SATURDAY JANUARY 16TH 1960:

CITY 4 OLDHAM ATHLETIC 3.

After leading by three goals to one at one stage during the second half Exeter City looked likely to be in danger of having to share the points with Oldham at St James's Park when the Lancashire side drew level. But a goal two minutes from the end by Wilkinson, his second of the match, saved the day for the Grecians. The margin of victory should have been larger than it was because the City did almost all the attacking. Brian Birch, transferred from Exeter nine days ago, was back on the St James's Park ground, playing for Oldham. He was the scorer of Oldham's second goal and just about their best forward.

City:- Lobbett; Foley, MacDonald; Mitchell, Oliver, Thompson; Stiffle, Rees, Calland, Wilkinson, Micklewright.

Oldham:- J.Ferguson; McGill, West; Marsh, C.Ferguson, Richardson; Bazley, Spurdle, Bourne, Birch, Phoenix.

This was the most one-sided game seen at Exeter for a long time, for the City outplayed Oldham for almost the whole of the ninety minutes, but they almost threw away a point with their inability to take all their chances while the visitors set an example by snapping up the ones that came their way.

Match Report 

Saturday 16th January 1960
Fourth Division
Exeter City 4 Oldham Athletic 3

Attendance: 5,515

Whilst Exeter City outplayed Oldham Athletic, they almost threw the game away. Their midfield football was immaculate after not such a good start, but when it came to finishing there was a load of failings in the Grecians forward line.

Granted they got four goals, but the way in which City attacked Oldham, goals should have been a formality, as they created chance after chance.

Oldham took a 17th minute lead as Spurdle beat everyone to a West free-kick and in spite of City's superiority they were only level at half-time, when Jimmy Thompson netted with an 18-yard shot.

Then 15 minutes after the interval, Graham Rees and Jack Wilkinson gave City a 3-1 lead and seemingly commanding position in which to win the game. Indeed they looked as if they would easily add more goals to their tally.

However, City made two defensive errors and Oldham were back on terms. Bazley hit a 25-yard shot that goalkeeper John Lobbett failed to move for. Then former City player Brian Birch, completely unmarked, scored a third. City just made it, however, when Wilkinson scored a last gasp winner in the 90th minute after latching on to a pass from Nelson Stiffle.

City team: John Lobbett, Theo Foley, Les MacDonald, Arnold Mitchell, Ken Oliver, Jimmy Thompson, Nelson Stiffle, Graham Rees, Ted Calland, Jack Wilkinson, Andy Micklewright.