20th January 1973
Football League
Cambridge United 1-3 Exeter

What the papers said:-
Cambridge Daily News 

United's promotion hopes took a shattering blow on an afternoon when their weak and listless football matched the miserable weather. It was their first home defeat since the opening date of the season. To rub in their sorrows, £8,000 goalkeeper, Graham Smith, dropped an expensive clanger to present Exeter with their second goal in the 30th minute. -Dave Gibson caught him too far off his line with a chip shot. Mick Balson forced the ball in from Exeter's first corner in the 18th minute and Gibson's goal effectively settled the game. For United, at sixes and sevens, never had the bite up front against a strong defence. Fred Binney fired in the third Exeter goal in the 62nd minute. Graham Watson pulled one back for United with two minutes left but it was no consultation .

Attendance 3,979

Alex Wilson's unpublished work

Cambridge United were woefully out of touch against visiting Exeter and went down 3-1 only their second defeat in twenty-two matches. Graham Smith, the former Notts County goalkeeper, had an unhappy debut for Cambridge United, his new club. He conceded a goal after 18 minutes and 11 minutes later Smith pushed the ball onto an upright and into the net.