CITY KICK OFF WITH A THREE GOALS WIN.
SATURDAY AUGUST 23RD 1958

CITY 3 WALSALL 0. 

It was raining steadily as Exeter City opened the 1958-59 season at St James's Park this afternoon with their first Fourth Division game, against Walsall. There were 6,000 spectators present to see Calland start the match against quite a storm.

Exeter City:- Hunter; Foley, MacDonald; Mitchell, Oliver, Harvey; Stiffle, John, Calland, Rees, Dale.

Walsall:- Woodward; Haddington, Gutteridge; Billingham, McPherson, Rawlings; Askey, Cochrane, Richards, Faulkner, Metcalfe.

Referee:- Mr J.Baxter of Royston. Linesmen:- Messrs G.Hoskin and H.Lye.

Exeter City could hardly have had a better start to their first season in the new Fourth Division of the League. Walsall, it is true, were a poor side, but the way the City fought, moved into position, and tried to find their men must have given their supporters plenty of hope. The defence as a whole was extremely compact, with the half - backs and especially skipper Arnold Mitchell, absolutely in control. The City's best forward was Rees, the effervescent Welshman, whose speed and determination gave Walsall's defence hardly moment's a rest. Rees, Calland, and Harvey (penalty) got Exeter's goals.

ATKINS SAVES RESERVES A POINT.

Sunshine, in contrast to the weather in Devon, greeted Exeter City Reserves and Hastings United at Hastings Pilot Field this afternoon for the first Southern League game of the season.

City Reserves:- Lobbett; Rutter, Whitnall; Butterworth, Packer, Carberry; Atkins, Hill, Rapley, Grinney, Robinson.

Twelve minutes' play produced a goal from Hastings, a free kick by Peacock being bundled through by Taylor and Vizard between them. Another goal, by Burgess, was ruled out through an offside decision against Taylor. Atkins saved a point for Exeter when he equalised in the closing minutes of the game.