Saturday, March 18th 1950. 

ANOTHER STEP NEARER TO SAFETY. 

NEWPORT BEATEN AT SOMERTON PARK.

Two more valuable points were won by the Grecians when they defeated Newport County at Somerton Park today. The City, deserving winners on the day's form, are fighting their way back to League safety and the re-election clouds are melting away. The outlook is brighter because the team has made such a wonderful improvement in the last three months.

By EXONIAN

Newport County 1, Exeter City 2

EXETER CITY are climbing to safety. They have lost only Third Division match this one year and that by a lone goal at Ipswich, where the side was disorganised and depleted through injury.

Two more vital points were won at Somerton Park, where Exeterd dependable defence played the major part in a two-one triumph over struggling Newport County. The game, on a partly wateriogged pitch, was not a classic. Yet it was always interesting and the City were deserving winners in an encounter which was a test of stamina as much as football skill.

Singleton, in the City goal. had little to do in the first half but he was equal to all demands when the desperate Newport forwards, aided by aggressive wing half-backs. raided strongly in the last half-hour. He was effectively covered by Johnstone and Clark. full-backs. who emerged with credit on a day which favoured the rival wing-men.

Once again the City's half-backs played a great part. Goddard allowed the free-scoring and speedy Parker no scope and there was no stronger tackler on view. Davey was always useful, while Fallon's sharp interventions foiled, many Newport attempts.

Unlike Exeter the home defensive ranks contained several weaknesses, the chief being Depear, an unwieldy centre-half, who was often floundering in the mud, and Hayward, a left- back, who was sadly lacking in pace.

Foundations of Exeter's success were laid in a five-minute spell early in the second half. Clark scored the first goal from a penalty awarded after Smith had been sandwiched as he was going through with the ball. Smith, the best attacker on the City side. shot the second with a shrewdly-placed slantwise shot.

It was not until the last minute that- Newpor were able to break down Exeter's stubborn resistance. Then Comley ran through the middle, drew Singleton out and glided the ball into the net.

NEWPORT COUNTY 1
(Comley)
EXETER CITY 2
(Clark penalty, Smith)

Half-time, no score.

Newport:- Ashton; Williams, Hayward; Amphlett, Depear, Newall; Bowen, Comley, Parker, Payne, Harper.
Exeter City: Singleton; Johnstone, Clark; Fallon, Goddard, Davey; Mackay, Smart, Smith, McClelland, Regan.

Attendance 6,414.