SATURDAY 20th JANUARY 1968. 
WHAT A LET DOWN.
Exeter 1-0 Chester

EXETER CITY 1
Smout; SmythBalson; Newman, Harvey, Huxford; Blain, Banks, Curtis, Crawford, Corr, CHESTER 0,
Carling; Jones (R), Bennett; Ashworth, Turner, Sutton; Hancox, Metcalf, HughesLoyden, Morris,

Scorer: Exeter: Corr,

Attendance: 4,336,

After the brilliant display against Walsall two weeks ago, what a transformation, with Exeter giving a poor performance, True City got two important points with their win over Chester, but it was a poor 30 minutes of footballIt was generally shabby, and an untidy gameThere was too much scrappy football and a match devoid of construction and style. After six league games at home without being beaten, surely City should not have struggled against a team just one place above them. They missed some chances, Alan Bank's put a header straight at Carling, Dermot should have done better with another. So too should Jimmy Blain, and John Corr might have added another to his 68th minute winner, There were a few occasions when City built up a promising move, but more often than not it was wasted because the final pass went astray, Chester were obviously looking for a point out of the watch and almost got it when Sealey hit the bar. They did get the ball in the net on another occasion but the referee blew for an infringement, It was a game that City had to win and one practically every supporter expected them to win, but they also expected to see something better than they got,

Match Report 
Corr lifts the gloom for shaky City
Exeter City 1 Chester 0:
by RAY COLLIER

JOHNNY CORR, 21-year-old ex-Arsenal winger, got the goal that lifted Exeter out of the immediate re-election zone. But did not lift the game out of its generally scrappy pattern, and Exeter need to improve on this display if they are to climb the table. Both sides were struggling to edge away from the low rungs of the Fourth Division ladder, and certainly the play reflected this. There was not much to choose between the sides, with Chester having the better of the first half and Exeter looking the more likely side in the second. But after their recent good home run and a thrilling Cup display against Walsall, better was expected of Exeter than this. Not until 25 minutes from the end did they get that vital goal, and even then it was not to be the signal for them getting com pletely on top. Chester refused to give up and were only inches short of an equaliser in a series of late attacks. Top-scoring inside left Eddie Loyden did get the ball into the net, but referee Walker, of Maid stone, had already whistled for an infringement.
Mighty shot 
Seconds later substitute John Sealey smashed a mighty shot against a post, and virtually on time right half Barry Ashworth headed just over the top. Chester opened the game looking dangerous and full of purpose. Several times they went close with long shots.
Exeter looked nervous and out of touch and it was about 20 minutes before they showed real threat. Loyden looked very dangerous for Chester as he picked up a couple of half chances and hammered in shots which John Smout saved. Ashworth moved up to try a 20-yard drive that was wide, and right winger Hancox put a power ful drive just outside. But gradually Exeter came more into the game and only a spectacular save by Terry Carling stopped Cliff Huxford from putting them in front. In the second half the Dermot Curtis-Alan Banks spearhead combination produced a couple of anxious moments for the Chester defence but, well marshalled by new-signing centre half Graham Turner, it held. Then came that vital goal. Right back Cec Smyth moved forward to cross high in the centre. Jimmy Blain nodded it out to Corr, who was coming in fast from the wing, and he shot through a narrow gap to score.

WEDNESDAY 24th JANUARY 1968.

X RAY REVEALS CURTIS HAS BROKEN CHEEKBONE.

Dermot Curtis, Exeter City's 34 year old centre forward has a broken cheekbone near his eye and he played against Chester without knowing the injury was so bad. In fact he got the injury nearly three weeks ago during City's second round F.A, Cup tie against Walsall. He has had trouble with it ever since and decided he would go for an X ray, where the damage was revealedThis is a blow to City now that the side is beginning to settle down.