EXETER CITY WERE MAGNIFICENT IN LEAGUE CUP TIE. WHITNALL AND REES THE STARS IN SIDE THAT SHOOK THE BABES.

Wednesday October 19th 1960.

EXETER CITY 1 (Rees)
MANCHESTER UNITED 1 Dawson)

Played at St James's Park under floodlights, attendance 16000

Exeter City: Lobbett; Whitnall and MacDonald; Wilson, Harvey, and Thompson; Welsh, Gordon, Donaldson, Rees, and Harrison.

Manchester United:- Gregg; Setters and Brennan; Stiles, Foulkes, and Nicholson;
Dawson, Lawton, Viollet, Pearson, and Scanlon.

Referee:- Mr S.Yates of Bristol.

Mighty Manchester United were not merely held to a draw by Exeter City in the League Cup-tie. They found themselves fighting hard to escape defeat for most of the second half against a City side that played magnificently. A City side that touched greatness at times. For this was an Exeter side that no-one had seen before, and one that looked every bit as good as the famous Busby Babes. An Exeter side that came out fighting right from the start and turned on a soccer display that amazed everyone.

OFF THE GOAL LINE.

They did everything that they've been criticised for not doing this season, and more. They fought for every ball, ran into the open spaces, and instead of the kick-and-rush game that lower League sides often dish out against First Division opposition they produced the push-and-run football that put them on top. The City had put in eight shots and three headers, and got a goal, before Lobbett had even touched the ball. And the goal came from the man who worried Manchester United most of all, the little inside-left Graham Rees. In the 12th minute Rees rushed in on to a corner by Welsh and made an appeal for a goal as Stiles cleared off the goal line. But it was disallowed. Three minutes later Wilson chipped a neat pass through the centre, where Rees ran on to it, beat off Stiles's tackle and side-footed the ball past Gregg as the Irish International goalkeeper rushed out. The unbelievable had happened; Exeter were a goal in front, and the whole ground erupted in a volume of cheering that must have been heard as far away as St Thomas's. But then came the first flashes of what the United could really do, and what they could miss!

Viollet completely miskicked a centre from Scanlon that ran along the City's goal line, then Whitnall rushed in and cleared off the same line a ball from Pearson that ran right through the Exeter defence. However, it was not long before the City were back at the other end again, and Gregg was saving Manchester as he made a brilliant effort to palm away Donaldson's close range drive, Rees following up to send the ball just over the bar.

CLAIMED A GOAL.

Then the United claimed a goal and had their claim waived by the referee.Lobbett dropped a high centre from Maurice Setters right at the feet of Dawson, and that player claimed he had forced the ball over the line before it was scrambled away. And the City crossed over deservedly leading by a goal to nil, after 45 pulsating minutes. Five minutes after the second half had started the big crowd were roaring again as Rees scored his second goal. But again this was disallowed as Rees had in the opinion of the referee fouled Gregg in putting the ball in the net. Just a few minutes later Rees was in the picture yet again. First he completely mis-timed a pass from Wilson that landed the ball at his feet 12 yards from goal, then he was running through with a ball that Gordon had flicked to him, but Gregg came out to dive at his feet and capture the leather, another great save.

WORN DOWN.

But gradually the City were being worn down by their own gigantic efforts. Gradually they were being pushed back. The First Division team began to show its class and its strength. There were several close shaves in the City goalmouth, with last a am minute clearances and deflections keeping Manchester out but the City more than held their own until 13 minutes from the end. Then Brennan took a free kick on the left, it was deflected over the heads of the City defence to Dawson, and the United winger crashed an eighteen yards unstoppable shot past Lobbett, who was completely unsighted. But the City did not, as might be expected, collapse after losing this goal. They continued to fight and remained unbeaten to the end.