IPSWICH INCHES OFF FIRST FALL


By PETER LORENZO

FIRST man into a jubilant Exeter dressing room after they had held top-of-the-table Ipswich to a draw at Portman Road was director Jack Warne.
He shook hands with player-manager Norman Dodgin and said: "Congratulations, lads, I told you I wouldn't let you down." Cheery Mr. Warne has travelled away with the club five times this season-Exeter have won four and drawn one those five matches.

But don't think there was any thing lucky about Exeter becoming the second side this season to take a point at Ipswich. Inches alone saved the East Anglian club's unbeaten home record in the closing minutes. A hard header from leader Andy Donaldson just cleared the bar.

Quick throw-in
Donaldson, ex-Newcastle and Middlesbrough, showed class touches whenever he had the ball, Twenty-two minutes from the end he made it 1-1
From 20 yards out on the right. wing he collected a quick throw-in from right-half Sam Booth, turned and cracked in a first-time angled drive that hit the cross-bar and a post before sailing into the back of the net.
It's not the first time I've scored a goal like that," was Andy's post-goal comment, Luckless George Meluckie, Ipswich's nimble outside-left, had the last laugh in the game. He was hurt four times in the opening ten minutes. But George it was who scored Town's goal
Result 
Ipswich Town 1-1 ECFC  
Scorers: Donaldson
Attendance: 15125

Comment (from the Reading Standard 20/11/1953)

Ipswich Doubts

News from the Ipswich end

It seems to suggest that while the locals are expecting their side to win, their confidence was shaken considerably as the result of Exeter City's performance. Our correspondent writes:

"Before last Saturday's game with Exeter City Ipswich Town supporters were fairly confident of the outcome of their P.A. Cup game with Reading, but now they are not so sure. Ipswich looked anything but a good promotion proposition against the Devon team and were fortunate in the end to get away with a point.

"The usual rhythm was lacking and it is now felt that the result of Saturday's match is in the balance.

Ipswich had previously dropped one point at home-to Southend -and they are still unbeaten in 12 games, but, on recent performances, this record flatters them.

Match report 2 by Nomad 

SATURDAY 14th NOVEMBER 1953.
CITY DEFENCE DEFIED IPSWICH.

IPSWICH 1.

EXETER CITY 1
Kelly; Storey, Rowe; Booth, Davey, Dodgin; Dailey, Samuels, Donaldson, Mackay, McClelland
Scorers
Ipswich McLuskies.
Exeter City Donaldson
Attendance 15,125,

League leaders Ipswich had an early shock when Feeney headed the ball off the goal line, but the exchanges that followed belonged to the home sideThey raided with expected persistence and showed skill, thrust and cohesionYet they could not penetrate the City defence which was magnificently served by Kelly and a trio of halfbacks that tackled relentlessly. Ipswich did not pierce the visitors defence until the 55th minute when Reed's centre spun off McLuskies shin and eluded by inches the leaping, blameless Kelly. The lead was retained for 13 minutes for Exeter equalised with a quick thinking effort from Donaldson, who receiving a throw in, turned and shot from an acute angle into the net via an upright, Equality restored City came into the game so strongly that both points were almost theirs in the last stages of a fast and furious encounter. It was however, the brilliance of Kelly and the spoiling tactics of his co defenders which did most towards earning the City a valuable point,

Southern League 

EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
Songleton; Douglass, Doyle; McLean, Ware, King; Mitchell, Knight, Harvey, Murphy, Parker,

BATH CITY 2.

Scorer Exeter City Mitchell 2.

MOVE TO CANADA.

Ray Wright the former Exeter City and Yeovil Town inside forward who is now mine host the Bath Arms Hotel, Frome, is leaving for Canada next March. He intends to settle down in Winnipeg with his wife and daughter. For the past 18 months Wright has been Secretary and Manager of Frome Town,

MONDAY 16th NOVEMBER 1953.
A LOSS OF £573.

Exeter City Suffered a loss of £573, 17s, 9d in the year ending June 30th last, Entertainment tax was £6,485 in a total expenditure of £39,523,165,10d, an increase of 1815, £6,000 was spent on transfer fees, £2,332,10s came in from the sale of playersWages were £14,992. £1,444 less than last year, Gross receipts £38,949,195,1d, up by £8,241, Match receipts £28,658,3s3d up by £8,792Season ticket sales of £6, 380, 4s, up by £587,

The Grecians Association contributed £573,0s,8d, towards the cost of floodlights. The club is now £16,794,185,7d, in debt,

Membership of the Grecians Association stands at 830 well down on last season's figure, which almost topped 2,000. A recruitment drive is under way.

WEDNESDAY 18th NOVEMBER 1953.

EXETER CITY RESERVES 1
Singleton; Doyle, Douglass; Harvey, Ware, Owens; Setters, Ellaway, Mitchell, Murphy, Parker,

LOVELLS ATHLETIC 2.

Scorer Exeter City Murphy,