Exeter City v Bradford PA 

MONDAY 10th DECEMBER 1966.

MUCH BETTER.

EXETER CITY 4
Smout; Smyth, Blain; Wikinson, Harvey, Thompson; Keeley, Kennedy, McLean, McNeil, Godfrey.

BRADFORD PARK AVENUE 1.
Hardie; McGillivray,' Lightowler; Gordon, Madden, Symonds; Robinson, Ham, Waddell, Deakin, Gould,

Scorers:
Exeter McNeil 2, Kennedy, Keeley, Bradford; Waddell
Attendance; 3,347,

After a bad start in the opening 25 minutes, Exeter City came back with three goals in 10 minutes to beat Bradford Park Avenue, City went on to play some of their best football at thome this season, They took their chances well and at last proved that they can score more than the odd one or two goals at home. It was a much better Exeter performance all round and the win was one that they thoroughly deserved.

The pitch cut up very early on and both sides were making mistakes on the slippery surfaceIn the 16th minute Bradford scored through Waddell who made no mistake from 8 yards, After several near misses City equalised, Kennedy shooting in from the edge of the area in off the post in the 29th minute. City were now really on top and it came as no surprise when they went into a 36th minute lead, with a Dixie McNeil header, In the 39th minute Ray Keeley scored a third City goal following a pass from Peter Godfrey Keeley almost added another shortly after half time. In the second period Bradford pushed City back more but presented no danger, Considering the conditions it was fast match, and in the 65th minute City went further ahead, McNeil scoring from 20 yards. Still City were looking for goals and Kennedy hit the bar. Bradford were a beaten side long before the end.

Match Report 2

After an uninspiring opening spell Exeter City came back with three goals in ten minutes to raise the biggest prolonged burst of cheering heard at St James's Park this season. This was a succession of hammer blows in quick succession that helped to put paid to Bradford. The final score was 4-1 in Exeter's favour. Bradford, through Waddell, after 16 minutes, were the first to score, but once Exeter got the equaliser they went on to play some of their best football at home this season. They took their chances well, and at last proved that they can score more than the odd one or two goals at home. Exeter should have scored in the 25th minute, but McLean, receiving the ball from Godfrey two yards from goal was much too slow and the chance was lost. But four minutes later it was McLean who put Kennedy through on the wing, and the ex-Charltonian whipped in an angled shot that Mardie failed to stop, and the ball crashed into the net off the far post. Now the City were beginning to show signs of improvement, and only a desperate lunge by Madden prevented Godfrey going through. When Exeter got a corner McNeil timed his run perfectly to head the ball past Hardie from Keeley's flag kick. Now Exeter were really on top, and within four minutes Keeley shot the third goal from Godfrey's pass. Bradford were knocked completely out of their stride, and only two last-ditch saves by Hardie kept the score down. The pitch was beginning to cut up, but this did not deter the City, who stormed to the attack many times without being able to add to their lead. Twenty minutes after the interval Exeter went further ahead when a cunning pass by Godfrey inside the full-back put McNeil through on the edge of the penalty area, and "Dixie" with a great left footed shot from 15 yards rattled the net for the fourth time.

City:- Smout; Smyth, Blain; Wilkinson, Harvey, Thompson; Godfrey, McNeil, McLean, Kennedy, and Keeley.


WESTERN LEAGUE.

FROME TOWN 1
Singleton; Margary, Chedgy; Simpson, Doughty, Curtis; Dyer, Baker, Clare, Bartlett, Simmons,
EXETER CITY 2
Jones; Goad, Nash; Mustard, Embery, Balson; Buckingham, Baglow, Elliott, Wingate, Smith,

Scorers:
Frome: Clare.
Exeter: Balson, Smith,

Spurred on by an early goal from Mike Balson the reserves obtained their best win of the season. The second City goal came after the interval by Roger Smith, after Clare had equalised three minutes earlier.

FRIDAY 16th DECEMBER 1966.

JIMMY BLAIN-Mr. VERSATILE'

Jimmy Blain is surely the most versatile player on the books at Exeter City at the present time, He is displaying form which is superior to the majority of his colleaguesThis wholehearted player whom City signed from Carlisle United just over 12 months ago in an exchange deal that sent Irish International Eric Welsh up North, went through a shaky spell earlier this term at outside left and was droppedLater he was brought back as substitute and then regained a place at left half, Since then Blain has gone from strength to strength while maiking appearances at inside left, and outside left, but he did even better when switched to left back for the visit to Chester. In this game which provided City with their first away win of the season, he showed his talents as both a defender and an attacker. If everyone worked as hard as this player has done in recent games then City would not be in such a precarious position as they are today.