City v Brentford

November 25th 1978 

Trouble torn Exeter City shook off the problems which surround them to put up a brave performance in the F.A.Cup tie at St James's Park before a crowd of 3,782 spectators. They saw Dick Forbes snatch a late winning goal to knock out Brentford and put the City into the second round. With so many players unavailable for one

reason or another Exeter had little choice other than to include a trio of untried and inexperienced men, Forbes, Mitchell, and Ingham, with a fourth, Ireland, as the substitute. Brentford had the former
Exeter player, Len Bond, in goal.

Exeter City:- O'Keefe; Templeman, Mitchell, Roberts, Hore; Delve, Forbes, Hatch; Neville, Ingham, Bowker.

Brentford:- Bond; Salman, Kruse, McNicholl, Tucker; Shrubb, Carlton, J.Graham; Glover, McCulloch, Phillips.

Referee:- Mr J.R.Martin of Alton.

With key players like Jimmy Giles and Colin Randell missing through injury, the loss of Kellow to Blackpool and the ineligibility of Ian Pearson, not to mention the disruptive effect of the sensation that was caused during the week by Harry Holman's "walk out" of the City club, the team certainly seemed to be up against it, but they began well enough and Delve, combining beautifully with Neville in the very first minute had a good shot saved by Bond. Then Forbes fired in a shot that flew just wide of the Brentford goal.

The goal that put the City into the next round came with only six minutes of the game left to play. Neville made one of his dazzling runs up the touchline and crossed for Ingham to fire in a fine shot. Bond managed to beat it out, but the ball ran loose to Forbes, who lobbed it into the far corner from about 25 yards out as Bond made an unsuccessful attempt to scramble back into position.

The Programme 

Western League 
Bridport v City Reserves 

At Bridport Exeter City Reserves fared no better than most other teams have done this season and were beaten by 2 goals to nil.