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 

Match report 2

Injury ravaged Exeter City had Fred Ingham making his first appearance of the season and 17-year-old apprentice, Roy Ireland on the substitutes bench however they still managed to turn in a good performance to reach the second round of the F.A-Cup.

City certainly started the match confidently enough, with Brentford posing few problems apart from the tricky play of Phillips. Both sides struggled to find their rhythm and there was little sign of the excitement that normally comes with the F.A Cup.

Exeter's makeshift attack, with new signing lan Pearson ineligible, was not functioning as well as it might have done. The first half was adopting a pattern which had become all too familiar at St James' Park that season with little skilful football to entertain the crowd. Brentford started the second half in a determined mood and they seemed to be going all out for the vital goal. They out Exeter under pressure forcing the Grecians to bring back nine men behind the ball but despite their attacking efforts the visitors could not find a way through the defence. The game was at last beginning to warm up with several chances falling to both sides. Bond made a fine save from Keith Bowker, who nodded a John Templeman free-kick goalwards. The deadlock was finally broken in the 84th minute Ingham's  fine shot was knocked out by Bond, but only as far as Dick Forbes, who lobbed the ball into the far corner of the net from 25-yards.

City team: Vince O'Keefe, John Templeman, Tony Mitchell Phil Roberts, John Hore John Delve, Dick Forbes Steve Neville, Fred Ingham, Keith Bowker, Peter Hatch.

Brentford team: Bond, Salman, Tucker, Shrubb, Kruse, McNichol, Carlton, Graham (Smith)Glover, McCulloch Phillips.

Attendance: 3,782

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.