2-1 Barnsley

What the papers said!

Exeter City are doggedly staying with the Fourth Division leaders, and are finding out the truth of the old saying about it being tough at the top. In the first half particularly Exeter had territorial command, but possession in soccer is not much good unless it is turned into goals. Exeter's striking force was woe fully weak and it was left to a de fender, skipper Mike Balson, to do the damage. Exeter's trouble was that they could not link their movements together into any fluent and constructive plan of attack. But finally Exeter did get a goal, just five minutes from the interval. Any hopes though that it would prove to be the starting signal to a runaway victory were quickly dashed. At the start of the second half Barnsley began to show paces that certainly had remained hidden in the previous 45 minutes. They grabbed an equaliser and it quickly became clear that Exeter had a fight on their hands. For a long time it looked as if Barnsley would share the points be cause Exeter still could not knit together into an attacking force. And it was not until ten minutes from time that Exeter got the goal that gave them victory. Barnsley were not showing much in the way of attacking football. There was a fierce skirmish following a free kick, but although Dick Plumb and Fred Binney both tried shots, they were blocked. Then in the 40th minute a Barry Rowan corner was headed back in to the goalmouth area by Tony Morrin and Mike Balson hammered the ball with Barnsley net.
In the 55th minute Barnsley set up a move which completely exposed the Exeter defence. Alistair Miller pushed the ball wide to Peter Martin who took a well placed shot on the run to beat Bob Wilson. The goal that settled the game came when a Dave Gibson free kick was headed in by Balson after he had made a spectacular dive.
-Independent

Mike Balson, back as Exeter skipper, set a fine example for his team mates. Normally one of the iron men of the defence, he grabbed both goals to keep Exeter in touch at the top of the League table. Exeter's regular strikers were com pletely out of touch. Barnsley impressed in the first period but Balson got his first goal just before the interval. But they bounced back with an equaliser, shortly after the restart and Exeter had to start all over again. Once again it was Balson who came to the rescue. He got the winner 10 minutes from time. Exeter opened full of confidence as if they were convinced victory would be simple. Binney tried a snap shot at goal and 'keeper Brian. Arblester had to dive to push it away for a corner. But it was not in fact a pointer of things to come. Barry Rowan blasted a couple wide and Binney handled the ball into the net, but by and large Exeter's attacking was falling down before anybody could get in a shot at goal. At the other end Campbell Craw ford had to blast the ball off the line after a header from Eric Winstanley. In the 40th minute a Barry Rowan corner was headed back into the middle by Tony Martin and Balson. was on the spot to crash the ball into the net. Barnsley struck back in the 55th minute when Alistair Miller pushed a pass wide to Peter Martin, who cut in and hammered a shot past. goalkeeper Bob Wilson. And 10 minutes from the end Balson headed home a Dave Gibson free kick. 
Express

Exeter skipper Mike Balson has only scored three goals this season and two of them came in this game. Wing-half Balson succeeded where his forwards failed. Exeter had plenty of the play, but they failed to cash in and their approach work lacked impact. Time and again attacking movements fell down before anyone could get a shot at goal. The result was that Exeter made hard work of beating a not very impressive side. There was a stage when it looked as if Exeter would have to be con tent with a draw. Although they took the lead just before the inter val Barnsley suddenly started to show their paces in the second half and grabbed an equaliser. Balson's vital goal which keeps Exeter up with the Leaque leaders didn't come until 10 minutes from time. It was a scrappy sort of affair throughout. Fred Binney, Exeter's
top scorer, forced Brian Arblester into a diving save early on, but apart from a couple of efforts wide of the mark from Barry Rowan and an incident when Binney got the bail. into the net-but with his hands there was little happening near goal. Barnsley was not much of an attacking force in this half, but in one raid full-back Campbell Craw ford had to clear off the line to a header from Eric Winstanley. Five minutes from half-time a corner from Barry Rowan was pushed back into the middle and Balson was well placed to hit a powerful drive into the net. The goal was not to be the start of any runaway win. Far from it. In the 55th minute Barnsley completely split Exeter's defence and left winger Peter Martin smashed home a fine equaliser.
But 10 minutes from the end Exeter were awarded a free kick. Dave Gibson floated one across the Barnsley goal and Balson came rac ing in to head in the winner.
-News of the World

Skipper Mike Balson crowned a fine match with two vital goals to keep up Exeter's promotion challenge. He timed them both to perfec tion. His first came towards the interval when Exeter's initial burst seemed to have fizzled out.
Barnsley were beginning to take the fight deep into the Exeter half when Balson burst into the box and hammered a rebound into the net. After Barnsley had equalised in the second half, Balson struck again, heading home a Gibson free kick. It was a tough fight for Exeter. With two of their best midfield players, Giles and Parker, missing through suspension and injury, and with Blain still unfit, it was a second-string defence that defied a Barnsley fight-back. O'Connor was the only Barnsley attacker to threaten a goal. Two full-length saves by Wilson ended his chances, and although Sharp went close with a long range effort. that skimmed the bar, they were never a serious challenge. Barnsley were back in the match early in the second half when Mar tin, the best of a poor bunch of forwards, broke clear on the right and as Wilson tried to narrow the angle, slid the ball home.
-PEOPLE