SATURDAY 18th NOVEMBER 1967.

Exeter City v Rochdale 

BANKS BRINGS CITY NEW VIGOUR.

EXETER CITY 3,
Smout; Embery, Balson; Blain, Wilkinson, Newman; Hart, Banks, Curtis, Crawford, Fudge,
ROCHDALE 1,
Green; Cockroft, Calloway; Melledew, Taylor, Eastham; McEwan, Russell, Hutchinson, Jenkins, Reid,

Scorers:
Exeter Banks 2, Curtis,
Rochdale: Jenkins,

Attendance; 4,072,

Match report-1 

'OLD PALS ACT' FOR EXETER

by RAY COLLIER

Exeter 3 Rochdale 1

REUNITED AGAIN, the goal getting combination of Alan Banks and Dermot Curtis, brought Exeter their best win of the season. Rochdale reeled under a two goals in 12 minutes blow, and although Exeter tended to relax their grip, Rochdale were not strong enough to strike back. Exeter, struggling at the foot of the table, were transformed by the partnership of Curtis and Banks now back from Plymouth Argyle. These two spearheaded Exeter's attack in their promotion season, and smoothly and spectacularly they found the same understand ing against Rochdale. It was the old pals act with a vengeance as Banks laid on the first goal for Curtis, and the ex-Eire international returned the compliment by engineering two for Banks.
Rochdale's concrete chances at goal were few and far between, and when Exeter fell back, a more powerful side might well have been able to get back into the game. But Rochdale could not, and as things turned out were lucky to concede only three goals. Exeter's first goal came when Banks raced through, and put over a beautifully timed cross for Curtis to head into the net. Two minutes later Curtis lobbed the ball into the middle and Banks blasted it in. In the 66th minute Jimmy Blain centred from the right. It looked ns if the ball would beat everybody, but Curtis headed it back into the goalmouth and a typical diving header from Banks brought the third goal. Rochdale scored in the 40th minute when former Exeter player Reg Jenkins picked up a bad pass back, beat goalkeeper John Smout to the ball, and scored.

Match Report 2

Exeter look to past and go forward. 

Exeter City 3, Rochdale 

IT was as if the clock had been turned back. The sort of Soccer Exeter produced in this game, was like the promotion stuff of three years ago and the stars of this performance were, of course. Alan Banks and Dermot Curtis, who laid on the promotion Soccer then.
Rochdale were beaten in a way that completely belied the unhappy truth of the situation to day-that Exeter are struggling om the to get away from the gloomy re election zone. But this game was the sort of tonic needed For chairman Les Kerslake it was probably his happiest birthday present, and it should fill the side with plenty of condence. For Banks and Curtis, the two who have combined so effectively in the past, it was a day when practically nothing went wrong. The old understanding was right there. All three goals came from their sparkling combination, and the fact is Banks could well have scored two more on top of the two goals he got. Certainly the re-sign re-signing of Banks has pepped up Exeter's attack with a vengeance. But if they were the stars, full credit must go to the complete forward line. It moved with a real purpose and speed, and although Exeter did fade a little midway through the game, this still remains far and away Exeter's best performance of the season. Rochdale looked a far from impressive side. They were not strong enough to take advantage of the lull in Exeter's attacking performance, and the one goal they got came from a defensive mistake. But the day belonged to the exuberant Banks and the polished Curtis. It started in the 10th minute, when Johnny Newman sent Banks away. Brilliantly, Banks timed his cross for Curtis to head into the net. Curtis returned the compliment. two minutes later. His chip into the middle was exactly right for Banks to put into the net.
In the second half Jimmy Blain set up the third goal with a centre. It looked as if the ball would beat everyone, but somehow Curtis re trieved it and nodded it back into the middle for Banks to score with a diving header. After that, only a post and a scrambled save prevented Banks from getting his hat-trick. Towards the end Rochdale got their goal former Exeter man Reg Jenkins taking advantage of a poor pass-back.


Notes on the game 

Four years ago the Alan Banks Dermot Curtis partnership formed the basis of EXETER'S successful promotion drive.
The renewal of this forceful link can now prevent them having to re-apply for re-election. Manager Frank Broome spent wisely when he re-signed Banks from Plymouth. Although not a centre forward, the position Broome most wanted to fill, Banks has transformed the line. In two games in four days Exeter scored six goals, as many as they have in the previous eight games.
Against Rochdale their perfect understanding was the vital factor. Banks scored twice from Curtis passes, and it was the in side forward who provided the pass from which Curtis set Exeter on the victory trail in the tenth minute.