SATURDAY 1st JANUARY 1966.

CITY FIND AN ANSWER IN THE SOIL.

EXETER CITY 2:
Shearing; Smyth, Ley; Peapell, HarveyBuckingham; Stuckey, Banks, McLean, Kennedy, Blain,

WORKINGTON 1:
Ower; Ogilvie, Lumsden; Hale, Brown, Middlemass; Lowes, Foley, Bowron, Oliver, Butler,

Scorers:
Exeter Blain, Stuckey.
Workington: Lumsden,

Attendance : 5,981.

Back in October Workington smashed City 6-1 on their trip to the North, but Exeter found the answer in the return, literally in the soil. For the fast but dainty Workington forwards lost their effectiveness as the rich Devon earth of St James' Park got heavier and heavier. They looked dangerous in the first 20 minutes, but after that City were well on top. Even so a goal was a long time coming and it was not unitl the 60th minute that Exeter finally scored. The brilliant Alan Banks-Jimmy Blain pairing did the job, As Banks swung the ball across, Ower palaed it out, Blain calmly chested it down and belted it back into the net. In the last 10 minutes Workington started a dangerous revival but they still had no finish and it looked all over when Bruce Stuckey got a gloriuos second City goal after a 40 yard run, but it was not quite finished, for in injury time, Lumsden thumped in a goal with a 20 yard drive from a free kick, had this happened earlier lot might have been a different story.

WESTERN LEAGUE.

PORTLAND UNITED 1-0 EXETER CITY 

Exeter Team
Barnett; Goad, Arbury; Mitchell, McDonald, Balson; Richardson, Sweetman, Rees, Curtis, Tolchard,

Scorer:
Portland: Goad (o.g.).

Brilliant goalkeeping by Alan Barnett saved Exeter City from a sound beating, Portland out to avenge an earlier defeat by the City went ahead after two minutes when Exeter full back Alan Goad deflected a shot from right half Cribb into his own net, Exeter's one clear cut chance came in the 86th minute when Graham Rees broke throughhis shot beating the goalkeeper but cleared off the line.


MONDAY 3rd JANUARY 1966.

INDESPENSABLE IN THE EXETER CITY SYSTEM.

When Exeter City sold Eric Welsh to Carlisle United last October and got some cash and right vinger Jimmy Blain in exchange, club chiarman Reg Rose said; "We have not weakened our side, we have strengthened ityou'll see," Well, Blain has done just that. Blain came to Exeter as a winger, within a few games he was switched to the left where for a while he was obviously not at homeHe stuck determinedly to his job and City manager Ellis Stuttard stuck with him, Now many rate him as almost indispensable in Exeter's system. For the system now means that Blain has to be the lone ranger and link man all in one. The number 11 shirt on his back is purely for identification, It bears no relation to his position.. he has to work all over the forward line and come back to help in defence. What is more, blain does it with a tremendous will, enthusiasm, and efficiency.

TUESDAY 4th JANUARY 1966.

BAGLOW STARTS WITH CITY.

David Baglow, the star schoolboy winger from North Devon, who was wanted by Torquay United, starts his career as an apprentice professional with Exeter City this week, The 15 year old Barnstaple boy is rated as a really good prospect by Ellis Stuttard and he is no sudden discovery, For he was on schoolboy forms with Plymouth Argyle. He played three times for the Devon youth team last season and has made one appearance in the Western League with Barnstaple Town.