Match 45
14th April 1973
Doncaster (h)
14th April 1973
Football League
Exeter 0-1 Doncaster Rovers
Match report by By DEREK LEAN
It was not a case of saving the good wine until last as far as Exeter City was concerned. This was their final Saturday home match of the season there is still time on Easter Monday to produce a drop of the vintage stuff - and a dreary, rather depressing affair it was. Not only did Exeter concede their second home defeat of the season, and so permit Doncaster to do the double, but the game itself was neither a footballing gem nor a barn-storming thriller. There was a moment too when referee Tom Reynolds of Swansea, decided to call the two captains together and presumably issue instructions to reduce the tempera- ture a little. To be fair, if the mercury had risen it was not Exeter's fault. Some of the Doncaster tackling obviously upset trainer Jack Edwards, and Brian Joy was booked near the end of the game.
The game did not look a particularly ill-tempered affair, but there obviously was some robust stuff going on. When Mr. Reynolds spoke to the skippers, 18 fouls had been recorded, five from Exeter and 13 from Doncaster. Most disappointing of all was Exeter's form. In the first-half the defence looked terribly suspect, but Doncaster failed to capitalise further on this obvious weakness.
Exeter's first half attacking play was a pale shadow of what has been seen this season. They stepped it up in the second half and consistently stuck to the task of pushing forward. There were moments when they should have scored, but for most of the time there was little menace. Chances were not pounced on, and others were allowed to pass without being chased into the ground. Exeter started full of promise as Alan Banks teed up a shot for Fred Binney, and it had to be hastily cleared off the line. That enterprising opening did not last long, and after 13 minutes, Exeter were a goal down. Peter Kitchen on the Doncaster right-wing did the running, and then back-heeled to give the element of surprise. Chris Rabjohn was out on the edge of the box, at an angle, but his beautifully taken shot soared into the top corner of the net, well out of Bob Wilson's reach. It was after this that Doncaster should have cashed in, but their centre-forward John Haselden was hesitant when presented with a couple of glorious opportunities.
So when they stepped up the tempo of their attacking play in the second period, there was always the chance of them getting back into the game. Binney might have done better with a couple of efforts, Banks hit the cross-bar with one shot, and Kim Book in the Doncaster goal cut out a couple of dangerous crosses and blocked a rip-roaring shot from Dave Gibson.
Attendance, 3,609.
Football League
Exeter 0-1 Doncaster Rovers
Match report by By DEREK LEAN
It was not a case of saving the good wine until last as far as Exeter City was concerned. This was their final Saturday home match of the season there is still time on Easter Monday to produce a drop of the vintage stuff - and a dreary, rather depressing affair it was. Not only did Exeter concede their second home defeat of the season, and so permit Doncaster to do the double, but the game itself was neither a footballing gem nor a barn-storming thriller. There was a moment too when referee Tom Reynolds of Swansea, decided to call the two captains together and presumably issue instructions to reduce the tempera- ture a little. To be fair, if the mercury had risen it was not Exeter's fault. Some of the Doncaster tackling obviously upset trainer Jack Edwards, and Brian Joy was booked near the end of the game.
The game did not look a particularly ill-tempered affair, but there obviously was some robust stuff going on. When Mr. Reynolds spoke to the skippers, 18 fouls had been recorded, five from Exeter and 13 from Doncaster. Most disappointing of all was Exeter's form. In the first-half the defence looked terribly suspect, but Doncaster failed to capitalise further on this obvious weakness.
Exeter's first half attacking play was a pale shadow of what has been seen this season. They stepped it up in the second half and consistently stuck to the task of pushing forward. There were moments when they should have scored, but for most of the time there was little menace. Chances were not pounced on, and others were allowed to pass without being chased into the ground. Exeter started full of promise as Alan Banks teed up a shot for Fred Binney, and it had to be hastily cleared off the line. That enterprising opening did not last long, and after 13 minutes, Exeter were a goal down. Peter Kitchen on the Doncaster right-wing did the running, and then back-heeled to give the element of surprise. Chris Rabjohn was out on the edge of the box, at an angle, but his beautifully taken shot soared into the top corner of the net, well out of Bob Wilson's reach. It was after this that Doncaster should have cashed in, but their centre-forward John Haselden was hesitant when presented with a couple of glorious opportunities.
So when they stepped up the tempo of their attacking play in the second period, there was always the chance of them getting back into the game. Binney might have done better with a couple of efforts, Banks hit the cross-bar with one shot, and Kim Book in the Doncaster goal cut out a couple of dangerous crosses and blocked a rip-roaring shot from Dave Gibson.
Attendance, 3,609.
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