SATURDAY 10th FEBRUARY 1968.

Exeter City 1-3 Swansea Town

SHOCKING DISPLAY BY CITY AND A COSTLY DEFEAT.

EXETER CITY 1.
Smout; Smyth, Balson; Newman, Harvey, Huxford; Blain, Banks, Curtis, Crawford, Fudge,
SWANSEA TOWN 3.
John; Evans, Gomersall; Williams, Purcell, Davis; Humphries, Allchurch, Todd, Screen,
Evans,
Scorers:
Exeter Fudge,
Swansea Todd, Purcell, Williams,

Attendance: 3,961,

A costly defeat for Exeter City, a defeat that puts them back into the bottom four, City have themselves to blame. They were a goal up half time through Micky Fudge but the side just went to pieces in a shocking second half display that had people leaving the ground before the final whistle, Swansea had looked a poor side in the first half with a very suspect defence, The City went ahead after 17 minutes and were doing most of the pressing. The side were moving around and playing some good football in spells, The early goal should have been a signal for more. The City could have decided the game by half time but they were not sharp enough in front of goal, and so they changed over just one goal up instead of having a commanding lead. Exeter had an unbelievably bad second half. They gave Swansea more time to move the ball and construct attacksThe result was that they conceded a goal from Todd in the 58th minute. Five minutes later Swansea were in the lead when Purcell' scored. They made sure of the points with a third goal in the 81st minute through Williams.

Match Report 2

Ivor Allchurch strikes-robs City of points

THE BRILLIANCE and craft of Ivor Allchurch, veteran of Welsh soccer, paved the way for a Swansea win, just when Exeter looked likely to have two fairly easy home points.

With his side trailing by one goal and having looked a far from effective combination in the first half, Allchurch transformed the scene by making two goals in five minutes. If those goals were a tonic to Swansea they were a bombshell to Exeter, who were thrown completely out of their stride and were never again able to recapture the quality of their first half soccer.
In the first half Exeter had looked head and shoulders a better side than Swansea. They moved the ball well, probing intelligently, and finding that the Swansea defence in this period was shaky. It was no surprise when left winger Micky Fudge cracked Exeter into an 18-minute lead. Exeter's trouble was that they did not take full advantage of their first half superiority. They should have built up a strong lead by the interval, but instead were still only one goal in front. Then came the second half transformation, Swansea started to click and Exeter were put under stern pressure. Allchurch engineered Swansea's first goal with a perfect pass for centre-forward Keith Todd to score with a fierce drive. Five minutes later Allchurch did it again.He crossed magnificently from the left and centre half Brian Purcell moved up into the attack and headed into the net. Ten minutes from the end Swansea put the issue beyond doubt. Right - winger Willie Humphries broke away and centred for right-half Herbie Williams to hit the ball first time into the corner of the Exeter net.

Match Report 3
Allchurch magic has Exeter reeling
by RAY COLLIER

THE ARTISTRY of Ivor Allchurch brought Swansea victory when they looked sure to crash. He slipped the leash from Exeter skipper Johnny Newman just long enough to make the equaliser, and then engineered another goal to set Swansea on the winning path. Certainly the magic of this veteran of Welsh Soccer set Exeter reeling. Their crisp con fidence of the first half cracked under the onslaught of Swansea's second-half comeback. Exeter led at the interval. Their play had been full of pace and purpose, but they did not have enough punch to build up the lead they deserved. Swansea. in the first half. looked suspect in defence and ineffective in attack. Newman shadowed danger man Allchurch and the rest of the Swansea
attack failed to make any impression. It was no surprise when, in a goalmouth scramble following two consecutive corners. Exeter went ahead. The ball ran loose and Micky Fudge, Exeter's left winger. pounced on the chance.
Chances missed
Exeter were playing well enough for that goal to be the signal of more to follow. But Exeter failed to take their chances. Alan Banks did get the ball into the net, but was ruled offside. Then, in the 58th minute, with Swansea starting to force the pace, Allchurch saw his chance. He turned and pushed a short but telling pass to centre forward Keith Todd, who put the ball well wide of John Smout. Five minutes later Allchurch was in action again. He took a free kick out on the left touch line and with perfect precision floated the ball into the middle for centre half Brian Purcell to score with a header taken on the run. The game had changed dramatically, and Exeter were well and truly thrown out of their stride. They fought hard in an effort to get an equaliser, but their fluency had gone and by now the Swansea defence was holding firm. Ten minutes from the end Swansea made sure when Willie Humphries crossed from the right and right half Herbie Williams crashed the ball in with a first time drive.


MONDAY 13th FEBRUARY 1968.

CITY HAVE MORE CRITICS THAN SUPPORTERS.
A hard hitting attack on people who stay away from St James' Park but still criticise Exeter City has come from Les Kerslake, the chairman of the club. He made his attack at the Exeter City Supporters Club dinner held at the Salston Hotel, Ottery St Mary. He said the club had more critics than supporters, He did not mind anyone criticising Exeter City if they attended home games, but unfortunately most of the criticism came from the armchair so called supporters who never visit the ground, The Supporters Club chairman, Bill Hawker, said that the relationship between them and the Football Club was very cordial. They  would do all they could to assist Exeter City and give 100 per cent effort for that cause. The club had made progress during the last 12 months and are now considering the formation of a junior supporters section.

THURSDAY 13th FEBRUARY 1968.

ALAN PINKNEY TO PLAY FOR CITY.

Alan Pinkney, the 21 year old St Lukes College F,C, centre forward is almost certain to play for Exeter City at Darlington this weekendThe College and Exeter City this afternoon reached an agreement that Pinkney could be released from St Lukes for this weekend to help out injury hit City. Pinkney is a requalr Western League player with St Luke's. Earlier this season he guested for Exeter when Cecil Smyth had his benefit at St James Park. He has also played for Corinthian Casuals.