City Dowd, Leivers, Sear; Kennedy, Wood, Oakes, Young, Gray, Murray, Kevan, Wagstaffe

County Smith, Bircumshaw, Agnew, Edwards, Gibson, Loxley, Fry, Astle, Bly, Tait, Barber.

A draw seemed the most likely result until Derek Kevan turned after taking a short pass from Alf Wood and blasted the ball into the roof of the net to score the only goal of the game,
County dominated the first-half and Harry Dowd performed heroics to keep his goal intact. Seventeen year old Wood gave him some useful support. with a promising display at centre-half. lt was Wood’s run from inside his own half that ended with a pass for Kevan’s winner-his seventh goal in five games.
County had the greater share of the play up to that goal. Jeff Astle twice went close, his 20 yard shot was only inches wide and a powerful header narrowly missed the upright. Then Mike Barber, cutting in from the left, unleashed a fierce shot on the run and Dowd did well to fingertip the ball round the near post.
The service to City’s forwards in the first-half left much to be desired. Jimmy Murray provided one chance for Matt Gray, who shot over the bar. Minutes later Murray also missed after a nice build- up by Alan Oakes.
It was a much more lively and enterprising second-ha|f which started with a rasping shot from Keith Fry. Then Neil Young began to torment the County defenders and George Smith was forced to race out of his goal to halt the City winger.
Twice within a minute Dowd was in action to pull off fine saves from Bobby Tait and Barber. And Smith performed equally well to save from Oakes after the City star had a run which took him from wall inside his own half. Just before the end Dowd prevented the home side from snatching an equaliser when he made a superb one-handed save from Fry. Dowd cartwheeled and threw up his hand to turn the ball for a corner.
AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 29TH OCTOBER 1980