Penalty equaliser to smart Southend: Setters  debut
By LIONEL WOTTON

DUGGIE BLAIR was not in Exeter City's team against Southend United at St. James's Park to-day. Due to a late hold-up, it was not possible to complete his transfer from Cardiff City in time, so Norman Dodgin took over at left-half, to make his first League appearance since January 2nd.

• Difficulties over the Blair deal cropped up yesterday, when the player telephoned to say it would not be easy for him to reach Exeter in time for to-day's match. This morning Manager Dodgin was in touch with Blair again. He contacted the player at Cardiff and Blair gave his reply. Over the telephone, he said: "I cannot get down to Exeter in time for the Southerd match." Instead. Blair played for Cardiff's team against Plymouth Reserve team Argyle Reserves at Ninian Park. Now Exeter City representatives and Blair are to meet again on Monday. Blair will discuss matters with Exeter City representatives at a Torquay rendezvous Will he sign then? Let Mr. Dodgin answer. I have no doubt but that the transfer will go through early next week." said the City's player manager.

City: Kelly: Storey, Douglass: Owens, Davey. Dodgin; Setters, Flaway, Donaldson, Mackay McClelland.

Southend: Threadgold: Pavitt. Anderson: Burns: Duthie, Stirling. Sibley. McAllinden, Hollis, Bainbridge, Macdonald.

Youngest trio
For to-day's match the City had had one of the youngest right-flank triangles in the entire Football League. The trio of up-and-coming youngsters on duty against Southend were 17-year-old Maurice Setters and 20-year-olds Bill Ellaway and John Owens.

Honiton born Setters was making his Third Division debut as outside right replacement for Gerald Priestley. Ellaway and Owens were retained after their promising performances at Brighton a week ago. Southend made an impressive start and a forceful left-wing attack almost brought a goal. With the City defence beaten. Bainbridge closed in and shot-a foot wide, with Kelly scrambling  across his charge. From this shock in the first minute the City repled with a clever movement, in which the ball travelled all along the line Donaldson's long pass to Setters gained a corner, and the outside-right placed it well, but Stirling headed out from the goalmouth.

Full of interest
McAllinden and Bainbridge were Intelligent inside-forwards, who gave a touch of quality to the Southend attack, and the City had another anxious moment when McDonald streaked through and drove at lighting speed a foot over the crossbar. End-to-end play was the order, and from a Dodgin inspired movement Donaldson drove hard across the face of the goalmouth. where Mackay just failed to apply the final touch. The tall and speedy, Hollis next showed his worth. He drew the de fence, and passed to the unmarked Sibley, whose centre was headed out by Storey. Interesting exchanges continued to please the crowd, and there were exciting incidents at both ends. Ellaway crashed an obliquely angled shot over the top and Pavitt afterwards had to pass back to his goalkeeper to check the oncoming McClelland. An overhead shot from Mackay travelled into Threadgold's arms, and this was an end to Exeter's aggressive spell. Successive raids by Southend were fraught with the utmost danger and when McAlinden shrewdly lobbed the ball past Douglas the defence was wide open. In came Sibley to drive a fraction wide of the far post.

Quick tackling
Dodgin was plying his forwards with good passes, without positive result because the strong Southend defenders were quick to tackle. A short pass which Owens intended for Kelly failed to reach the goal led to o keeper, and in the skirmish which followed Davey got the City out of trouble by dispossessing Sibley.
Ellaway's thoughtful square pass gave Mackay a chance. but the Inside-left's low shot lacked pace and was easily gathered by Threadgold. The tempo slackened and the crowd had little to cheer until Storey let lose a terrifie drive. The full-back was between 60 and 70 yards from the goal, and the ball scraped the cross bar. A few minutes later Storey distinguished himself by tackling and checking Balnbridge when the forward was shaping to shoot. But the City had a sensational escape seven minutes before the interval. A centre from Sibley was perfectiv placed There to meet the ball. a few yards from the net, was Hollis. The centre forward headed to Kelly's eft. The goalkeeper did well to beat the balf away, and he earned the cheer of the match by catch ng Bainbridge's return shot. Southend were the superior footballing side.
Half-time:
CITY 0-0 SOUTHEND
A free kick placed the City on the attack. and Donaldson eventually scooped the ball across the goal, for Ellaway to dash in, only to be thwarted by Anderson, with the goalkeeper out of position. There was, however, more method about the Southend side and Kelly knew nothing about a Sibley cross shot which hit the far post and came back into play.

Penalty and point
Eleven minutes after the interval, the City were in arrears. A wing to-wing movement caused the damage and McDonald's long diagonal centre was driven into the net by SIBLEY. Kelly had no chance of saving a hard, high point-blank shot. City were in the tolls for a while, but gained an unexpected equalising goal in 57th minute.
Ellaway's persistence in chasing a loose bail down the middle harressed Stirling into losing possession. The visiting centre-half fouled his rival and the referee pointed to the spot. McClelland took the penalty with his right foot. A low, fast shot inside an upright was the ideal effort. 
Showing far more liveliness now, the City rattled the Southend defence and there were exciting skirmishes, the outcome of good centres by Setters, a more confident winger now than in the first half.
Danger bids
McAlinden sent Sibley away and the winger had a clear field. His centre came in at an awkward height, but Kelly was equal to the emer gency and with one hand turned the ball over for a corner. Southend forced another corner a few minutes later when Kelly dived full length to turn a low cross from Hollis around a post. The visiting side were making strong bids at this stage, and McAlinden ended the next attack by lobbing the ball over the crossbar. The last thrill was a run by Ellaway, who took the ball through cleanly and passed squarely to Mackay, whose close-range shot was saved at full length by Threadgold.

Result:
EXETER CITY 1-1 SOUTHEND UNITED

COMMENTS
A draw was a fitting result. Although Southend played the better football in the first half, the City rallied strongly after levelling the scores, and the visiting goal was hotly assailed in exciting exchanges. The more constructive play came from Southend, and Exeter's forwards were again disappointing, apart from Ellaway, whose second appearance in League football was full of promise. He was the pick of the City line. Donaldson lacked speed in the centre and for most of the game was well held by Stirling.

Official attendance 8,392;
receipts £716 7s 9d.

• Footnote: Blair figured in a drawn game at Ninian Park. Result: Cardiff Res. 2, Argyle Res. 2.

SINGLETON WAS SAFE

Southern League 
Kettering v City Reserves 

PLAY started at a fast pace, despite slippery conditions, in the Kettering-Exeter City Reserves' Southern League match, and the opening shot, a 30-yard drive by Knight, curled over the bar in the first minute. Kettering quickly settled down. however, and seized the initiative in attack, but it was five minutes before Jenkins had their first chance. His flashing header from a corner kick found Singleton on the spot to gather the ball safely. The home side continued to press hard and again Singleton saved brilliantly from Jenkins, pushing a quick shot around a post. Seconds later Powell, one of Kettering's two centre-forwards." missed an up right by inches with a similar shot. Priestley made several fine runs on the Exeter left-wing and frequently troubled right-back Parker, but McCullum and Lewis kept a strong guard on the per.alty area. Exeter now began to settle down, and play was mostly confined to midfield. The home forwards were hav ing a lean time, however, and the Jest effort for a long period came from the Kettering full-back Parker, who ran through to test Singleton with a good drive. Knight was Exeter's best forward, and kept the Kettering defence ex tended with skilful cut and thrust tactics.
Half-time:
KETTERING 0-0 CITY RES.
Full-time
KETTERING 1-1 CITY RES.