CITY FADE AFTER FIVE-MINUTE GOAL BY REES

Defence Hard Pressed by Speedy Newport

The game opened with a succession of thrills and within five minutes Exeter were ahead, Graham Rees meeting the ball as it came over from the right and shooting right-footed into the net.

Saturday September 25th.

NEWPORT COUNTY 2 (Wharton, Lucas) EXETER CITY 1 (Rees).

Played at Somerton Park.

Referee Mr N.C.Taylor of Westbury.

Newport:- Pope; Staples, Hayward; Hollyman, Wilcox, Thomas; Shergold, Lucas, Saward, Graham, Wharton.

Exeter: Morton; B.Doyle, Douglass; Owens, Davey, Callan; Mitchell, Ellaway, John, Mackay, Rees.

The City fell away badly in the second half, when the half-back line completely lost its grip. Victory rightly went to Newport, who were much keener to anticipate and almost dominated the game after the interval.
Rees had a distinguished first half but was beaten by the heavy turf later on, and the most consistent forward in the visiting side was Mackay. The course of the game was disappointing especially after the City's promising start.



HONOURS SHARED BY CITY RESERVES

Walton's long pass out to Priestley got the Exeter attack on the move in the match against Kettering at St. James's Park. Priestley forced a corner and placed it well only for Setters to shoot wide.

City Reserves: - P.Elson; L. Doyle, Rowe; Setters, Harvey, Houghton;
Priestley, Anderson, Walton, Robinson, McClelland.
Kettering:- Pickering; Jeffrey, Tart; Canning, Waddell, A.Hole; Lamie, Dixon, Powell, Cannon, C.Hole.

The visitors took the lead when Dixon kicked into an empty net after the City had failed to clear from Lamie. McClelland equalised. Lamie in the 76th minute scored for Kettering and Walton replied two minutes later. Pat Elson, who stopped a penalty kick at Lovell's last week, played another good game to day.

Result: City 2 Kettering 2.