Match 05
31st August, 1968
Brentford (h)

SATURDAY 31st AUGUST 1968.

CITY STRIKE TWICE AND THEN JUST STOP.

EXETER CITY 2,
Shearing; Smyth, Balson; Kirkham, Harvey, Newman; Blain, Banks, Bullock (Curtis), Mitten, Pleat,

BRENTFORD 2
Phillips; Jones, Hunt; Higginson, Gelson, Nelmes; Ross (Dobson), Fenton, Terry, Richardson, Mansley.

Scorers:
Exeter : Banks 2,
Brentford : Terry, Richardson,
Attendance: 8,322,

Alan Banks scored twice in three minutes and Exeter looked set for another impressive victory. Less than an hour later however there was disappointment, City's two goal lead had disappeared as Brentford forced a draw, Exeter seemed to stop running in the second half and Brentford kept at them. In the end City threw victory away, two goals in front on your own ground should be sufficient for any team. It was a hard tough bruising game and some of Brentford's tactics left a lot to be desired, At one point both captains were called together by the referee in an effort to cool things down a bit, City played some good crisp football in the first half and were rewarded by goals from Banks in the 30th and 33rd minutes, both coming as a result of a run down the wing by Dave Pleat, In the 42nd minute Brentford pulled a goal back through Terry who nodded the ball into the net, Shearing was at fault for he should have cut the cross out, In the second half City had to defend. desparately at times and in the 82nd minute the inevitable happened, when Richardson scored the equaliser, Exeter did set a club record, having gone 14 games without defeat.

Match Summary 

Brentford played it hard but should have been capable of taking both points. having enough chances to have clinched victory before the interval, when we played some delightful attack ing football. There were a couple of defence-splitting moves with Johnny Kirkham cutting through, moves which were sheer genius. and we have never seen better on this ground. The game was a personal triumph for Alan Banks, who scored both of our goals. his first of the season, but, unfortunately, in getting the second on the turn he injured his ankle and so was forced to miss City's all-important game with Sheffield Wednesday four days later. Brentford brought the score back to 2-1 with a goal shortly before the in terval and they came at us much stronger in the second half. By the time the 90 minutes had elapsed the visitors had done enough to deserve the draw which they got with a second goal eight minutes from time.


CITY ON A CREST OF A WAVE.

It is still early days to forecast anything at St James' Park but what a good start the club have made, They are unbeaten in the Fourth Division and are through to the second round of the Football League Cup with a plum draw against First Division Sheffield Wednesday, Gates have improved considerably, and interest in and around the City has really soared. Exeter City have proved one thing early on, get success on the field and you will get success through the gates.

FANS CUP TICKET SOS FROM SPAIN.

Interest in Exeter City's plum League Cup draw against Sheffield Wednesday at St James' Park on Wednesday night is becoming worldwide, The club has received an application for two tickets from Spain ! It has come from Mr L, Webster of Sidmouth, a City supporter, who is on holiday in the Costa Brava and will not be returning to this country until Tuesday night.


City created a club record in this game by extending our undefeated run to 14 League and Cup games, thus beating the run of 13 games which had been the club's best since 1924-25.

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