Scarborough 1, Exeter 0

Gallic cool earned Scarborough their first win of 1999 and consigned Exeter to their first defeat of the new year.

French central defender Alex Marinkov's 65th minute penalty was enough to snatch all three points for the Seasiders.

And his coolness under pressure helped restore the daylight of six points between Boro and division three basement club Hull City, whose match at Darlington was postponed.

It was a battling if nervous display by Mick Wadsworth's team, who were outplayed for long spells by the visitors to the McCain Stadium.

Indeed, Marinkov's penalty was only the second shot Boro had on target during the whole of the match.

In the first-half especially, the Grecians had a string of opportunities to put the game beyond Boro and add to their sequence of three wins on the trot.

But a delighted Wadsworth said: "It was well-worked and well deserved and the whole performance was very pleasing.

"We had some shaky moments, especially in the first 20 minutes, but other than that we were solid.

"How we win doesn't matter, survival is based on solid defending and taking your chances and we did that."

As early as the second minute, the Boro defence were caught basking in the brilliant sunshine as Steve Flack - a scorer of five goals in his last five games - carried the ball unopposed from the half-way line and let fly from 20 yards only to see his fierce shot go over the bar.

Playing five at the back and three up front, the Seasiders' midfield of just John Kay and Wayne Bullimore were often left stretched by the slick passing of Exeter.

Boro 'keeper Luke Weaver had to save at the feet of Chris Curran, who had raced forward from the Exeter defence to latch on to a Chris Holloway through ball.

And minutes later, a dreadful Bullimore back pass led to an almighty mix-up in the Boro penalty area.

Holloway's shot cannoned off the post and his second effort was sliced off the line by Marinkov on to the Boro bar and then into the hands of Weaver.

The on-loan net-minder was soon in the action again when Brian Quailey was handed a gilt-edged opportunity to put his side in front on 18 minutes.

With the Boro defence static, Flack cleverly laid the ball inside to his co-striker but with just the 'keeper to beat Quailey was slow to react, allowing Weaver time to smother at his feet.

Boro's only threat seemed to come from set pieces.

Steve Brodie flashed a volley high and wide from a Chris Greenacre knock-down after a long throw from Derek Mountfield, making his home debut for Scarborough.

Moments later and the same tactic saw Marinkov direct his header into the path of player-coach Jamie Hoyland, but his weak shot trickled past the Exeter post.

The Devon club always looked the more dangerous however and nearly took the lead in first-half stoppage time.

A Chris Fry corner fell to Jon Gittens but his shot through a crowded penalty area was hit straight at Weaver.

In the second-half, Exeter were again the better side but the three pillars of Mountfield, Hoyland and Marinkov at the heart of the Boro defence were proving rock-solid.

City were forced to try their luck from range and both Holloway and Quailey saw shots curl over the bar.

On 62 minutes, Boro at last mustered a shot on target when ex-York City trainee Chris Tate, making his first start of the season, saw his floated chip tipped over the bar by Ashley Bayes in the Exeter goal.

The resultant corner was not cleared, the ball eventually falling to Mountfield whose floated cross seemed destined for the head of Marinkov until he was crudely sent crashing to the floor by Curran.

Referee Graham Frankland had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and the Frenchman picked himself up off the floor and sent Bayes the wrong way with a firm side foot.

What followed was huff and puff from both sides.

Exeter were deflated, Boro anxious to hold on to what they'd got.

Deep into stoppage time, and substitute Warren Waugh climbed above the Boro defence but his downward header stuck in the mud.

"We had the rub of the green," admitted a relieved Wadsworth. " But the challenge was put to the players and they responded."

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