Uri Geller: the man who can bend spoons, repair
watches, AND make Exeter win! :
ED HOGG REPORTS FROM ST JAMES'S PARK
AT HALFTIME last night an Exeter victory appeared about as likely
as Grecians boss Peter Fox discovering a latent ability to bend
spoons with nothing but the power of thought.
But internationallyacclaimed psychic Uri Geller has a repertoire
that stretches even further than ruining perfectlygood cutlery
and repairing ailing watches.
Geller who had seen Exeter trail at the break with the aid of
television's teletext service confidently predicted an improbable
victory for the home side.
Anybody who had witnessed Saturday's miserable 10 reverse at the
hands of visiting Northampton, previous home defeats by Cambridge,
Fulham and Barnet or even an opening period in which City had
been absolutely outclassed by the Cumbrians, would have collapsed
in hysterics at that forecast.
But Fox's players responded in inspirational fashion.
Chris Myers' 79th minute equaliser was nothing less than deserved.
Mark Chamberlain's late winner completed the transformation in
the mood surrounding St James's Park.
The Grecians merited their standing ovation. The verve and vigour
shown by an identical team to the one outgritted by the Cobblers
seemed inconceivable three days earlier when the fans' frustration
had manifested itself in a significant if tiny onpitch demonstration
against the manager.
Last week Fox had bizarrely predicted the forthcoming visit of
fellow strugglers Northampton would be tougher than the Carlisle
clash.
But if his charges had performed as they did last night against
the Cobblers and Barnet, Scarborough, Doncaster, Fulham and Cambridge,
all of whom have emerged unscathed from trips to Exeter this term
- City fans would not have been casting anxious glances at the
foot of Division 3.
"This result gives us a little bit of breathing space,"
declared Fox later.
"We've still got a long, hard season ahead of us. But I've
got a great bunch of lads here and they deserved that victory.
"We probably showed Carlisle a bit too much respect in the
first half. "
The guests, beaten just once in their opening dozen league contests
and with the best rearguard record in the section, snatched a
fortuitous 14th minute lead and then demonstrated the ability
to defend it.
City had begun brightly enough but the signs were ominous when
Allan Smart claimed the credit for the Cumbrians opener rookie
Exeter defender Matt Hare blemishing an otherwise superb display
by sweeping his attempted clearance against Smart's shins and
the ricochet creeping inside Ashley Bayes' righthand post.
Exeter, prior to last night, had never successfully come from
behind to avoid defeat this season.
Carlisle would have doubled the deficit before the interval without
superb Bayes stops to foil Smart from pointblank range and Steve
Hayward's swerving freekick.
But City, fortified by Geller's message of encouragement, began
the second period at breakneck pace.
Lee Hodges' superb 51st minute pass sent John Sharpe scurrying
clear for a shot that Tony Caig blocked with his legs and Sharpe
promptly drove just wide after Hodges and Leon Braithwaite had
done the spadework.
Bayes brilliantly beat away Warren Aspinall's ferocious volley
in an isolated Carlisle attack.
But Exeter responded with Steve Flack, who had narrowly failed
to convert Hodges' delicious first minute pass, heading just wide
from Chamberlain's cross.
Jon Richardson then nodded Darren Hughes' corner the wrong side
of Caig's righthand upright, Hodges' fired fractionally too
high and Braithwaite couldn't supply the finishing touch to Sharpe's
low cross.
When Flack butted just wide from a Chamberlain freekick, Fox leapt
from the dugout to hurl his trademark clipboard to the ground
in anguish.
But within 60 seconds City made the breakthrough: Myers bustling
past Dean Walling to plant a precise leftfoot shot beyond Caig
after enterprising work from substitute Barry McConnell.
And Chamberlain promptly stole the show, accepting the invitation
of Braithwaite's nearpost cross at the second attempt.
FAN'S VIEW
CITY were brilliant in the second half it was certainly the best
game I've seen this season. There was atmosphere, skill everything
you could want.
Chris Myers has probably been my man of the season so far but
it would be unfair to single anybody out last night.
Andrew Jewell
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