Torquay United (a)
August 31st:
League Cup Replay at Plainmoor.

For about 70 minutes it looked to be the same old story as against Wrexham in the first League game and Southend in the next one. Exeter City were playing plenty of good football but failing to
finish it off. But they played well enough to get goals, and this is what they suddenly did, two in seven minutes from McLean and Harford. This shook Torquay out of their composure and changed the whole aspect of the game with the United having led with a goal from Stubbs since the 17th minute. And the City's much critised style of floating over high balls at least paid off, for both their goals came from them. 

Torquay United 1 Exeter City 2.

TORQUAY UNITED:- McGuire, Smith, Bond; Benson, Wyatt, Reid; Clarke, Spratt, Stubbs, Kirkman, Barnes. 

EXETER CITY:- Jones; Smyth, and Ley; Wilkinson, Harford, and Thompson; Godfrey, Keeley, McLean, Evans, and Blain.

The attendance was 7,679.

Match Report 2

Torquay's costly mistakes let Exeter take control

By Buccaneer

Torquay United 1, Exeter City 2

EXETER go into the second round of the Football League Cup at the expense of Torquay with an away draw at Cardiff as their prize. There need be no mistake about it- busy Exeter were well worth their win, harassing Torquay's usually cool defenders out of their balanced game and into second-half mistakes. Moving quicker and using the long ball with great effect they wore down fading Torquay and the mistake cost goals. On this form City should be able to look forward to a fairly success- ful season in the Fourth Division. They certainly took full marks last night for determination and energy. At half time Torquay seemed to have the game sewn up. The foot- ball which had earned them their 18th minute goal looked so con- trolled and assured. Over confi- dence may have led them to relax their grip on the game. Whatever the reason for Torquay's unex- pected shortcomings, Exeter were the better side from the 60th minute onwards. Near miss Exeter began explosively and might have had a goal after 15 seconds when Jimmy Blain went through the middle. Surprised goalkeeper Gary McGuire just managed to scramble the ball away. Torquay gradually took control and Exeter goalkeeper Ken Jones dived to snatch the ball from the feet of Stubbs. Then Alan Kirk- man caught Jones out of position but the ball bounced over the bar. Stubbs shot the ball info Exeter's goal twice for his first goal in the 18th minute. The first time his effort was disallowed because referee P. R. Walters, of Bridgwater, had already sounded his whistle for a foul on the centre-forward by Ray Harford. Tom Spratt took the free kick and the ball rebounded from an Exeter defender to Stubbs who promptly shot it into the net. Exeter's long dropping centres into the goalmouth began to show an upsetting effect just before half-time. A timely save by McGuire prevented John Bond putting through his own goal after John Benson had miss-kicked. But Torquay might have scored again with an early spurt in the second-half. With Jones out of his goal, Exeter right-back Cecil Smyth kicked off the line from Kirkman. Then a cross by Doug Clarke gave Kirkman a chance, but he failed to meet the ball. Exeter were on top then and won a series of corners before equalising in the 69th minute. George McLean scrambled the ball into goal when McGuire fumbled a long centre from outside-right Peter Godfrey. In the 77th minute centre-half Ray Harford gave Exeter the win with a header from Blain's corner. A guest of the Torquay directors at the game was Minister of Sport, Mr. Denis Howell, who is on holiday in the area.

Attendance: 6,769.