CITY TRIUMPH ON THEIR FIRST VISIT TO BIRKENHEAD. ROVERS OUTPLAYED AS THE CITY NET THREE FIRST HALF GOALS.

Saturday September 16th 1961.

TRANMERE ROVERS 3
(Arnell 2, Gubbins)
EXETER CITY 4
(McGugan og, Rees, Carter, Blue)

Played at Prenton Park, attendance 7,889.

Tranmere Rovers:- Leyland; Frith and Brown; Neill, McGugan, and King; Finney, Gubbins, Arnell, Byrne, and Campbell.
Exeter City:- Jones; Whitnall and MacDonald; Hughes, Harvey, and Sullivan; Gordon, Rees, Blue, Carter, and Jenkins.

Referee:- Mr A.Holland, of Barnsley.

Exeter City made their first visit to Birkenhead, where Tranmere Rovers play their home games, and celebrated it with a handsome victory by four goals to three. A strong blustery wind was blowing across the field at the start and promised difficulties for both teams. In the 25th minute the City went ahead when a centre from Gordon swerved into the net off the head of McGugan, who had jumped up to meet the crossed ball. Other goals were fired in by Rees and Carter before Arnell was able to reduce the arrears with a good cross-shot five minutes before half-time. In the eleventh minute of the second half Blue put Exeter 4-1 up when he dribbled through the entire Tranmere defence and passed to Rees, then accepting the return to beat Leyland with a rasping low drive just inside the post. Tranmere rallied in the last half-hour and scored two goals, but Exeter were the masters on the day's play.

• Exeter and District League Exeter City Reserves beat Sidmouth by five goals to none at St James's Park.

EXETER CITY RESERVES 5
Clarke; Turner, Hudson; Rutley, Lightfoot, Parsons; Norgrove, Dodd, Vanstone, Burnett, Hitchcox.

SIDMOUTH 0.

Scorers
Exeter City Hudson, Dodd, Vanstone 2, Hitchcox