PATCHY CITY FALL BEFORE FIERCE ASSAULTS.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 6TH:

BRIGHTON SEIZE THEIR CHANCES.

Exeter City fielded a much-changed forward line at Brighton today, with Mitchell in his experimental role at centre-forward. Missing from the Brighton team was Langley, who was on duty as a reserve with the English International team in Ireland. In his position was Brighton's newest signing, Rees Thomas, from Cardiff City. Exeter City, playing into the sun, were the first to attack, and from a pass by Rees Currie headed the ball into the centre and Rees Thomas had to kick away as Buckle moved in. But straightaway the home team raided, and scored. Gordon beat Ferrier and put in a shot, the ball hitting the upright and passing across the face of the goal. Howard collected and pulled the ball back to Bissett, who netted from six yards with Hunter powerless.

FERRIER HURT.
That quick goal upset the City and Hunter had to dash out of his goal to stop Howard again. With Exeter's defence completely at sea Mundy found himself unmarked in front of goal but he delayed long enough for Porteous to tackle. Gordon then fastened on to the ball but shot well wide. Then Bissett raced through on his own to shoot only inches over the bar. The City just could not do a thing, and to make matters worse a leg injury to Ferrier after a tackle left that player writhing the on ground. After attention from the trainer, however, he was able to continue. Immediately play was resumed another shot from Bissett thudded on to the Exeter crossbar. Brighton were doing absolutely anything they liked and Mundy was the next man to have a shot at goal. This one went just wide. Currie and Buckle relieved pressure for a spell, but then Gordon got right through again and shot across the goalmouth for Doyle to touch behind for a corner.

THE MITCHELL PLAN.
So far there had been no chance to see how the deep-lying Mitchell plan would work. But Mitchell started the City's most dangerous move so far, picking up a pass from Thomas, tricking Whitfield, and feeding Buckle, whose shot sailed over the bar. But that was only a momentary pause in Brighton's onslaught, and the Exeter defence was soon under heavy pressure again. They were showing a few signs of recovery from their early panic, but mistakes by Porteous and John almost let Foreman through until Harvey cleared. And just as Exeter began at last to have their fair share of the game Brighton scored another goal, in the 19th minute. Harvey headed Howard's centre up in the air, and the ball fell nicely for Foreman, standing only ten yards from goal. Before Exeter's backs had realised where the ball was Foreman had cracked a left-foot shot into the net. Brighton were yards faster on the ball, and they moved into position smartly. Exeter, despite a praiseworthy attempt to play good football were allowed few chances. Mitchell and Currie caused Brighton danger with a neat inter-passing move but Tennant managed to boot the ball away from Mitchell. At least the City were waking up a bit! Then a fine six-man move by Exeter ended with Mitchell heading into Gill's hands from a centre by Porteous, and for a spell the accurate ground passing of the City kept Brighton on the defensive. Before long Brighton were on the attack again and a free kick from Gordon into the goalmouth ended with Bissett scoring a third goal. Three goals down at the start of the second half Exeter tried their hardest, and for a spell did keep Brighton on the defensive, but the pattern of the game in the first half re-emerged and Hunter dealt in turn with centres from Howard and Foreman. In the last few minutes Gill saved from Buckle, and the City attacked steadily but without result.
Brighton 3 Exeter City nil.

Brighton:- Gill; Jennings, Thomas; Tennant, Whitfield, Wilson; Gordon, Mundy, Bissett, Foreman, Howard.

Exeter City:- Hunter; Doyle, Ferrier; John, Harvey, Porteous; Buckle, Thomas, Mitchell, Currie, Rees.

The City started off badly, but at least deserve credit for fighting back, especially in the second half. At the start the defence was completely at sea and although John and Porteous never reached anything like top form Brighton met with much more resistance after half-time. From the forwards came plenty of neat cross-passing but rarely did it look likely to produce goals. Most impressive of the attack were Currie and Rees, but they too, could have taken a leaf from Brighton's book over the value of the quickly switched long ball. The attendance was 13,139.

Southern League

DIVERS SCORES FOR RESERVES IN DRAWN GAME.

Willis, dropped from the first team, led the Reserves attack against the Welsh visitors, Merthyr, at St James's Park this afternoon.

• Also included in the team were two amateurs from the City's "nursery" club at Pontypridd, D.J.Kelly and H.Madeley.

City Reserves:- Bell; Foley, Parr; Packer, H.Madeley, Major; D.J.Kelly, Divers, Willis, Houghton, Phoenix.
Merthyr:- James; Morgan, Anderson; Toft, Low, Williams; Coggins, Reid, Howarth, Skyme, Davies.

Five minutes after half-time Williams, who had moved to centre forward, scored for Merthyr. Seven minutes later Divers sidestepped Low and put the ball into the net to earn Exeter a draw. James saved from Willis, Phoenix and Houghton in the closing stages.
City 1 Merthyr 1.