HARD LUCK EXETER CITY: THEY PUT UP A BRAVE FIGHT.

F.A. CUP 2ND ROUND

EXETER CITY 0 BRISTOL CITY 2.

Saturday December 7th 1963 

Exeter City are out of the Cup, but they went down fighting hard against their Third Division opponents before a crowd of over fifteen thousand at St James's Park. And there will always be doubts in the minds of most of those who witnessed the match that this was a true result. Bristol were able to turn out a full-strength side and get maximum power and efficiency for 90 minutes. Exeter were handicapped before the game by being unable to play the new forward, Banks, who has so revitalised the team in the League matches, and handicapped for the last hour on the field by having Curtis, their Irish international centre forward, hobbling on the left wing with a bad ankle injury.

Exeter City: Barnett; Smyth and MacDonald; Mitchell, Harvey, and Anderson; Rees, Northcott, Curtis, Grace, and Phoenix.

Bristol City: Gibson; Briggs and Thresher; Parr, Connor, and Low; Derrick, Clark, Atyeo, Williams, and Hooper.

Referee:- Mr J.Finney, of Hereford.

Linesmen: Messrs S.A.Hibbs and R.F.Prichard.

Attendance 15077

With these two qualifications very much in mind it is also fair to state that Bristol were the better side on the day and that Exeter cannot grumble at failing to get into the third round. For the Exeter players must have known that John Atyeo, the Bristol attack leader, has not scored nearly 300 goals by standing still. Yet well as Harvey blotted him out when the ball came directly down the middle Atyeo was allowed to be out on his own three times, and twice he scored. And Exeter had more than three chances of scoring but missed them all.

Western League

BRIDGWATER TOWN 8, EXETER CITY RESERVES 0,

WEDNESDAY 11th DECEMBER 1963.

ADRIAN THORNE IS A CITY PLAYER.

Exeter City today completed the signing of Plymouth Argyle winger Adrian Thorne, The former Brighton player has been the target for City for some time. Earlier in the season Exeter had a bid turned down by the Argyle directors, Thorne was transfer listed last season for £4,000 but City have signed him for a reduced fee of £1,500. Normally a left winger he scored five goals in one game against Bristol Rovers reserves recently. He has also played at centre forward for Brighton