WILKINSON NETS THE WINNER AGAINST ROCHDALE. FIRST CITY VICTORY FOR TWELVE WEEKS.

Saturday December 31st 1960.

EXETER CITY 1 (Wilkinson)
ROCHDALE 0

Played at St James's Park, attendance 4,365.

Exeter City: Jones; Whitnall and MacDonald; Wilson, Harvey, and Thompson; Donaldson, Wilkinson, Jenkins, Carter, and Rees.

Rochdale:- Mackay; Milburn and Edwards; Phoenix, Aspden, and Bodell; Barnes, Hepton, Pollett, Cairns, and Collins.

Referee:- Mr G.W.Thorpe of Swindon. Linesmen:- Messrs P.J.Woodland and W.Webster.

This was Exeter City's first victory since October 8th, and though on some occasions they have played better and lost, this time they had the luck to snatch two points with a single goal. Had they made better use of the wings and had Donaldson been in better form they might have made it more convincing.

But they had a lot of defending to do, and at these times Jones and the two full-backs showed up well. Wilson in the 29th minute headed out from under the crossbar a shot from Barnes that had Jones beaten and the ball was booted up the field, the City forcing a corner.

Donaldson took the kick, swinging the ball high into the goalmouth, where it was dropped by Mackay. Wilkinson was on hand to tap in the easiest goal he is likely to get all the season.

• The City Reserves playing at Salisbury were caught up in a goal rush and finally had to concede defeat by 5 goals (Watts 3, Lloyd, and Kaile) to 4 (Bennett, Dale, Gordon, and A.Williams).