Wednesday, March 24th 1909.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
SOUTHEND UNITED v EXETER CITY.

Exeter City played their third Southern League match within five days, the latest engagement of their tour taking place at the ground of the Southend United F.C., at Prittlewell, Essex. Following the Coventry game on Monday, the party returned to Euston Station, and went thence to the Charterhouse Hotel, where they stayed
until 12.15 this morning, when they left Fenchurch Street Station for "Thames-mouth".
Luckily, no serious injuries had been incurred by the City players either at Luton or Coventry, but Wake's ankle was none too sound, and Parnell was not in the best of health. White had been sent on from Exeter in the meantime in case his services might be required, and Chadwick was prepared to turn out if necessary. The two victories on Saturday and Monday had kept the Grecians among the leading clubs in the Southern League table, but it was generally conceded to be rather too much to hope for completion of the "hat-trick" today. It was, in the end, decided that Wake was unfit to play, and Banks was called on to make his first appearance in the Southern League since his Argyle days.

SOUTHEND:
Cotton
Thompson Clark
Emery Owens Blott
Cotterill Frost Smith Wright Caldwell

Referee: Mr G.Rose.

Copestake Bell McGuigan Watson White Banks Tierney Ambler Crelley Craig Robinson
EXETER:

The start was timed for 3.30, and as it was early closing day in Southend a big crowd was expected. The weather at Thames-mouth was dark and overcast, and a fitful wind was blowing slantwise across the ground. A heavy shower broke over the field just as the teams came on. Watson won the toss, and Smith started the game in heavy rain. The home team made ground on the left, and although Ambler checked the movement Blott regained possession. Bell got the ball to midfield, but could not keep it in play. However, the City were the first to mount a serious attack, but Copestake shot straight at the goalkeeper. White then passed to Watson, who gave Cotton a rare handful, and the City were having by far the better of the early play. Bell nearly scored from White's centre, and on two occasions Watson skied the ball over the bar. Bell was fouled in the penalty area, but the referee, for an unknown reason, only threw down the ball.
Interval: no score.
Rain was still falling when the second half commenced, and the ball was already sodden and very heavy. Southend now had the wind and the slope in their favour, and Bell was still limping as a result of the incident in the first half. Exeter pressed in the first five minutes, but then Southend broke away and forced a corner, which was cleared by McGuigan.
GOOD FOOTBALL DIFFICULT

The ground had by now churned up so badly that players were sliding and slipping all over the place, and good football was practically impossible, although the rain had stopped.
Southend piled on a lot of pressure in the last fifteen minutes against a City team that had visibly tired, but Tierney did some good work in defence. Blott skimmed the bar with a half volley from the edge of the penalty area. Robinson saved from Wright in his "International" style, this being the best shot of the day so far. Exeter transferred play to the other end with a series of tricky passes, and Cotton gave away a corner off Watson, but White put the ball behind.

The final whistle came with no score, and Exeter thus finished up their tour unbeaten