Colchester United v ECFC (L 1-0) Attendance: 7692

WEAK FINISHING DISCOUNTED CLEVER MIDFIELD PLAY. EXETER CITY UNLUCKY: A DRAW WOULD HAVE BEEN A FAIRER RESULT.

Keen overnight frost had not thawed out completely when the teams took the field at Colchester, and the goal-areas were heavily sanded as a precautionary measure. Players on both sides had difficulty in maintaining a foothold, though

Exeter, particularly in the first half, adapted themselves much better

to the conditions and the Colchester goal had a series of escapes.

COLCHESTER UNITED 1 EXETER CITY O.

Saturday, February 2nd 1952,
at Layer Road.
Attendance 7,692.

The City's clever midfield play was, however, discounted by weak and erratic finishing, with many chances missed, and after 35 minutes the home side took the lead against the run of the play, McKim shrugging off a challenge by Rowe and beating Singleton with a shot from a very acute angle.

Colchester: Wright; Harrison, Rookes; Bearryman, Stewart, Elder; Aitchison, Scott, Turner, McKim, Church.

Exeter City:- Singleton; Warren, Rowe; Davey, Doyle, Armes; Digby, Smith, Walton, Mackay, McClelland.

A draw would have been a fairer result, for Exeter were undoubtedly the superior side in the first half. After the interval it was Colchester who held the advantage, but even then the City had their chances. Exeter's trouble was that their weak finishing discounted all their clever midfield manoeuvres.

Southern League 
CITY RESERVES 4 GLOUCESTER CITY 2.

At St James's Park Exeter City Reserves made a fine recovery after the interval to beat Gloucester by 4 goals to 2 after being a goal behind at half-time..

The visitors were in fact two goals up after only 14 minutes, Asher having scored both. Regan reduced Exeter's deficit shortly before the change of ends, and it needed only four minutes of play in the second half for Brown to level matters, following which Mitchell (25 minutes) and Regan (32) scored the goals which won the day for the Reserves.

City Reserves: - Salter; Reid, Clark; Fallon, Carter, Coley; Hancock, Hutchings, Mitchell, Brown, Regan.