TUESDAY 9th FEBRUARY 1971.
(Rearranged match)

IT WAS A PENALTY REFEREE !

EXETER CITY 1.
Wilson; Crawford, Blain; Parker, Molyneux, Balson; Rowan, Banks, Gadston, Binney, Wingate (Mitten),

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1
Book; Neal, Brookes; Clarke, Townsend, Kiernan; McNeilFelton, Large, Gould, Fairbrother,

Scorers
Exeter Banks,
Northampton Fairbrother.

Attendance 5,016.

Match Report by Derek Lean 

EXETER were deprived of the win they had certainly grafted for with diligence and determination by a Northampton equaliser 10 minutes from the end. Promotion chasing Northampton were a dour and disappointing combination. Certainly Exeter found it hard work to hew out positive openings from the rugged face of Northampton's defence, but in attack Northampton rarely looked dangerous. It was Exeter throughout who made most of the running. Their best spell was a lively opening in which they gave promise of repeating at home their recent rewarding away form. Then came a period in which their all important final passing tended to break down and their policy of creating openings seemed to be confined to pumping the ball down the middle and hoping to find a space. Things started to improve again towards the end and when John Mitten, he came on after John Wingate had had to be carried off with a leg injury, sparked off the movement that led to Exeter scoring in the 71st minute. It looked as if all the hard work they had put into the game was going to reap its reward. For a hectic few minutes they had Northampton worried and it was surely more by luck than decision that a defender got in the way of a pile driver from Fred Binney which seemed to have goal number two written all over it. But Northampton did break away again and ten minutes from the end Graham Felton pushed the ball into the middle. After two attempts left-winger John Fairbrother finally got the ball into the net to salvage a point.

In the opening few minutes Exeter struck mood. an aggressive Binney intelligently chased a throw-in from Jimmy Blain and shocked the Northampton defence with the speed of his solo thrust. His shot was full of force and all goalkeeper Kim Book could do was to push it behind for a corner. Then Alan Banks and Graham Parker combined in a neat move which ended with the ball being pushed to Joe Gadston, who connected with a first-time shot,Then Alan Banks and Graham Parker combined in a neat move which ended with the ball being pushed to Joe Gadston, who connected with a first-time shot, but it was straight at the keeper. Everyone, except the referee was sure that when 'keeper Book fouled Banks in the area shortly afterwards that it that it was a penalty. But referee Washer, of Bristol, decided it had merely been obstruction and awarded an indirect free-kick which came to nothing. The best Northampton could do in answer was a raid early in the second half when a shot from Fairbrother was not very far outside an upright, Then came that 71st-minute goal Mitten stroked a perfect pass pass to Gadston, and he hammered over centre for a Banks to crack into the net. At that time it looked enough, but Northampton were to get the point which from the style and tenor of their play it looked as if they had come to claim.

PLANNING PERMISION GRANTED.

Outline planning permission for the three sites for a supporters clubhouse has been approved for only one siteThis being on top of the steps behind the big bank goal. Now the next move is to find a suitable building, one like the St Lukes College pavilion at the Cat and Fiddle ground, Unless anything exceptional happens, the clubhouse will be ready in the Summer.

SHEARING TO MOVE?

Peter Shearing, Exeter City's second choice goalkeeper could be leaving St James' Park for Bristol Rovers, The Rovers, and City manager John Newman have already agreed that in the event of the Bristol club's only keeper being injured, Shearing would play for them on loan, Now the arrangement could go a stage further as Shearing visited Eastville today to have a look around and will go to the ground again for a day next week to train.

WEDNESDAY 10th FEBRUARY 1971.

HELLO GOODBYE - FRED JOINS THE ROVERS.

Fred Molyneux who joined Exeter City on loan from Plymouth Argyle last week, today signed for Tranmere Rovers, he has played 2 games for City, but always said that he wanted to return to Lancashire if the opportunity arose, it was because of this that he was transfer listed by Plymouth, he joins Tranmere in exchange for 23 year old striker Jimmy Hinch