CITY CRASH AT GILLINGHAM: FIRST DEFEAT OF 1963.

GOOD FRIDAY APRIL 12TH

GILLINGHAM 4 EXETER CITY 0

If the City lose the return game with Gillingham on Easter Monday then it will show that they cannot learn the simplest of soccer lessons. For the only reason they lost at Gillingham was that they forgot to play in the same way that they did throughout their undefeated run of nine home and away League matches. They forgot that the wandering of Henderson to the wings has caused more than half the damage to their opponents. For first Henderson, and then Pierce, at Gillingham, stood firmly in the middle of the field, and with no wandering and no switching of positions, the attack lost its guile and its punch. They forgot that a lot of their defensive success lay in Anderson taking up the role of a dual centre-half and providing more cover. For Anderson went aimlessly wandering up the field and the result was a defensive shambles. The idea of having two backs and two centre halves was Mr Spiers's, when he was the manager. The idea of the wandering centre-forward and the switching of positions in the attack was Mr Edwards's from the time he took over, and if the City players play according to the plans which have been laid down by the two managers then they will continue to be successful.

Gillingham:- Simpson; Hughes and Hunt; Arnott, Burgess, and Farrall; Ridley, Francis, Ballagher, Gibbs, and Pulley.

Exeter City:- Tinsley; Smyth and Patrick; Mitchell, Harvey, and Anderson; McMillan, Carter, Henderson, Pierce, and Jenkins.

Western League
City Reserves v Glastonbury

THREE-GOAL REES GETS RECALL 

"Bring back Graham" was the post-match cry after the fans at St. James's Park had heard of the Fourth Division defeat at Gillingham, writes PHIL HOARE.

For Welshman Graham Rees had shown deadly finishing in the Western League game with tonbury and netted all the goals in a 3-0 win.

Two of his goals against Glastonburu bury were gems and provided the only real talking point in a one-sided game. In the 27th minute one of a series of through balls found the young Weishman running through in the inside-right position. He shaped to shoot, Franckom dived, and Rees dribbled round him to plant an oblique left-foot shot into the net. Three minutes later. Rees killed a poor Glastonbury victory chance with another fine solo goal. An Exeter defender kicked hard up the middle, the ball bounced over Glastonbury centre-half Vowles's head and Rees raced past him to lob the ball over the on rushing Franckom.

One thing lowly-places Glastonbury did do. was to cover up well when in their own penalty area and the young City forwards frequently had to try and hold the ball to make openings. Most times they lost it or shot weakly, but in the last minute Bruce Stuckey tried to dribble past three defenders, was sent sprawling and Rees scored from the spot.

Fine finishing by Rees and something like his old form. The rest of the Reserves forwards put in only one worthwhile shot between them -a Stuckey drive that was tipped over. In defence the youngsters played neat football with Derek Grace and Peter Quarrington outstanding. Rees was the pick of the forwards, while Wills proved trickly in the first half. Riding shot wide with only Franckom to beat after15 minutes but Rees wiped out that memory. Glastonbury managed only one-good shot which just went wide of a post with Clark unsighted. They were good only in patches.

Exeter and district league
Heavitree v City Colts 

Heavitree United beat a strong City Colts team 3-2 on Easter Monday, thanks to two second-half goals from Peter Harris. But they did not impress with their football, and the Colts really deserved to draw, writes PHIL HOARE.

Ivor Martin got the "Heavies'" first goal, and Johnny Dodds and Bruce Stuckey replied.