CITY FIGHT IN VAIN AFTER A COSTLY MISTAKE.

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1ST 1964: DONCASTER ROVERS 1 CITY O.

Another two possible promotion points down the drain at Doncaster Rovers as Exeter City gave away the only goal of the game and failed to fight backThe goal in the 14th minute was the result of a terrible goalkick by Barnett, it went straight to Booth who whacked it straight back into the City net, a gift goalExeter had to play into a gale force wind and at half time they looked as if they would be able at least to equalise, if not win the game with the elements in their favour after the interval. Instead of using the long ball which was the most effective pass with the help of the wind, City peristed in the short passing game and lone challenges from Banks who almost wore himself out chasing lost causes without support, Doncaster when allowed to settle down forced City back and it was only a matter of bad luck that they did not score again, City's defence did not look very secure, gaps began to appear and when the forwards did get the ball they did not hold it long enough, consequently the Exeter defence was under much pressure, In the whole of the second half City managed just two shots at goal while the City goalmouth looked like a shooting gallery.

Match Summary 

Last week Doncaster Rovers scored ten goals on their own ground in their match with Darlington, and they must have been brim full of confidence before today's encounter with the Grecians. And Exeter, beaten at Bradford last week for the first time in eleven matches, desperately needed the two points to be sure of staying in third place. Starting off against a very stiff wind the City were obviously going to be in trouble in getting the ball away in the first half. Some of their own clearances curved right back at them, and the only way to make progress was to keep the ball on the ground.

Doncaster Rovers:- Potter; Raine and Meadows;Windross, White, and Ripley; Robinson, Booth, Hale, Jeffrey, and Broadbent.

Exeter City:- Barnett; Patrick and MacDonald; Mitchell, Harvey, and Anderson; Curtis, Banks, Thorne, Grace, and Rees.

Referee:- Mr A.Tinkler, of Bolton.

Attendance 8083

The City did quite well to keep the score down to one goal when the amount of defending they had to do is taken into account. But on the other hand they brought defeat upon themselves by practically giving Doncaster the goal they scored in the 15th minute. For Barnett made a terrible clearance after receiving the ball from Anderson. His weak kick went straight to Booth, who cracked the leather straight back into the net before Barnett could get back to his goal. Banks was as usual the City's best, and at times their only dangerous forward.

Western League 
EXETER CITY RESERVES 6
GLASTONBURY 2
AT EXETER.

This match was a personal triumph for Alan Riding, who scored five of the City's six goals. The other goal, by Spiers, was about the best seen at the Park this season, a full-blooded volley from 35 yards out that put the ball in the net in a split second.

Team 
Thompson; Quarrington, Gough; Spiers, Parsons, Rutley; Welsh, Edgar, Riding, Henderson, Ley.

Scorers Exeter City Spiers, Riding 5

MONDAY 3rd FEBRUARY 1964.

GEORGE GILBERT RETIRES AGAIN.

Mr George Gilbert has retired from his work in the Exeter City F.C, offices, formerly a long serving secretary of the club, he came out of retirement to work for the development fund lottery which started last season. Now the fund has closed down and City chairman Mr Rose said that as this has been temporarily suspended, Mr Gilbert has retired again, but he is willing to come back and help City out if they need him at any time.