Opening of the Season

Reflections on a Bad Defeat

AT WEST HAM:
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND 1911 

West Ham United 4 Exeter City 0.
It is no use trying to minimise the defeat at West Ham. The City were badly beaten, and at one stage their defeat looked like becoming a debacle. Then it was that the strong arm and dexterity of Dick Pym came into play, and prevented to the end the Hammers adding to their score of four goals. West Ham, taking advantage of their opportunities, got two early goals, good ones, too and were thenceforth complete masters of the situation. There were times when they made Exeter look a very ordinary side indeed.
The first goal of Danny Shea's was a gem of opportunism, and not one forward in a dozen could have scored it. He saw the mere glint of an opening, dashed in, rounded Hurst, and flashed the ball to the top of the rigging. The applause which greeted this effort was Exeter's "swan song". They did at times temporarily pull themselves together, but when Harrison scored the second a few minutes after "Danny's" goal with a nice header from Ashton's centre, it was the end of Exeter. They never again looked like pulling the game out of the fire again.

A Study in Contrast.
West Ham scored three splendid goals in the first half, and only one in the second, another solo effort by Shea and yet, singularly enough, it was after the interval that their superior ity was most evident. Not, in fact, until they had scored goal number two did they display that mastery over the game which subsequently became its dominating note. Their half-back line contributed mostly to their success, and Exeter's halves, on the other hand, were mainly the cause of the side's reverse. The two intermediate lines, indeed, were a study in contrast. Askew, secured from Aston Villa for £200, rarely made a bad pass, and apart from that, he opened up the game to his wings with smartness and precision. Randall was better still, despite the impression he gives with his scanty locks, and Woodards not far behind. They were, in fact, a fine trio, expert alike both in defence and attack. The City forwards found them a perpetual stumbling block, and were nearly always outwitted by them. There have been so many matches in the past when Exeter City's half-backs have been the mainstay of the side that it was very surprising to see their tame display. Rigby was the best, and he has played better, while Bassett and Lockett have never been so poor. On the whole, the City were distinctly disappointing. In a few isolated instances they played well, but generally speaking they were vastly inferior to West Ham, on this form a very fine and well balanced side.

Fort and Pym.
The pick of the defence was Pym, and to a lesser degree, Fort. The right-back got through a lot of useful work, and was still performing well even after he had received an accidental kick on the knee. Pym, as reported above, was severely tested after the interval, and during a long spell of semi-darkness proved to be superbly safe. Learner still he may be, but a quick learner, and one who has real ability pushing him to the fore. Hurst was good at times, but onconsistent. Golightly, surprisingly enough, was the most disappointing of the forwards, but an early injury in a collision affected his play, and he was never able to do himself justice. Whittaker was not given enough of the ball, and Ives found the burly Irvine too heavy and robust for his liking. Rutter was not such a good inside forward as he was a centre last season, and Crompton was easily the best of the Exeter forwards. West Ham's third goal was scored by Dawson. Twenty-five minutes from the end of the game it looked as if darkness would save Exeter, and necessitate the contest being played over again. Heavy black rain clouds made the already fading light very bad indeed, and twice Crompton appealed to the referee to stop the game. Then the rain ceased and the light improved.

West Ham United
Hughes; Irvine and Forster; Woodards, Askew, and Randall; Ashton, Shea, Denyer, Harrison, and Dawson.

Exeter  City
Pym; Fort and Hurst; Rigby, Bassett, and Lockett; Whittaker, Rutter, Crompton, Golightly, and Ives.

Attendance: 9,000.
Referee: Mr J.H.Pearson, of Crewe.