SATURDAY 14th OCTOBER 1967.

BIGUN IN THE MIDDLE A CITY MUST.

SOUTHEND UNITED 1.

Roberts; Bentley, Birks; Beesley, Ashworth, Stevenson; Woodley, Chisnall (Ferguson), Smillie, McMillan, McKinven,

EXETER CITY 0.
Smout; Smyth, Crawford; Wilkinson, Harvey, Huxford; Hart, Blain, Hamilton, Fudge, Stuckey.

Scorers: Southend: Beesley,

Attendance: 9,426.

Exeter City are one position off the bottom of the Fourth Division after playing 12 games so far this season. 

Exeter just fail to hold out

by GEORGE DUNCAN

THIS DRAB spectacle of the Fourth Division at its lowest ebb was relieved by only two incidents-a late goal and a happy dog which joined in the fun. Neither side had the skill nor the fire to lift the game from the depths into which it descended from the opening stages.
With the wind surging behind them, Southend failed to take advantage of the element except in their long-range attempts. The home forwards lacked any goal getting spirit and at times their close-quarter work was painfully inept.
Raiders overran each other or wasted time passing between themselves in the area and making no ground whatever. The Exeter defence was far from safe in the early stages, although it improved under constant pressure. Midfield raiders were left unmarked to deliver some dangerous shots. Joe Ashworth and Jimmy Stevenson both grazed the crossbar.

Southend wingers Derek Woodley resigned from Charlton a week ago and John McKinven provided most of what little skill was on view. John Smout brilliantly tipped a McKinven drive over and Woodley had his best shot rebound off. the bar. During Southend's raiding spell Exeter were penned in their own half almost continuously. Then Mike Beesley was switched to the forward line for Andy Smillie who dropped back. Jimmy Ferguson went on for Chisnall and, with Exeter's reso lute wall crumbling, Beesley shot the only goal from 15 yards with seven minutes to go. This lapse was against the grain for Exeter's hard-worked rearguard. They had covered brilliantly throughout Southend's unrelenting pressure. Too occupied with defence the forwards made only rare, half hearted prods and Ian Hamilton, City's trialist leader from Bristol Rovers, had little chance to show his paces in this defensive whirl. 

• EXETER DEBUT FOR HAMILTON
  JUST 48 hours after agreeing to join Exeter City on a month's trial, Bristol Rovers inside-forward Ian Hamilton makes his début for the City in today's away match with Southend. Manager Frank Broome said yesterday that Hamilton had what he considered a football brain and was the type of player Exeter wanted. But the actual line-up for the game has not yet been decided. Full-back Cec Smyth yesterday passed a late fitness test and is included in the party of 12.

Another Match Report 

Beesley scores after a late switch forward

Southend United 1, Exeter City 0

WITH time running out in this Fourth Division game at the Roots Hall Ground on Saturday, Southend switched wing-half Mike Beesley to the forward line, and centre Andy Smillie dropped back in defence and seven minutes from the end Beesley scored what proved to be the winning goal. Left-back Graham Birks swung over a high free kick into the Exeter penalty area, and goal keeper John Smout moved out to punch it away. The ball went to Beesley, who scored with a shot from near the edge of the penalty area. It was a goal that put Southend into second place in the table and Exeter down to one off the bottom. The conditions did not help the game, and with the wind and drizzle behind them in the first half Southend did virtually all the attacking.

BETTER
Even so, they were mainly re duced to shots from outside the penalty area. On a couple of occasions they went close, but the high f others were too high or wide. In the 17th minute Derek Wood ley, a dangerous winger, crossed from way out on the right, and the ball hit the Exeter crossbar and dropped safely for the City. In the second-half, Exeter moved Jimmy Blain up, and for a time the City played better as a team. Ian Hamilton, on a month's trial with the club, also switched from mid-field to push up more. In one move Blain, although challenged, ran through, and narrowly missed. 

SUNDAY 15th OCTOBER 1967.

