Exeter win away at last

SATURDAY 17th FEBRUARY 1968

Darlington 0-1 Exeter City

CITY'S FIRST AWAY WIN.

DARLINGTON 0.
Moor; Chapman, Felton; Davidson, Thompson, Jacques; O'Neill J(Finnigan), Peverall, Sproates, Kirk, 

EXETER CITY 1
Smout ; Smyth, Balson; Newman, Harvey, Huxford; Blain, Pinkney, Curtis, Crawford, Fudge,

Scorer Exeter: Curtis,

Attendance: 2,888,

A happy Alan Pinkney, the St Lukes College student boarded the Exeter City team coach for the long journey back to Devon, having played a major part in City's first away victory of the season. It was an important win, worth four points to Exeter, as the Northern side are also fighting to get away from the re-election zone, The game itself was not a good one, but after taking a 6th minute lead, Exeter worked hard to keep it, Darlington were not a good side and although they applied most of the pressure, which was expected with City's defensive system away. They were not very constructive. They did hit the post and had a header cleared off the line by Cecil Smyth but did very little else. Darlington's pattern of play for the most part was the high ball into the City penalty area, but the exeter defence played well, although there were a couple of moments when goalmouth scrambles ensued, City did give away some midfield passes but that early goal from Dermot Curtis after some fine work from Mike Balson proved enough in the end.

Match Report 2

Darlington 0 Exeter 1:
by TOM COATES

EXETER'S ABSENT fans will celebrate over this momentous score line, and it means City have broken their duck at long last. But what a pity their first away win of the season was gained in such a fashion. The match was one long yawn from start to finish. With Darington failing dismally, Exeter, hardly able to believe their own luck, took an early lead when Dermot Curtis scored after five mintes. It was a poor apology for a goal, but even at that stage it looked as though it could be decisive. 
Left-back Mike Dalson cut right through and shot for Tony Moor to palm the ball into the air. Full back Ken Felton then got into the act, and between them they got all confused. leaving Curtis a simple task. Apart from a couple of brief break-aways in the second half, City never ever looked like adding to that lead. They switched their wingers, presumably to bring the nippy Micky Fudge up against the unhappy Felton, but the move meant little. This was because the rest of the side were packed in, the penalty area concentrating on keeping out the home men. But Darlington, who lost Les O'Neill injured after 34 minutes, were in a sorry way. Ex-full back John Peverell found found it tough going at centre forward because only outside-left Harry Kirk had the skill and speed to help him. And unfortunately for all but Exeter, Harry was up against the best defender on view, Smyth.

Match Report 3 

College boy helps Exeter to away win

ALAN PINKEY can look upon his sudden injection into professional football at Darlington yesterday with a great Ideal of satisfaction. Though he wasn't in the game all that much after half-time, he was never overshadowed by his professional counterpart on either side, and, at times. looked better than most.

The St. Luke's College student always roved intelligently. when Exeter mounted their few attacks in the first half, and his passing was a lesson to many especially in the Darlington line up. Exeter can also look on this game with a great deal of pleasure. It brought their first away league win of the season, for which they can probably count double the points as Darlington are also re-election candidates with the Devon side. Not that the visitors had to work particularly hard for their win. They went ahead in the sixth minute and then just retreated at a comfort able pace, while Darlington's inept and frustrated attack tried to build up in front of the Exeter goal. However, as they used as much space running across the pitch and five or six passes. where two would have done, Darlington rapidly ran out of confidence and ideas as John Newman marshalled his rear guard with a smooth efficiency.
The Exeter goal was virtually given to them, as the home side have given so many opponents' goals this season at Feethams. Mike Balson received an in telligently quick throw from Micky Fudge, beat Chapman and fired in a fierce drive which Moor, in the home goal, could only knock upwards. As he spun round to collect, his left-back Felton appeared on the scene to cause dreadful confusion and clear straight to touch. 

CURTIS GOAL DECIDER

Dermot Curtis who gratefully clubbed the ball into the net. From then on it was nearly all clumsy Darlington trying to equalise. They should have done so on several occasions, particularly when their quick silver left-winger Harry Kirk, had run several defenders dizzy and sent over a stream of crosses. From one of these, Les O'Neill had a shot blocked by John Smout collected the re bound and then fired against the post. It was unlucky, but worse was to follow for O'Neill who had to go off later with an in jured ankle, being replaced by Finnigan.


FRIDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 1968.

CITY F.C. OFFICES RAIDED.

The offices of Exeter City F.C. at St James Park were broken into early today by cool intruders who went on searching for money after setting off the burglar alrams, The alarm must have been set off as the raiders first entered the offices, but as it rang out loudly they stayed for a time, forcing open doors, and ransacking one office, 'They tried to cut the wires of the alarm but it went on rigning. They finally decided that it would be safer to go and they took nothing with them. The raiders were lucky no one outside heard the alarm for a while, and by the time the Police arrived they had gone,