EXETER CITY 1 (HOUGHTON)
SWINDON TOWN 2 (OWEN 2).

Saturday February 18th 1956
at St James's Park.

Half-time Exeter City 1 Swindon Town 0.

OWEN GOAL TOOK FIGHT OUT OF CITY.


The man who came back, Exeter City's Frank Houghton almost pulled the City further away from the re-election zone. Back in the team at inside left against bottom of the table Swindon Town who the desperate to score or bust in the effort, Hoghton headed into a 17th minute lead, but with ove support coming only from Thomas who had his best game of the season, Houghton could do no more than prove he is potentially the most dangerous inside forward on City's books, Two more precious Third Division points were handed on a snow and mud platter to an equal desperate Swindon who fought back strongly in the first half. In the 48th minute Ouen collected a, the then pass, beat three City defenders and crashed a right foot shot into the top corner of the net. Until then it looked as if City would gain their first win since December 27th, but that Oven goal rattled Exeterored they were never in the game again. They were finished decisively six minutes from time when Owen scored again to beat Hunter with the winning goal. Wand

Attendance 4,937,

Referee, Mr R.E. Smith, of Newport.
EXETER CITY:- Hunter; Doyle, Mitchell; Dunne, Harvey, Murphy; Thomas, Iggleden, Burke, Houghton, Rees.
SWINDON TOWN:- Burton; Hunt, Fox; Cross, Hudson, McShane; Gibson, Edwards, Owen, Micklewright, Brennan.

Two more points were thrown away in this match by the City, for after leading at the interval they allowed Swindon to take the initiative in the second half. Houghton's header in the 17th minute put Exeter in front. Thomas, who received from Iggleden, centred perfectly and Houghton did the rest, a strong header was too much for Burton, who could not hold the ball. Owen equalised in the 56th minute and scored the winning goal with ten minutes remaining.

Southern League 
Hastings United 6
Exeter City Reserves 1,

CITY RES. IN THE SHADE

Exeter City Reserves, beaten 6-1 at Hastings, were never really in this game.

On a hard ground they slithered about, and though when the pitch became more churned up they looked more confident of themselves they had not the ability to come back into the game. The defence could not cope with a Hastings attack which adapted itself well to the conditions whilst Exeter's attack lacked the craft to find gaps in the home defence. The game was virtually over in the first 15 minutes when Asher and Taylor had scored for Hastings. After Parks had put Hastings further ahead before half time.

Half-time 3-0.

The  solitary Exeter goal came from a penalty for hands conceded quite unnecessarily by the Hastings full back Joe Thompson. A few minutes after the interval. This was really the only time the Hastings goalkeeper Leather was tested during the game, but he could not get to Whiteside's shot. Any hopes of an Exeter revival were dashed when Burgess scored Hastings fourth goal followed by further goals from Parks and Taylor, and the game finished with Hastings still attacking vigorously.


EXETER CITY RESERVES.
Kelly; Foley, Parr, Walton, Packer, Marsh; Grinney, Worthington, Sword Whiteside Buckle.

Scorer
Exeter City Whiteside.