A WEDNESDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 1968.

A DISTRESSING HABIT.

EXETER CITY 2,
Shearing; Crawford, Balson; Kirkham, Curtis, Newman; Corr, Banks, Bullock, Mitten, Pleat.

BRADFORD CITY 3,
Roberts; Atkins, Cooper; Stowell, Hollett (Bannister), Bayliss; Hall, ham, Leighton, Middleton, Walker,

Scorers:
Exeter Banks 2.
Bradford City: Ham, Leighton,Hall
Attendance : 6,182,

It is getting a distressing habit with Exeter City. Six times this season in Fourth Division games, City have scored first to either lose or drop a point. It happened again Bradford City. Alan Banks gave Exeter an 8th minute lead, but a bad mistake 3 minutes later by Mike Balson allowed Ham to score an equaliser, Bradford were the better side in the first half. City gave them far too much room during this period, In the second half it was different. Bradford were not as menacing or impressive as City tightened up, although it must be said that the experiment of playing Dermot Curtis at centre half was not a success. City were not sharp enough to snap up a string of chances some of which bobbled invitingly in the Bradford penalty area, City were hesitant in their Build up on occasions but they should have scored at least twice, Ironically it was Bradford who struck twice in the 75th and 78th minutes through Leighton and Hall, Perhaps they did not deserve to be two goals ahead on the run of play, but they were, and five minutes from the end Banks got his and City's second goal with a good header from a David Pleat cross. It was too late and Bradford inflicted on City thier first home defeat of the season,

A HAT TRICK FOR CECIL'S NOSE.

A blow for Exeter City was the news that right back Cecil Smyth has broken his nose, he sustained the injury against Bradford Park Avenue last week, when an elbow caught him in the face, This is the third time Smyth has broken his nose. The first occasion was about 4 years ago and it happened again during the 1966-67 season,

AND THE BEST OF LUCK.

A week tomorrow Exeter City meet Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in their glamour third round Football League Cup tie. Last night, City officials were wished the best of luck on behalf of the city at a civic reception at the Guildhall. The mayor, Avious round Martin, congratualted the team on beating Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday in the previous rounds and hoped that they would pull off another victory against Spurs or bring them back to Exeter a replay.

FAN OF CITY THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

Now that the world of football is suddenly sitting to the taking notice of Exeter City as League Cup giantkillers, let us remember the supporters who have faithfully followed the city through thick and thin sometimes very thin, over the years. One  such person is Reverend Hugh Roden who lives in retirement at Tewkesbury and has been a city supporter since 1904. Mr Roden lived in Exeter between 1902 and 1909, His father, an army captain, was at Wyvern Barracks then, and he once had a trial for the City reserve side when Exeter were an amateur side. He remembers the great excitement when Exeter City joined the Southern League in 1908. It cost him one shilling then to watch from the cheap' side at St James' Park. He still supports the City and saw them play at Coventry a few seasons ago.

THE SPURS.

Tottenham Hotspur are undoubtedly the most powerful combination that Exeter City has ever been called upon to meet. For they are likely to meet a side in which every player has gained international honours of one degree or anotherThey have a tremendous array of soccer talent but in getting these players together the Spurs have spent around £700,000. Exeter earn that sort of money through gate receipts over a 30 year period! It is the first time that the Spurs have played a Football League Cup tie at White Hart Lane and it will be the first time Exeter City have played there. There is an interesting historical link between the two clubs. When Spurs left the Southern League to enter the Football League in 1908, there was a keen competition between a number of clubs for the vacant place in the Southern League, Exeter, an amateur club, surprised a lot of people by topping the poll. They embraced professionalism and embarked on thier first season of Southern League football in 1908-09.

THURSDAY 19th SEPTEMBER 1968.

RUSH FOR SPECIAL.

Exeter City have had such demand for tickets for the football special running to the Tottenham Hotspur match at White Hart Lane next Wednesday, that three additional coaches have had to be booked for the train.