Grecians One Short in Second Half
Parnell Off Again

Saturday, January 20th 1912.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
LUTON TOWN 4 EXETER CITY 2.

Last season: Luton 3 City 1.
In 1909-10: Luton 3 City 1.

The Grecians, who paid their annual visit to Luton this afternoon were, like the "Strawplaiters", placed very low in the League list, so that a keen game was anticipated. Showery weather persisted, and 4,000 spectators were present.
LUTON :- Naisby Wightman Potts. F.Hawkes Bushell R.M.Hawkes Brown Walker Stretton Moody Stansfield
Referee:- Mr I.G.A.Sharpe, of Lichfield.
CITY:- Whittaker Evans Fort Rigby Bassett Prideaux  Garside Cornan Watson Lockett Parnell

Watson started for Exeter, and Lockett and Rigby made good ground, Bob Hawkes effecting a smart clearance. Walker and Brown were halted in fine style by Bassett on Exeter's left, but Luton forced the pace and gained two corners in succession. Evans, however, cleared a dangerous situation. Luton continued to be persistent, and Whittaker fielded a header by Walker. Rigby and Parnell returned to the attack, and the winger centred across to Garside, whose shot was saved by Naisby. Watson made a good individual run, but kept the ball too long, enabling Wightman to tackle and clear. After 25 minutes Bob Hawkes initiated a good opening on Luton's left, and Moody headed home Brown's centre for the
opening goal. Evans stopped Walker near the penalty line, and Fort ended a dangerous looking run by Walker and Stretton with a good tackle. Parnell, Rigby, and Lockett got on the move for the City, but Lockett's eventual centre went right across the goal with no-one in support, and Potts cleared easily. A few minutes prior to the interval Luton scored again, the move which preceded the goal being identical to that which led to the first; furthermore, it was conceived by the same trio of players, Bob Hawkes, Moody, and Brown, and again, Moody was the scorer.
Half-time:
LUTON 2-0 CITY
Exeter had to restart the game without Parnell, whose old injured had re-asserted itself, and prevented him from taking any further part. Strangely enough, with four forwards Exeter seemed to have more room, and put up a better performance in this half than they had previously done. It came as no great surprise, therefore, when first Lockett, then Garside scored, the second goal putting the teams on an equal footing. However, Luton were not to be denied, and won the match in the last ten minutes with goals by Brown and Stretton.

CITY RESERVES V NORTHANTS REGIMENT.

The City Reserves beat the Northamptonshire Regiment by two goals to one in a Plymouth and District League match at St. James's Park, after leading by a goal to nil at half-time.

Reserves:- Pym; Goodyer, Labbett; Martin, Clarke, Tyson; Whittaker(E), Lewis, Bailey, Caddy, and Rutter.

Northants:- Halton; Thompkins, Muddiman; Johnston, Allen, Nichols; Parrott, Newell, Spink, Ward, and Taylor.

Pym, who for the second time had a narrow escape from being drowned this week while following his fishing occupation in the River Exe, came in for a special cheer when the teams lined up. Whittaker drew first blood from a penalty kick after Rutter had been brought down, and goals by Caddy and Bailey were disallowed for infringements. With the rain pouring down after the interval and the pitch getting churned up into a mudpatch each side registered one goal, Bailey for Exeter, and Spink for the Soldiers, finding the net in that order.