WEDNESDAY 16th FEBRUARY 1966.

DISASTEROUS CITY.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED 2:
Sidebottom; Neale, Hemstead; Smith, Horstead, Burkinshaw; Barton, Ash, Sloan,
Bedford, Colquhoun,

EXETER CITY 1:
Shearing; Smyth, Ley; Peapell, Harvey, Buckingham; Blain, Banks, Riding, Kennedy, Rees,

Scorers:
Scunthorpe Barton, Smith,
Exeter: Rees,

Attendance: 4,396,

Four successive defeats and Exeter City are heading for relegation. The match was a disaster almost from the kick-off for Scunthopre scored after just 58 seconds through Barton, City's attack was pretty feeble and the defence was worse, full of holes and slow moving. To say what was wrong would too much space, but there were a few things that went right, Graham Rees made a sound comeback to first team football and scored in the 68th minute with a great 25 yard drive, by then however Scunthorpe had added a further goal in ten minutes earlier with a Smith penalty, Jimmy Blain never stopped working as a link man. His setting up of passes deserved a better fateWhile Alan Banks chased and harried the home defence. Scunthorpe had spells of really good football as they hammered the ball around, long, and accurately. They could have scored six had they taken their chances, Alan Riding on his debut did not have the best of games, but the 20 year old part timer deserves another chance. There were several more senior players in the side who had a worse game than the centre forward.

WESTERN LEAGUE 

WESTON-SUPER-MARE 2-1 CITY RESERVES 

City Team
Barnett; Goad, Arbury; Balson, McDonald, Harford; Tolchard, Mitchell, Carter, Anderson, Copp.

Scorer; Weston; Gibbs, Owen,
Exeter ; Anderson,

Fast on the ball and eager to challenge Weston earned two well deserved points. Exeter's forwards lacked any ideas and finishing power. There were too many gaps in the City defence. Just on half time Gibbs put the visitors ahead with a cracking shot from the edge of the penalty area. In the 58ht minute Owen raced through on his own to put them further aheadTen minutes from the end Des Anderson scored for City following a free kick taken by Arnold Mitchell.

WEDNESDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 1966.
Western Counties Floodlit League.

POOLE TOWN 2-1 EXETER CITY

City Team
Barnett; Smyth, Ley; Harford, Harvey, Buckingham; Stuckey, Kennedy, Banks, Carter, Rees,

Scorers:
Poole : Mason 2,
Exeter Buckingham,

Poole Town's defence were rarely in trouble against an Exeter attack that lacked imagination and punch on a rain soaked and slippery pitch, Mason put Poole into a 5th minute lead with a 30 yard drive that gave Alan Barnett no chance, Colin Buckingham equalised with a low driven shot before Mason netted the winner direct from a corner, the ball dropping in the mud and slowly rolling over the line.

CITY SIGN TWO SCHOOLBOYS.

Exeter City manager Ellis Stuttard has signed two schoolboys today. They are both from the Ladysmith School, Alan Whitfield 15, inside forward, and John Sullivan 14, wing half or centre half, Both are expected to be offered apprentice terms when they leave school, Whitfield leaves next Easter whilst Sullivan leaves in the Summer.

FRIDAY 25th FEBRUARY 1966.

CITY GAME AGAINST BRIGHTON IS CALLED OFF.

Exeter City have had to call off tomorrow's home game with Brighton because the St James' Park pitch is completely waterloggedAfter a weeks rain this was no surprise to anyone on the City staff. Groundsman Sonny Clarke and his helpers had been working continuously trying to fork the surface water away, but the ground was so saturated that it would just not run off,

SATURDAY 26th FEBRUARY 1966.
WESTERN LEAGUE

BARNSTAPLE TOWN 0-3 CITY RESERVES 

City team 
Barnett; Fulton, McDonald; Mitchell, Anderson, Balson; Baglow, Carter, Riding, Curtis, Copp.

Scorers:
Exeter : Carter 2, Curtis,

Barnstaple were shattered by two quick goals just before half-time. In the 40th minute Clark misjudged a centre from Johnny Copp and Wilf Carter headed an easy goal, Three minutes later Lancaster brought down Carter as he was going through the home defence, and Dermot Curtis netted from the penalty spot, Exeter's first goal had come after 30 minutes when Carter again headed in a Copp centre. Barnstaple's defence came through with a great deal of credit but their attack was goal shy with Alan Barnett seldom troubled in the Exeter goal.

MONDAY 28th FEBRUARY 1966.
MITCHELL HOLDS UP REQUEST FOR A MOVE.

Arnold Mitchell today agreed to hold up the transfer request that shook Exeter City supporters this weekend and completely denied any connections with reports in which he had been quoted as saying there was a bad atmosphere in the club36 year old Mitchell, in his 15th season with the City, did put in a transfer request, After a midweek talk with manager Ellis Stuttard, he took the decision to send a letter to the chairman Reg Rose asking for a free transfer, The letter which Mr Rose received at Saturday lunchtime read: "I feel that my services are no longer required and I therefore ask you to give me a free transfer as I have given the club enough loyal service to be granted one," This morning Mitchell had a boardroom session with Reg Rose and Ellis Stuttard who persuaded him to hold his transfer request in abeyance. A board meeting will be held on Wednesday evening and Mitchell has been given until then to think about his position before informing the board whether he still wants to go. For some time there has been talk now of rewarding Mitchell's long service in some way or another. At one time he was even in for a job with the club and it could be that there will be some developments on this front before Wednesday,

THURSDAY 3rd MARCH 1966.

NEW CITY TRANSFER SHOCK.

The shock news from St James' Park this morning is that Arnold Mitchell is definitely on the Exeter City transfer list, and so is full back Cecil Smyth. After four days of on and off negotiations, 36 year old Mitchell has refused to withdraw his request for a free transfer, but the news about Smyth comes as a complete shock to everyone. He lists his reasons for a move as purely personal, but it is believed that it is for financial reasons as wellThere are now eight players on the Exeter City transfer list, including four at their own request.