Brighton & Hove Albion (h) 4-0
Match 75: 29-12-1956: Division 3 (South)
Brighton held their own in the early stages but once Town took control it was left to Eric Gill to wage an almost lone battle against them. He saved a Jimmy Leadbetter penalty in the 30th minute - Leadbetter`s first failure - after conceding the kick himself by fouling Billy Reed. Ted Phillips became the leading scorer in the league, taking his tally in 23 games to 29, one ahead of Leicester`s Arthur Rowley. Town moved up to 6th position. More
There was a thin layer of snow on the pitch as Town gained ample revenge for the previous day`s defeat. Ted Phillips completed his third hat trick of the season with two thumping headers and a shot from outside the penalty area. 
Watford, who had lost three and drawn one of their previous four home matches, adapted better to the frozen, uneven pitch and earned their win. The decisive second goal was scored by John Reid, making his only Football League appearance for Watford. 
With fog swirling around The Den the floodlights were switched on in the first half. Town, whose crisp, accurate football contrasted with Millwall`s more direct, strong-running style, looked the better side even when they were two goals down. They gained their reward with two goals in three minutes, the second a cracking 20-yarder by Billy Reed. 
Ipswich, entertaining second-in-the-table Torquay, cruised to their seventh win in 8 matches. Harold Dobbie pulled a muscle in the 7th minute and failed to return after the half time break, but this couldn`t explain Town`s total domination. Popular reserve team captain Vic Snell, in for Neil Myles who was ill, thumped in the fourth goal from well outside the penalty area. 
Town gained a deserved victory, Ted Phillips scoring twice despite the fact that he was limping from the 10th minute. Watford had two efforts disallowed for handball - after 56 and 87 minutes - and both sides struck the woodwork. Watford manager Neil McBain had made history on 15 March 1947 when he kept goal for New Brighton against Hartlepool aged 51 years 4 months, the oldest player to appear in the Football League. He had been a wing half in his playing days, gaining 3 Scottish caps between 1922 and 1924. 
Jimmy Leadbetter and Billy Reed carved the Exeter defence apart, although Town were over-elaborate in the first half and had only John Elsworthy`s first goal of the season - a header from a Leadbetter cross - to show for their superiority. George Hunter, City`s former Celtic goalkeeper, had a magnificent second half to keep the final score down to three. Town now had 21points from 21 games and were in 12th place, in the top half for the first time. Southampton led the table with 31points. 