SATURDAY 5th OCTOBER 1968.

OH FOR ELEVEN CECIL SMYTH'S !

EXETER CITY 0
Shearing; Smyth, Balson; Blain, Harvey, Newman (Whatling); Corr, Banks, Curtis, Mitten, Pleat,

ALDERSHOT 0,
Godfrey; Walden, Dawes McAnearney, Rafferty, Walker; Walton, Priscott, Howarth, Wilson, Gowans, Attendance; 4,595,

Last December Exeter City's right winger Stuart Hart broke his leg against Aldershot, this time John Newman was helped off the field with the frustrat groin strain in the 65th minute. The game ended Joalless so City still cannot accord and Exeter will be in patchy League form of recent weeks. Ten goaches without a win is a dismal rato stand there in serious trouble very shortly. es were not fast enough a effective in midfield, Yens standing around, there was not enough chasing defen was generally fairly sound and Cecil Smyth had a fine game. If only City had eleven Smyth's their task would seem much easier. There was more urgency from City in the second half particularly in the last 20 minutes, Dersot Curtis almost won the game with a fine shot that was only a couple of inches wide, Aldershot's defence looked shaky at times, but City lacked punch and power up front. The nearest Aldershot came to scoring was a couple of headers, but Peter Shearing did not have a great deal to do in the Exeter goal,

Match Summary 

Although both goals had some narrow escapes this game became rather a bore and no-one could blame the spectators who chose to go home early. Obviously, therefore, this was an afternoon that spectators and players would prefer to forget, and apart from Cec Smyth none of the Ctiy team did any thing to enhance their reputations. To add to our troubles skipper Johnny Newman was injured in the 65th minute and had to be assisted from the field. Keith Whatling came on as substitute to make his first appearance for nearly 12 months, and the fact that this eager young player proved his fitness was the only relief to this dismal picture.


EXETER CITY'S FORM AN ENIGMA.

What an amazing and disappointing transformation has taken place at St James' Park during the last four weeksAfter beginning the season by extending City's unbeaten run to a record of 15 games culminating in that great win over Sheffield Wednesday, The Exeter supporters were all cock a hoop and especially with the brand of football the lads were playing. Since then however, City have played 8 games without a winThey have managed to only draw twice, both in home gamesAll of which means that Exeter have slid to a precarious position in Division Four, the whole situation is something of an enigma for no one can put their finger on the basic cause of the trouble which is all the more mystifying when everyone knows that the side is capable of playing football of a higher standard than has been seen from an Exeter side in several years,

£125,000 INJURY WAS A BLOW TO £10 HARVEY.

Keith Harvey, Exeter City's 34 year old centre half was as upset as anyone when he heard the news of the injury to Martin Chivers, For he had been looking forward to pitting the strength of his £10 signing on fee against the might of the £125,000 Spurs centre forward in the Football League Cup clash at White Hart Lane, However, keith still had his hands full for he had to try to suppress 20 year old Jimmy Pearce. As it was Spurs ran out 6-3 winners, but it was not for lack of effort by Exeter and Harvey, who has played more than 500 league and cup games for the City.