TUESDAY 8th OCTOBER 1968.

NOW CITY TAKE IT FROM HERE.

EXETER CITY 3
Shearing; Smyth, Blain; Kirkham, Harvey, Balson; Corr, Banks, Bullock, Mitten, Pleat.

PORT VALE 1:

Scorers:
Exeter ; Banks 2, Kirkham,
Port Vale ; Chapman,

Attendance: 3,981,

At last, after 10 league games without a win Exeter City took their first two points since 17th August. It was a victory that the City deserved and it was certainly an improvement as they worked hard, They had virtually all of the first half but Vale took a shock lead against the run of playExeter equalised just before half time, went through a patchy spell at the start of the second half, then came back to score twice, Vale took a shock lead in the 38th minute when Chapman headed past Peter Shearing. Exeter needed to get level quickly and they did just that, when 6 minutes later Cecil Smyth slotted a pass through for John Kirkham to equalise, The City did not settle down immediatly at the start of the second half, Jimmy Blain cleared off the goalline and there were a couple of anxious moments. City came back with a 62nd minute goal, John Mitten with a fine piece of individualism made the chance and crossed perfectly for Alan Banks to head Exeter into the leadShortly after Peter Bullock hit the bar, then Mahon's cross almost had Shearing in trouble. On a couple of occasions Vale went close but Banks made sure of the points just 4 minutes from the end with a well taken goal following a defensive mistake

Match Summary 

What a contrast to the previous game. game. City showed a lot more aggression agains: Port Vale than they had done for some time, and this, combined with a lot of good football, brought us a well win and provided the deserved 3-1 supportersvith plenty of entertainment. It was all against the run of play when Port Vale took the lead five minutes before the interval, but in the injury time tacked on to the first half Johnny Kirkham got an equaliser when put through by Cec. Smyth. City caused a little anxiety early in the second half but they soon recaptured the form shown earlier in the game and two more goals by Alan Banks set the seal on our first win in 11 league games.

WEDNESDAY 9th OCTOBER 1968.

EXETER CITY CUT THEIR LOSSSES ON LAST SEASON.

Exeter City lost £1,817 last season, but the club chairman Les Kerslake warned; "Had we not cut out the reserve side when we did, the chances are that the club would have been out of existence." These figures are shown in the annual report of the directors of the Exeter City Football and Athletic Company Ltd, The report reads; "There is no doubt that the boards economy measures as introduced before the commencement of last season have been the main reason for the improved financial result for the year to 31st May 1968. A deficit of £3,983 has been reduced to one of £1,817, Should the club enjoy a successful season during 1968-69 then gates will surely rise, with consequent further improvements in the finances next year,"

Figures show that expenditure on wages, salaries, signing on fees and the pension scheme dropped to £30,238 compared with £43,340 in the previous seasonThere was a small drop in revenue from home gates, £20,495 compared with £20,582 in the previous year, Season tickets were also down from £3,888 to £3,672, Less money was raised for the club, £10,775 compared with £14,350,