SATURDAY 25th JANUARY 1969.

INJURY HITS CITY AS THEY GO DOWN FIGHTING.

LINCOLN CITY 3.
McClelland; Hubbard, Peden; Smith(J), Harford, Grummett; Hughes, Jeffrey, Svarc, Kearns, Smith (D),

EXETER CITY 2
Shearing; Smyth, Blain (Crawford); Balson, Sharples, Newman; Pleat, Kirkham, Curtis, Mitten, Whatling.

Scorers:
Lincoln: Smith 2, Peden,
Exeter: Kirkham, Pleat

Attendance; 9,175,

Another injury weekend for Exeter City. Jimmy Blain left the field after 29 minutes with a back injury and later in the game John Mitten was involved in a clash of heads which left him with blood streaming from a cut. In addition to these injuries, City left Lincoln without any points, after scoring first, which has happened quite a few times this season, It was a disappointing result after starting so well, City were weak in four positions on the day. Dermot Curtis and John Kirkham had poor games and their workrate was down, On the other hand John Newman had a good game, Mike Balson also got through a lot of good work. The City did well in the first half particularly in the first 25 minutes. In the second half Lincoln scored twice in eleven minutes and then missed two or three other chances, Kirkham put Exeter ahead after 2 minutes with a fine rising shot from 18 yards following a corner. Lincoln equalised in the 13th minute through Smith after a really good pass out of defence, Three minutes into the second half Peden scored from the penalty spot after Cecil Smyth had tripped Hughes. Lincoln scored a third goal in the 59th minute courtesy of Campbell Crawford who deflected Smith's shot past Peter Shearing. Dave Pleat scored City's second a minute from the end

Match Summary 

Exeter scored first through Johnny Kirkham, but Dave Smith equalised and for a long spell City were forced on the defensive. In the second half we failed to keep chasing hard enough and although Lincoln were slightly lucky to score with a penalty by George Peden and when Campbell Crawford deflected another shot into his own net they earned their points. Dave Pleat got City's second goal in the last minute.

MONDAY 27th JANUARY 1969.
OPERATION FOR ALAN BANKS.

Alan Banks, Exeter City's top scoring inside forward enters hospital tomorrow for an operation on his injured legAfter the Manchester United cup tie Banks was ordered to rest because of a haemotoma above the knee joint of his right leg. The sooner the operation is carried out the sooner Banks can resume training and playing. He leads the City scoring chart with 16 goals in 24 League and Cup appearances,

WEDNESDAY 29th JANUARY 1969.

JOHN ROWLANDS JOINS THE CITY.

Exeter City have signed Torquay United's 6 centre forward John Rowlands on loan for the rest of the season, Rowlands who joined Torquay in the Summer from Mansfield Town on a free transfer has made several Third Division appearances this season, The move to Exeter should guarantee him first team football with the current injury situation at St James' Park. Rowlands signed amateur forms for Liverpool as a 17 year old and was a regualr in their A' side until a back injury forced him out. A doctor told him he would have to pack the game up. He drifted from job to job and after three years returned to his first love that of playing football. In 1966 he had a short spell with Marine before soring 58 goals in one season with Liverpool Premier League side, Norwest, Mansfield Town signed him after scoring 11 goals in three games in one weekend, He did not win a regualr place at Field Mill and was given a free transfer last Summer when he joined Torquay United.