ARSENAL AND SUNDERLAND MAY GO FOR STUCKEY.

Arsenal and Sunderland, rivals in action at Highbury yesterday, are also rivals for Bruce Stuckey, the 18 year old Exeter City winger or inside forward, Both clubs watched Stuckey play his last game for exeter at Southend before starting a two week suspension. With their scouts were officials from several other lesser clubs who really would not be able to compete if the two First Division sides make it a cash battle next week, Frank Broome, who is expecting bids for his players, rates Stuckey as an outstanding prospect, who deserves the chance of proving himself at a higher grade of football. The precedent is there for Arsenal, the last winger they bought from Exeter City more than 30 years ago won every honour there was going, Cliff Bastin. 

TUESDAY 17th OCTOBER 1967.

SELECT XI HIT BY INJURIES.

CECIL SMYTH BENEFIT MATCH.

EXETER CITY 1
Smout; Smyth, Blain; Wilkinson, Harvey, Huxford; Hart, Curtis, Pinkney (St Lukes College), Fudge, Whatling.

SELECT X1 3
Shearing (Plymouth Argyle); Foley (Charlton Athletic), Ley (Portsmouth) Embery (Exeter City); Mitchell (Ex-Exeter City), Colquhoun (West Bromwich Albion), Pier (Plymouth Argyle) Balson (Exeter City); McClelland (Portsmouth), Banks (Plymouth Argyle), Pointer (Portsmouth), Collard (West Bromwich Albion), Jennings (Portsmouth),

Scorers:
Exeter : Pinkney,
Select XI; Banks 2, Pointer.

Attendance :

Following a short game between an ex Exeter City and an ex Torquay United team, this benefit match for Cecil Smyth was plagued by injuries to the Select sideBoth Piper and Ley went off injured to be replaced by Ben Embery and Mike Balson in the first half, After the interval McClelland also went off, to be followed by Embery in the 80th minute. The Select side went ahead in the 30th minute with a typical goal from Plymouth Argyle's inside forward and former Exeter City forward, Alan Banks, Five minutes later Pointer increased their lead with a good shot. After half time Alan Pinkney, the St Lukes College forwardwho came into the City side for this match, pulled a goal back for Exeter, 15 minutes from time Banks got another goal at the second attempt to clinch matters for the select XI in an interesting matchCecil Smyth who joined Exeter City 6 years ago from Irish League side Distillery, and who is still as popular as ever was presented with the match ball autographed by all the players who took part.

EX EXETER CITY PROFESSIONALS 1,
Tony Clark; Brian Whitnall, Roger King; Trevor Atkins, Norman Packer, David Robinson; Bill Harrower, Frank Houghton, George Willis, Bill Dunlop, Graham Rees.

EX TORQUAY UNITED PROFESSIONALS 1 ;

Scorers: Exeter: Willis, Torquay :

WEDNESDAY 18th OCTOBER 1967.

BRUCE STUCKEY GOES NORTH FOR TALKS.

It was confirmed today by Exeter City manager Frank Broome that the club's talented 20 year old player Bruce Stuckey is in Sunderland having talks about a possible transfer to the First Division club, No fee has yet been disclosed by either club, Broome said that Stuckey is a talented and very promising player, but Exeter could not stand in his way if he had a chance of First Division football,

THURSDAY 19th OCTOBER 1967.

STUCKEY IS SUNDERLAND BOUND. Talented Bruce Stuckey, the Exeter City winger, is all set to join First Division Sunderland, but he cannot sign until Monday 30th October because he is under suspension, A fee believed to be around £15,000 has been agreed between the two clubsStuckey is a product of local soccer. He joined Exeter under the apprenticeship scheme from Newton Abbot Spurs and had his first full professional contract in 1965.

COMING HOME.

Exeter City manager Frank Broome will be re-united with his wife shortly. She left Sydney, Australia, today for the return trip to England aboard the S.S Arcadia, and is expected to arrive in this country in five weeks time,