SATURDAY 28th SEPTEMBER 1968.

EARLY GOAL ROCK CITY.

EXETER CITY 1
Shearing; Smyth, Blain; Kirkham (Curtis)Harvey, Newman; Corr, Banks, Bullock, Mitten, Pleat,

COLCHESTER UNITED 1,
Macedo; Mochan, Hall; Joslyn, Bickles, Wood; Oliver, Simpson, Light, Gibbs, Dyson,

Scorers:
Exeter : Banks,
Colchester Mochan,

Attendance: 5,146,

Eexter City made a disastrous start when they went a goal down in less than a minute, Colchester won a corner and afte rit had been cleared, the ball was crossed back into the Exeter penalty area by Simpson, and Mochan appeared to touch it home in a group of players, City began poorly, with passes going astray, but in the 40th minute they got the equaliser, Dave Pleat crossed from the right, and Alan Banks scored with a firm header to end a fine move, In the second half Exeter did improveJohn Kirkham and Banks, who was only passed fit just before the kick off, both went close, Colchester still looked dangerous on the break, with Simpson impressive, Gibbs was not very far off with a shot on the turn, then Peter Shearing smothered another effort from the same player at point blank range. Overall this was yet another disappointing display by the City,

March Report 2

Another disappointment for home sup porters who have not seen the City do anything worthwhile on this ground since we beat Sheffield Wednesday. On this occasion both sides blamed the pitch for slowing down play and spoiling it as a spectacle, and there was also some excuse for Exeter because of their strenu ous mid-week game at White Hart Lane, but the average spectator pays little heed to such excuses and they certainly do not help to dispel disappointment at seeing the City drop another home point. City were shocked by an early Col chester goal surprisingly netted within the first two minutes. Indeed, it was such a surprise that many of us were not sure who should be credited with the goal. Obviously no-one was more surprised than Peter Shearing who must have been expecting Brian Gibbs to get his head to Simpson's high dropping centre. Actually, Gibbs failed to connect and the ball carried along its initial route and into the net.

We took a long time to get to grips with the situation after that shock and when eventually we began to worry the visiting defence we often failed through lack of determination. However, Alan Banks showed all the determination that was required when he headed (Alan is making more of a habit of heading goals these days) one of his most brilliant goals, thanks yet again to an accurate centre from Dave Pleat. This was five minutes before the interval.
There was no more scoring in the second half during which the almost leisurely exchanges were fairly evenly distributed.

Team-
Shearing; Smyth, Blain; Kirkham, Harvey, Newman; Corr, Banks, Bullock, Mitten, Pleat.

Curtis substituting for Kirkham after 70 minutes.

PROUD OF THEM, CITY PLAYED REAL FOOTBALL.

Eexter City were well and truly beaten at White Hart Lane last Wednesday, but how proud the supporters were of the manner in which Exeter were beaten, Even Tottenham Hotspur manager Bill Nicholson said that he did not realise that there was a side in the Fourth Division which could play the standard of football City turned on, especially in that thrilling first half, As Spurs piled on the pressure, there was a feeling of sympathy mingled with pride, for how could City expect to hold the cream of British footballnearly £600,000 of brilliant soccer talent, How could City expect to hold the likes of Jimmy Greaves at his scintillating best, and Cliff Jones a sheer genius, Exeter were perhaps unlucky to have met these two players at the peak of their form, A Fourth Division side that can go to White Hart Lane and score three goals against such talented opposition cannot be all that bad, and indeed this game proved once again, given the opportunity, the City this season have a fine footballing side, better than we hadve had for some time. One will never forget that Exeter were twice in the lead against the mighty Spurs,

DEATH OF FORMER CITY PLAYER.

A lot of City supporters will no doubt remember former City player Sammy Booth he played for City some seasons ago and later went to Bideford as Player Manager. Sam died suddenly this week after a heart attack when playing in a match up in Scotland at the age of 42 Booth who was Southampton's scout in Scotland signed for Exeter in the 1950-51 season from Derry City he stayed with Exeter for four seasons, then in 1954 he was appointed player manager at Bideford,