BANKS WINNER PUTS EXETER ON TOP

Chesterfield 0 Exeter 1

EXETER, the West's last hope for Soccer honours this season, moved to the top of Division Four when they collected both points after a rugged, intelligent defensive display last night. They set out to stifle Chesterfield's attack with a blanket defence, and stifle it they did. With inside-left Grace rarely setting foot over the halfway line into Chesterfield territory, and wing-halves Hancock and Anderson lying deep through out, Exeter always had an "extra man" and posed too many problems for a very ordinary Chesterfield forward line.

Pressure
Even so, Exeter had to do some grim defending, particularly in the second half when the Derbyshire side hurled at them a series of all-out attacks, fashioned more by desperation than sheer skill. The vital goal came in the 25th minute, snatched by Banks, who quickly moved on to a mis hit back-pass by home left-back Sears and forced the ball into the net from a narrow angle. In the second half Exeter were content to retreat and soak up Chesterfield pressure. Curtis and Banks were left upfield as solitary strikers and often these two had to help out in defence.

Chesterfield.-Powell; Holmes, Sears; Clarke, Blakey, Whitham; Duncan, Frost, Frear, Rackstraw, Hughes.

Exeter City. Barnett: Smyth, MacDonald; Hancock, Harvey, Anderson; Rees, Banks, Curtis, Grace, Thorne,