SATURDAY 2nd DECEMBER 1967.

TWO POINTS BUT NOT VERY CONVINCING.

EXETER CITY 2
Smout; Embery, Smyth; Blain, Harvey, Newman; Hart, Banks, Curtis, Crawford, Fudge,
NEWPORT COUNTY 1
Timson; Wilson, Collins; Smith, WilliamsWood; Robinson, Hill, Buck, Rowland, King,

Scorers:
Exeter Fudge Banks
Newport Hill

Attendance: 4,208,

Match Report 1
Exeter make hard work of victory

Exeter City 2, Newport 1

EXETER deserved to beat New port, but the balance of their superiority was mighty thin. They turned in a far from consistent performance, and if they had shown more drive throughout, securing both points would have turned out to be a far easier task. For long periods Newport seemed to have the edge. They were faster and looked a lot more lively, but their approach work came to nothing in front of goal. From the entertainment point of view this was not a good match, Far too much of the foot ball was scrappy, and there was a lot of loose and untidy play.

MUNDANE
For long spells Exeter were getting bogged down and produced mundane and very run of the mill soccer, although at times, notably at the start of the second half and very late in the game, they suddenly sparked into life and looked like an attacking combination of real force. Exeter's first goal came after 35 minutes. Alan Banks pushed a pass to Jimmy Blain, who went for goal and unleashed a powerful ground drive. The Newport goalkeeper might well have covered the shot, but Micky Fudge came into the middle and steered it wide of the goal keeper and into the net.
SIGNAL
When Exeter opened in the second half it looked as if that goal was to be the signal of more to come. But instead they lost their sparkle and Newport got back into the game. Newport's Alan Smith found a huge gap in the defence and moved quickly to shoot. This time inside-left Len Hill helped the ball into the net with a well timed stab. It certainly looked as if the score would stay that way. But nine minutes from the end Exeter scored from a well-rehearsed free kick. With the Newport defence com pletely on the wrong foot, Banks's shot was helped into the net by right-back Joe Wilson.

Attendance 4,208.

Match Report 2 

NEWMAN PLANS EXETER WINNER
Exeter City 2 Newport 1:
by RAY COLLIER

THE WISE head of former Plymouth skipper Johnny Newman brought Exeter victory nine minutes from the end, when they were awarded a vital free-kick on the edge of the penalty area. Exeter's eager forwards moved quickly to try to save the goal, but Newman came from défence, whispered instructions, and an obviously well practised and effectively executed movement brought the goal Exeter so badly wanted. But it was a mighty close win for Exeter. For long periods they looked far from impressive. Their forwards did not have enough drive and their defence looked suspect. But although nippy Newport looked faster than Exeter, their attack did not have much punch in front of goal and their new signing. Tony Buck from Oxford. had a quiet debut. The man who almost saved the game for Newport was in fact Len Hill originally named as substitute. Because inside forward David Pugh was in Chesterfield discuss ing details of a possible move, Hill came into the Newport side and got the goal in the 62nd minute that looked like earning a draw for Newport.
The first half was one of patchy football. Newport looked the faster side, but could not find the scoring touch, and Exeter's attack only looked dangerous in bursts. Then, in the 35th minute, Exeter broke through Newport's defence. Alan Banks pushed the ball to wing half Jimmy Blain, who crashed ground shot. in a powerful. Left winger Micky Fudge moved in from the wing like a flash and steered the ball into the net. In the 62nd minute Newport's speed paid off. Inside right Alan Smith left the Exeter defence standing as he raced through the middle, and Hill stroked the pass into the net. In the second half Exeter looked like taking command at the start, but fell away. Then came that all-important free kick. Newman pushed a short pass to Campbell Crawford. Banks had moved out to the wing and when Crawford gave him the ball Newport's defence was caught on the wrong foot. Banks hammered in a shot and John Wilson, trying desperately to save, could only help the ball into his own net.

WEDNESDAY 6th DECEMBER 1967.

INTEREST IN COVENTRY KEEPER.

Exeter City are interested in Alan Dickie, a goalkeeper from Coventry City, Exeter have already made preliminary enquiries for the player and manager Frank Broome intends to talk to Dickie this weekend when City play at Nuneaton Borough in the F.ACup, City are staying in Coventry on Friday evening, when Broome will see if the goalkeeper is interested in moving from a First Division to a Fourth Division club, Since Exeter cut their staff at the beginning of the season, John Smout has been the only goalkeeper on City's books.

FRIDAY 8th DECEMBER 1967.

FROM THE CHOIR.

Exeter City received a special Good luck City' card from a group of young supporters. The card measures 15" x 12" and in the centre of the front cover is the club badge which has been drawn together with the words - "Up The City, Good Luck." Inside the card it says "Best of luck at NuneatonFrom the popular side choir. We will be right behind you all the way."

SNOW AFFECTS CITY CUP-TIE.

Exeter City's F.A.Cup tie at Nuneaton could be off if further snow falls overnight, A squad of 15 volunteers are standing by at the Manor Park ground which is already blanketed by four inches of snow. The volunteers equipped with shovels and bulldozers will set about clearing the pitch at dawn tomorrow and the playing area will be inspected by the referee early to decide whether it is fit to play on.