SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17th 1912.
West Ham United v Exeter City. Southern League
Match at Upton Park.

With West Ham showing practically their best form of the season, the Grecians were expected to be hard pressed to avoid defeat at Upton Park this afternoon. Fine weather prevailed, and the attendance was about eight thousand.

WEST HAM Geggus; Fairman and Glover; Redwood, Woodards, Blackburn; Millear, Shea, Harrison, Butcher, and Caldwell.

EXETER Whittaker (W); Fort and Caddy; Rigby, Bassett, and Lockett; Whittaker(E), Watson, Rutter, Cornan, and Garside.

One of the most exciting League games seen at West Ham was the outcome of Exeter City's visit. When the Grecians put the ball past Geggus twice in thirteen minutes it seemed safe that they would take at least one point away with them, but the Londoners retaliated with tremendous spirit, and came through with both points. The City were somewhat unlucky to lose, for during the final half-hour of the game they kept the Hammers' defence busy, and Geggus had twice as much work as Walter Whittaker. With the ball being picked out of the nets four times in the first half an hour it will be assumed that the crowd got their moneysworth. Geggus kicked hard at a long shot he should have picked up, and Cornan dashed in and scored. Then Rutter seized upon a centre from Garside, and after a short dribble left Geggus helpless. After their rude awakening West Ham rallied their forces, and in one attack were awarded a penalty kick against Lockett for handling. Though Whittaker parried Shea's kick, the West Ham forward got to the ball first and scored from the rebound. The equalising goal, by Harrison, was the best of the five scored. Harrison received the ball on the half-way line and set towards goal, beating Fort and Caddy before steering the leather past Whittaker in the calmest way imaginable. The second half was not as entertaining as the first, and about twenty minutes after the restart Shea scored the winning goal.

Final:
West Ham 3 goals, Exeter City 2.


CITY RESERVES v MIDDLESEX REGIMENT.
Plymouth and District League.

Exeter City Reserves met the 4th Middlesex Regiment in a League match at St. James's Park this afternoon. By mutual agreement the match was for four points, the Regiment being too far behind with their fixtures to complete all their remaining games. Their home match with Exeter Reserves was due to be played on November 11th., but the state of their pitch at that time caused the game to be postponed. For today's game the Regiment brought down a strong team, including their crack nineteen years old centre, Smith. Caddy having been requisitioned for the first team at West Ham, his place was taken by Tyson. Pratt made a reappearance, but Parnell, who was also to have played, was not considered quite fit, and Reynolds, a bandsman from the Higher Barracks, took his place.

Teams:
CITY RESERVES: Pym, Godbere Tyson Clarke Pratt Prideaux (F) Reynolds Lewis Bailey Addicott Griffiths

Referee:- Mr F.W.Reeve, of Plymouth.

MIDDLESEX REGIMENT: Morris Friend, Fuller, Watboys, Firmston, Fitzgibbon, Rolfe, Palmer, Smith, Young, Roberts. 

Clarke captained the City Reserves, and lost the toss to Roberts. Firmston stopped the first rush, then Roberts was checked by Tyson. A mix-up in the City defence let Young in, and though he was floored he managed to keep the ball, and got it to Roberts, from whose centre Rolfe scored. It looked very much like an offside goal, but the referee pointed to the centre, and thus the Regiment drew first blood three minutes from the start. The City quickly retaliated, and Griffiths forced a corner. Firmston partially cleared, and the ball went to Pratt, whose first-time return shot went just wide. Lewis put in a ground shot, saved by Morris, and Griffiths forced another corner, which Morris also dealt with effectively. Bailey was given a chance by Lewis, but shot straight at Morris, and Prideaux had another shot charged down by one of the backs. At last, however, a swinging centre by Griffiths enabled Lewis to equalise with a downwards header that crept quietly into the bottom corner of the net, well out of the reach of Morris. Palmer worked his way through, but could do no better with his shot than strike the side of the net. Shortly before half-time Lewis beat the defence and pushed the ball through to Bailey, who put Exeter in front with a curling shot which went into the net off the upright.
Half-time: City 2-1.
From a corner taken by Griffiths a third goal was put on by Bailey, five minutes after the restart, and with time running out Friend reduced the lead from the penalty spot, Roberts having been fouled.
Final: City Reserves 3, Middlesex 2.