Exeter boss Terry Cooper blasted the officials after referee Kelvin Morton’s decision to send off City substitute Ben Rowe turned a tight game Fulham’s way at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
Rowe, introduced at half time, sprinted from the touchline along with manager Cooper to protest after Gordon Davies’ equaliser had been allowed to stand when the Welsh striker appeared miles offside as he raced onto a through ball and fired past Kevin Miller to bring the Whites’ back level from 2-0 down. Referee Morton was surrounded by furious Exeter players, whilst a raging Rowe told the linesman exactly what he thought of the decision. The referee booked Grecians defender Lee Rogers before heading to the touchline to speak to Rowe, who turned his back on the official. Morton immediately produced a red card.
An enraged Cooper told the press afterwards: “Fulham’s second goal turned the game upside down. But Davies was ten yards offside before scoring. In fact, he was ten yards offside twice in the second half but neither decision was given. That linesman will be having a bottle of wine with his wife tonight, but his decision has spoilt our entire weekend.” Cooper did concede that Rowe should not have led the protests. “That decision had nowt to do with Ben,” he admitted. “If he could play as well as he talks, that would be great”.
Davies’ controversial goal spoilt a superb Grecians comeback after Cooper’s side had fallen behind to a fierce free-kick from Martin Pike that flew past an unsighted Miller and in off the inside of the post. City, who had earlier threatened through Shaun Taylor and Mark Cooper, were denied an equaliser when Jim Stannard saved superbly from Paul Eshelby after the midfielder had raced onto Rogers’ through ball.
Exeter drew level in the 33rd minute when Fulham forward Lee Rosenior needlessly handled in the area after Mark Cooper’s corner had been flicked on by Taylor. Gary Hobson drilled home the ensuing penalty and three minutes later left back Richard Dryden lobbed Stannard superbly to score his sixth of the season after good work from Steve Neville and Tom Kelly had created an opening.
But City were rattled after Rowe’s dismissal and faced an uphill battle. With a quarter of an hour remaining, Miller saved brilliantly from Gary Brazil, but Mark Cooper was robbed by Kelly inside his own box when the midfielder could easily have cleared the danger. Kelly clipped over a cross for Davies and the veteran Welsh striker smashed a well-taken finish into the roof of the net. The visitors battled to try and avoid a seven straight game without a win, but Mark Cooper’s attempt to make amends with a curling free-kick in stoppage time narrowly curled the crossbar.
FULHAM: Stannard; North, Pike, Morgan, Newson, Cobb (G. Thomas 69), M. Kelly, Skinner, Brazil, Davies (Haag 89), Rosenior.
GOALS: Pike (18), Davies (53, 75).
EXETER CITY: Miller; Taylor, Dryden, Rogers, T. Kelly, Hiley, Eshelby, Cooper, Bailey, Hobson, Neville. Subs (not used):
BOOKED: Rogers, Kelly, Taylor.
SENT OFF: Rowe.
GOALS: Hobson (pen 33), Dryden (36).
REFEREE: Kelvin Morton (Bury).
ATTENDANCE: 4,523.
