Match 05
15th September 1926
Bristol Rovers (h)

EXETER CITY 1 BRISTOL ROVERS 1.

Played at St James's Park, Exeter, on Wednesday, September 15th 1926.


More than six thousand spectators assembled at St James's Park on Wednesday evening for the Football League match between Exeter City and Bristol Rovers, and an exciting, though none too polished, contest ended in a draw of one goal each. The Rovers took the lead in sixteen minutes through Smith, following a corner, and Exeter equalised two minutes after the change of ends by means of a great shot from Blackmore, thirty yards from the goal. With the teams fighting desperately, and with little or nothing between either, it seemed as if the City would suffer another home reverse when, in the eighth minute of the second half the Rovers were awarded a penalty. This was given against Pullan for fouling Clennell. Evans, the old Cardiff City outside left and Welsh International, was entrusted with the shot, and he drove fiercely and low but directed the ball straight to the centre of the goal. Bailey was prepared for a shot slightly to his right, but he did not make the mistake of moving too soon, and he was able to save the ball even though he did not hold it. Moreover, when Evans dashed up to make a second attempt the Exeter goalkeeper sprang forward and smothered the ball, so that the backs were able to rush it behind for a corner. It was the most dramatic moment of the game, and the crowd cheered Bailey to the echo. His timely save was worth a point to the Grecians. Injuries to Walker and Charlton gave a big handicap to Exeter in the last few minutes of the game, and the Grecians' main hope of success lay with Compton, who gave Whatley some anxious work to do. There was a lot of big kicking in the later stages of the game, and good movements were rare.

Exeter City.
Bailey; Pollard, Charlton; Pullan, Pool, Garratt; Purcell, McDevitt, Blackmore, Walker, Compton.

Bristol Rovers.
Whatley; Bennett, Haydon; Rowley, Sims, Smith; Douglas, Duncan, Culley Clennell, Evans.

Referee: Mr W.Musther, of London.

BLACKMORE'S MAGNIFICENT GOAL.

There can be few, if any, harder shots in the Football League than Blackmore, the City's locally born centre forward. The goal by which he levelled the scores in the opening minute of the second half was typical. Breaking through, he tricked three opponents and steadying himself sent the ball flying into the net, inches below the crossbar, giving Whatley absolutely no chance.

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