31st March 1973
Football League
Exeter City 4-1 Northampton

EXETER CITY: Clarke, Balson, Blain, Morrin, Giles, Clapham, Scott, Binney, Plumb, Wingate, Gibson Sub: Neale.

NORTHAMPTON: Roberts, Gould, Bruck, Gregory, Baxter, McGleish, Riddick, Tucker, Hawkins, Park, Neal. Sub: Bukowski.

Referee : M. V. Sinclair (Guildford).

Match report by TONY PHILLIPS

EXETER CITY are back on the goals and points trail again at last. This afternoon they beat Northampton Town 4-1 at St. James's Park for their first Division 4 success since January 27. But Exeter, after going two goals up in the first three minutes, made hard work of their success in front of their lowest gate of the season, 3,137, until they hit the target again with two goals in a minute midway through the second half.

There were no late changes in the Exeter side, but Northampton had problems, having only 13 fit players available. Exeter's manager, John Newman, was not at the match owing to domestic reasons. Exeter made just the start they needed by going two goals ahead in the first three minutes. The first came after one minute 44 seconds- and it was from the penalty spot. From a move down the left, the eventual outcome was a penalty.The ball was played to Wingate, who made strides and his cross was handled by Tucker. Up stepped BINNEY to slot the ball into the corner from the spot. Exeter's second goal came in the third minute as the cheers were still ringing around the ground from the City's first goal. This time a corner from the right was flicked on by Plumb and BINNEY was in a good position to head the ball into the net. What a start, but the scoring had not dried up. Because, in the 11th minute, Northampton pulled one back. It came when Park flighted a corner from the right, and RIDDICK rose above the City defence to score with a clean and powerful header that went in just under the bar. There should have been more drama in the 18th minute. From my position, I thought that Baxter punched the ball away inside his own area, but the referee, who was on the spot, ignored the incident. But Northampton could have equalised in the 22nd minute. A double mistake by Giles gave Riddick a chance, but Clarke did well to come off his line and smother the shot. Despite their position and one goal deficit Northampton were not being outplayed at this stage. Northampton were creating space wide, and it was certainly not all Exeter. Two successive City corners might have been more productive, particularly on the second occasion when Scott's cross shot through the Northampton area with the defence looking ragged. When Balson broke again from his deep position he was heavily brought down. From the free-kick, Plumb was not far off target with his diving header. At the other end, Blain saved Exeter with a good tackle on Neale for a corner, which was cleared.

Half-time:
Exeter City 2, Northampton 1.

Northampton almost equalised in the 48th minute when Tucker volleyed in a shot that Clarke did exceptionally well to block. Then Plumb's mistake gave Northampton chance, but a safely behind a Clarke was strong shot from McGleish, Binney was brought down just outside the Northampton area. The free kick had to be twice, and from the taken twice, second Wingate hit a low shot wide. Morrin raced through on a chance. but Roberts was quickly off his line to smother the effort. Exeter almost went further ahead in the 58th minute-and it all developed from a Northampton free kick on the edge of the City area! The free kick was blocked; Binney set Exeter moving for- ward, and from Blain's deep cross Plumb and Wingate went up at the far post and the ball hit the post from the header. Following a corner, Baxter volleyed a shot not far over the bar Exeter, after their sudden rush in the opening minutes, were making hard work of their task. and had Northampton been more effective in front of goal, they might well have been on level terms by this stage. In the 70th minute, Gregory had name taken. In the same incident Park went across to the Exeter winger, Scott, and the referee lectured the Northampton player before booking Gregory. Plumb almost increased Exeter's lead when he controlled the ball just inside the Northampton area and neatly beat his player only to pull a low shot inches wide of the far post with Roberts beaten. Suddenly Exeter struck their early form when they scored another two goals within a minute. The first of these came in the 76th minute. Morrin ran really well into space to take a quick throw in and then lobbed the ball over the Northampton defence towards the far post where BINNEY completed his hat-trick with close-range a header. A minute later the score was 4-1. Balson broke up an attack and pushed the ball through. PLUMB raced clear and as Roberts moved off his line, the City striker dummied to casually push the ball wide of the goalkeeper and into the net. Gregory was carried off by his colleagues with what looked to be a bad leg injury, and substitute Bukowski came on.