13th February 1976

Exeter City 4-1 Reading 

The Valentine massacre!

The "Express and Echo" has not forgotten its promise, City. If you win promotion, there is a case of champagne for you-and we are already preparing the ice!

Exeter City's "Reading bogey" lies in ruins today. It was cracked in a blistering open- ing spell at St. James's Park last night when City rocked Reading with two goals in a minute and finally came crashing down in the following half- hour as they sailed into a 4-0 lead.

City laid on a first-half display of champagne soc- cer that put the result beyond doubt by half-time.

In the height of the four-goal euphoria, Reading pulled one back, but by that time it was purely academic.

Exeter's 4-1 victory opened up the record books, too.

It was the first time City had scored four times this season.
The first time City had beaten Reading for 22 years.
The first time City had scored in six home games against Reading
The first home goal for Mike Jordan.

And all this on Friday the thirteenth!

Superstitions. and luck, though, did not come into this match. Exeler thoroughly deserved to win because of their outstanding football. particularly in the first half, and lethal finishing.

By TONY PHILLIPS

Exeter pulled Reading to pieces like a pack of hungry wolves in the first 35 minutes. They produced aggressive, fluent football and, of course, the goals that supporters have been waiting for. Reading were not a bad side, so it was even more credit to Exeter that they should have mauled the third-placed team in the way that they did. During the second half, Reading came more into the game, but with the exception of a magnificent save by Richard Key from Eammon Dunphy's header, they never looked like pulling back.

There were certainly no com- plaints from Reading's manager, Mr. Charlie Hurley Afterwards he told me: "Exeter well deserved to win There are no hard luck stories from me.

"Although we were generous in the first half, Exeter played well and Alan Beer tore us in- side out."

The goal rush started after only four minutes. Bobby Hodge's corner was flicked on and Lammie Robertson scored with a spectacular overhead kick. A minute later it was 2-0. Beer ran wide on the right to take a long pass. He crossed into the Reading area. and Jordan was on to it like a flash. After 24 minutes, Exeter struck again. Keith Bowker crossed from the left and Beer was on the near post to slot the ball home. Then in the 35th minute John Templeman's high cross went straight into the net at the far post after 'keeper Steve Death completely mis- judged it.

Robin Friday pulled one back a minute later, but by then the game had been won and lost.

Saturday 14th February 1976

Barnstaple Town 4-4 Exeter City Reserves 

Barnstaple In A Thriller

Barnstaple surged back from a 3-1 half-time deficit to snatch a point from a game brimful of fast exciting football. They looked a beaten side for the first ten minutes of the second period as Exeter maintained their first-half superiority, but a goal out of the blue by Graeme Somerville sent their confidence soaring. Keith Parkin cracked home a half-volley from the edge of the box to pull them level and they had the character to come back yet again after Brian Joy put City 4-3 up with a rasping 20-yarder 13 minutes from time. Somerville got the equaliser with a glorious volley to rob Exeter of a victory which their consistent play deserved.

Graham Moxham, Mike Green and Keith Clapham (from the spot) scored for Exeter in the first half after Roy Clarke gave Barnstaple the lead in the 10th minute