SATURDAY 13th APRIL 1957.

BELL'S ONE SLIP LOST VITAL POINT.

EXETER CITY 1 Bell, John, Mitchell; Lackenby, Harvey, Simpson; Buckle, Churns, Currie, Rees, Divers

IPSWICH 2Bailey, Acres, Malcolm; Hyles, Rees, Elsworthy; Reed, Millward, Blackman, Phillips Leadbetter.

Scorers

Exeter City Harvey,
Ipswich Leadbetter, Phillips,

Attendance 5,733.

Receipts £546.95

Although City had the casual, cool Ipswich team concentrating on defence for the greater part of the game, City just did not get the reward. A below usual form Churms missed a couple of good chances and formed an ineffective right wing with Buckle. Rees though by no means playing badly had several near misses he was reduced to a limping passenger in the last half hour, damaging a thight muscle. The Ipswich rearguard defended hard and well but the ball just did not run for City after they had recovered from an appalling early spell, but the only goal to come was from a Harvey penalty three minutes from time. By then Ipswich had a two goal lead, the scorers being Leadbetter in the 60th and Phillips in the 80th minutes, The second goal was a tragedy for bell playng in his first League game for two seasons, as he dived on a centre from Reed, the ball spun from underneath his body and Phillips had only to tap it home, Bell's one slip and it cost á vital point. Before and after that Bell did his work well and was no weak link in a competent City defence in which Harvey had his best game for weeks, he was City's outstanding player. Not far behind him but below his best form was Skipper Simpson.

Match Summary 
Had they been quicker on the ball, particularly in the latter part of the first half, Exeter City could well have earned themselves a share of the points. But slowness robbed them of the goals they undoubtedly deserved. The City had a lot of bad luck and Ipswich were fortunate in getting two points to further their promotion hopes. Apart from one mistake which led to a goal being scored against him Bell, deputising for Hunter, played confidently and well. Leadbetter and Phillips scored Ipswich's goals and a few minutes from time Harvey reduced Exeter's deficit from a penalty.