Saturday, March 9th 1912.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CITY v NORTHAMPTON,

An excellent game was anticipated at St. James's Park today, when the "Cobblers" from Northampton were opposed to Exeter City for Southern League points.

Northampton announced that their full Cup team would play Exeter, including Walden, the midget outside right. He is the smallest man playing in professional football, and is also well known as a Northamptonshire county cricketer. On the other wing was Freeman, born in Northampton, and probably the best outside left in the Southern League, even including Garside. Owing to the alterations of train services due to the strike, Northampton journeyed yesterday instead of starting from home early this morning.
Lockett had leave of absence to travel North due to family illness, and Prideaux came in at left half.

Teams:
Northampton Town. Thorpe; Clipstone, Lloyd Davies; Manning, Hampson, and Tomkins; Walden, King, Lessons, Lewis, and Freeman.
Exeter City. Walt. Whittaker; Fort, Evans; Bassett, Pratt, and Prideaux;
E.Whittaker, Watson, Rutter, Cornan, and Garside.
Referee: Mr R.Dommett, of Portsmouth.
Linesmen: Mr T.Dunstan and Sergeant Green.

It was a bad day for football, much the same as last week, with rain threatening and a gusty wind blowing across the field. The pitch had dried very well, but was soft and sticky just under the surface. There were early signs of a large attendance, and half an hour before the start the flower pot stand had begun to fill up. Ten minutes before the kick off a heavy shower fell, but soon cleared. Whittaker and his men were given a special cheer in recognition of their win at Swindon last week. Lloyd-Davies won the toss, and the City were set to face the St.James's Road. 

The Game.
History repeated itself at St. James's Park, where Northampton won by two goals to nil. On the run of the play the Cobblers just about deserved to win, but were very fortunate in having their second goal allowed. Exeter opened well, but despite several chances falling to them they could not score. The visitors were also guilty of one or two weak attempts when they ought to have had something to show for them.

Half-time: City 0, Cobblers 0.

Northampton quietly took command of the game after the change of ends. The City defence held out for twenty minutes, and then Walden got past Fort and Evans, and gave Lessons a perfect pass. The centre-forward took it in his stride, and scored with a fine rising shot that entered the net in the top corner. The ball was placed with such accuracy and speed that no goalkeeper could have possibly saved the shot. The Cobblers, with Walden in dazzling form, gradually forced Exeter back on the defensive, and Fort, Bassett, and Pratt were continually in busy action. There were only ten minutes left when Northampton shot their second goal. This goal, in fact, should never have been allowed, for Walden, in getting the better of Prideaux, punched the ball past him with his hand. Despite the appeals of the Exeter players Walden ran on and netted the ball with a simple shot, and the referee signalled a goal.

Notes on the Game.
Exeter's best players in the first half were Watson, Bassett, and Enos Whittaker, but the whole team suffered in the general decline afterwards, and Northampton were seldom, if ever, in any danger of losing. Walden was the "star" of the Cobblers' side; his wonderful control of the ball whilst running at top speed was too much for Prideaux, Evans, Pratt, or anyone else who happened to be marking him. He was absolutely in a class of his own.

• City Reserves. No match today

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