Stockport 0 Exeter 0
by HARRY WATSON

EXETER extended their unbeaten run to 11 games at Edgeley Park, but they had their worries before securing a very useful promotion point. They survived a minor miracle midway in the second half.

County wing-half Graham Ricketts moved on to a ball on the 18-yard line and hammered it against the Exeter post. It bounced across to the other side of the net where the head of full-back Smyth kept it out, and then the ball was grabbed by goal keeper Alan Barnett. That was typical of Exeter, for they saw what to do quicker than Stockport and always looked a move or two ahead. But for all their skill, rhythm and confidence the forwards. especially Alan Banks, Dermot Curtis, and roaming Adrian Thorne simply could not penetrate Stockport's courageous defence in which goalkeeper Graham Beithdon made two magnificent flying saves.
Masterful
David Johnston, playing against his old Exeter team-mates. Colin Parry were so masterful that wing-half Graham and Ricketts was often free to go on the attack.
Apart from hitting the post, the ex-Bristol Rovers left half nearly beat Barnett in the first half, but the agile goalkeeper made a split second one-handed save when the ball appeared to be going past him. Dermot Curtis, who hit the outside of the Stockport post in the first few minutes, was given offside the only time he actually got the ball in the net.
The only time too that Stockport got the better of Alan Barnett, Hugh Ryden was penalised for fouling the goalkeeper as he dispossessed him and flicked the ball through. Exeter had a great defence which was not ashamed to have the assistance of the forwards when circumstances demanded it. They were well worth a point.

STOCKPORT COUNTY 0
Beighton; Johnston, Cuthbert; Wylie, Parry, Ricketts; Watt, Ryden, France, Devonport, Davock,

EXETER CITY 0.
Barnett; Smyth, MacDonald; Hancock, Harvey, Anderson; Rees, Banks, Curtis, Grace, Thorne.

Attendance 2773

WESTERN LEAGUE 

EXETER CITY RESERVES 3-3 BATH CITY 

Parkhill; Quarrington, Gough; Rutley, Parsons, Spiers; Walsh, Dodd, Riding, Edgar, Ley,

Scorers
Exeter City Riding 2, Edgar,