Match 33
5th March 1921
Queens Park Rangers (a)

Western League
Cardiff Reserves.(h)

Queens Park Rangers 2-1 ECFC 
Scorer: Carrick
Attendance: 12,000

Queens's Park Good Value for Both Points.
For some reason or other the Grecians were very optimistic all the week regarding today's match. Makin returned to the forwards in top-top condition, and the rearrangement of the half-back line and the change at inside-left were not expected to,weaken the team, and it was hoped, of course, that they would make for improvement.
The City players left St David's Station at 10:18, o'clock and were due to arrive at Paddington at 1:45 pm., which gave the party the right amount of time to get to the ground near Shepherd's Bush for the 3:30 kick-off.

Rangers:
Hill. Marsden. Wingrove. Grant. Mitchell. O'Brien. Faulkner. Manning. Smith. Gregory. Donald.

Referee: Mr F.P. Farrow, of Bristol.

Exeter City:
Pym, Coleburne and Feebery; Carrick, Taylor, Green, Appleton, Makin, Shields, Vowles and Dockray.

O'Brien, the Irish International, returned to the home time in place of Ashford. The weather was dull, but dry, and the ground appeared in excellent condition. Mitchell won the toss and Shields started the game before a crowd of 12000 spectators.
The City right-wing promptly treated the crowd to some sparkling footwork, Makin contributing a very clever touch, and Marsden was compelled to concede a corner. Dockray centred nicely to Carrick, who tried his luck with a header, but he was hemmed in and the ball was cleared by Wingrove.
After a quarter of an hour's play Exeter's left wing completely upset the home defence, and Dockray took his time with a centre, hard and low. Marsden sliced his clearance, and the ball came to Vowles,who tried a first time shot from 12 yards and missed the target by many yards.
The Rangers were dangerous through Gregory ten minutes later, but he spoiled a likely opening by shooting wildly over the bar.
Dockray worried Grant in the ensuing play, and Exeter secured their just reward after 23 minutes when the outside-left swung the ball smartly across, and Carrick moved forward to shoot hard and low through a bunch of players into the net.
Stung by the reverse the Rangers pressed hotly, and within two minutes equalised, Gregory (pictured) beating Pym with a rising into the top corner following a combined move with Smith.

Half-time Rangers 1-1 City.

Second Half.
The Rangers opened with fine spirit, and the game quickened up appreciably. Misunderstanding between Grant and Taylor allowed a dangerous attack to materialism, and Faulkener centered to Manning, whose header was saved on the line by Pym.
Exeter's goal was in danger a moment afterwards, a clearance by Feebery hitting Smith, who went to centre, but the effort was badly directed and the ball hustled away by Taylor. A 60 yards pass from Marsden to Smith put the home centre-forward away, and he beat Coleburne for speed. Happily for Exeter, Pym dashed out and so worried Smith that be put the ball high over the goalkeeper and his goal.

Free-Kick Leads to Goal.
Exeter were in the wars now with a vengeance. Green mis-kicked and Pym had to save from him, whilst just afterwards the skipper had to concede a corner in righting another mistake by his own defenders. At the other end Grant was penalised for handball just outside the penalty area. Dockray placed the ball to Carrick, whose header went a yard wide.
Offside against Shields spoiled a smart Exeter move, then hands against Taylor in mid field enabled Mitchell, from the free-kick, to put the ball very prettily to Smith, who promptly shot.
Pym saved, but could not hold the ball, and Gregory dashed in at express speed and banged into the rigging.
Appleton was at fault with his centre a neat bit of work by Shields, and in the ensuing minutes the Rangers backs took the fullest advantage of the offside rule. Taylor fouled Gregory right on the penalty line, but Mitchell's direct shot was saved by Pym.
In subsequent play the Rangers pressed continuously, and Carrick and Taylor were outstanding defenders for the City. In one attack Smith netted the ball, but the whistle sounded for offside.
Pym saved from Smith three yards from the goal-line, and just afterwards dashed out and foiled the centre-forward once again by smothering the ball. He saved from Gregory in similar fashion five minutes later.

Full Time QPR 2-1 Exeter City 

Notes on the Game.
The Rangers were good value for their points, for after the first five minutes they played much better football.
Exeter City's forward line was very ragged by comparison with Rangers, whilst the reconstructed intermediate line will not do if matches are to be won by the Grecians.
Carrick was the City's best half-back, and on today's showing must be brought back to the middle again. Vowles and Dockray had no working understanding at all, and the winger was forced to plat a lone hand. The duel of the afternoon was between Pym and Smith. Opposed to a less courageous goalkeeper Smith would probably have bagged four goals with the same opportunities.

Reserve Match.
City Reserves 2-0 Cardiff City Reserves.

Cardiff City Reserves, today's opponents in the Western League with Exeter City Reserves, at St James's Park, are a strong team, and have a very creditable league record. The City reserves, who did well to draw at Yeovil last Saturday after falling two goals behind, remained as advertised, and the teams lined up:-

Exeter City:
Charles. Pollard. Betteridge. Rigby. Lakin. Hilton. McIntyre. Hetherington. Hesmondhalgh. Brayshaw. Kelland.

Referee: Mr W.R. David, of Seaton.

Cardiff City:
Kneeshaw. Page. Sayles (G). Evans (H.P). Wilmott. Williams. Evans (D). Sayles (T). Nash. Clarke.

A thrilling game was seen at St James's Park between the City and Cardiff reserve teams. Hesmondhalgh opened the scoring in the 13th minute from McIntyre's centre, with the play still very much in Exeter's favour a pretty movement saw Hetherington draw Kneeshaw from his goal, and his pass to Hesmondhalgh kicked into an empty net.

F-T Exeter City  2-0 Cardiff City.

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