SATURDAY 26th OCTOBER 1968.

CITY SHOCK OF THE DAY.

DARLINGTON 1,
Moor; Peverall, Keeble; O'Neill, Albeson, Jacques; Gauden, Hale, Robson (Lee), Lawton, Kirk,

EXETER CITY 2,
Shearing; Smyth, Blain; Kirkham, Harvey, Curtis; Corr, Banks, Blason, Mitten, Pleat,

Scorers:
Darlington: Gauden,
Exeter Corr, Balson,

Attendance: 6,668,

Exeter City struggling near the bottom of the Foruth Division produced one of the shocks of the day at Darlington, when they became the first team this season to beat the Quakers in a League game, City began promisingly and moved the ball around well, and should have taken a 10th minute Tead when John Corr's low cross was missed by three City players when only a touch was needed,

They did take the lead however, in the 25th minute, when Corr scored after his first shot rebounded from the keeper. They held the lead until the 45th minute when Gauden cut inside, went down the middle, and put a low shot past Peter ShearingThirteen minutes into the second half City regained the lead after a good left wing moveAlan Banks glanced a header across the goalmouth and Mike Balson pushed the ball over the line,

City were now causing all sorts of trouble for Darlington, Dave Pleat hit a low cross shot just past the post, and then good running by John Kirlham saw him shoot inches wide of the target, darlington made a late rally and Peter Shearing did well to keepe out an effort from Lee, A fine and totally unexpected victory for City !

Match Summary 

This was the break we had all been waiting for. City went on to the Darling ton ground with the idea of hitting them early and going on to win, not merely draw, and this more enterprising attitude paid off. A lot of credit goes to Peter Shearing for his brilliant double save from a penalty in the 13th minute, for who knows what would have happened if Darlington had gone ahead then. As it was we scored through Mike Balson (23 min.) and Alan Banks (58 min.) and we might easily have got as many as six goals. Alan Gauden scored for Darlington just before half time.