Opening of the Season

Reflections on a Bad Defeat

AT WEST HAM:
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND

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.

CITY RESERVES v YEOVIL: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4TH
First Match of the Season at St.James's Park:

The first match of the season at St. James's Park took place in fine weather this afternoon, when a strong City Reserves eleven opposed Yeovil in a friendly. Cooper was unable to play owing to a strained thigh, and Lewis was brought in at outside-right. Pratt was also included, with Golightly, Rutter, and Ives of the men who were beaten at West Ham on Monday.
Teams :
EXETER CITY RESERVES:
Chapman Morris Nevin Lagan Pratt Mullineux Lewis Golightly Brooksbank Rutter Ives

Referee: Mr G. Campbell.

Larcombe Bowen Glanville Hurson Clarke Maidment Seymour (W) Taylor Johnson Seymour (H) Sweet
YEOVIL:

The game opened in the City's favour, and Golightly was very prominent. From a centre by Lewis, H.Seymour headed over his own goal, but the corner was unproductive. Brooksbank forced another corner, from which Sweet punched clear. Yeovil then slipped past the Exeter defence, and Chapman cleared with a flying kick, and Brooksbank dashed through on his own and whipped in a shot which hit the underneath part of the crossbar and came out. A goal was appealed for and promptly allowed. The Yeovil forwards played up very well afterwards, and Nevin and Morris had plenty to do. Larcombe forced his way past the City backs, and Chapman, running out to get the ball, was penalised for carrying outside the new rule's prescribed penalty area. Yeovil played well enough to force two corners, Glanville put in a shot which Chapman saved on his knees, and Nevin gave away a penalty by deliberately handling the ball, but Yeovil made a poor attempt to score from it. Play was rather slow, and the visitors' defence put up a very plucky display, outclassed as they were by the likes of Ives, Brooksbank, and Golightly. Ives put the ball in the net from an offside position after a long scrimmage, and the goal of course was disallowed. Exeter did not seem at any stage to be exerting themselves unduly, and the game generally was rather disappointing, considering the composition of the Exeter team. From a good centre by Clarke, Larcombe headed over Chapman's head into goal, thus equalising. This reverse woke the City up, and Sweet had a hefty drive from Lewis to deal with. Lewis later on ballooned the ball high over the bar from an opening worked out for him by Brooksbank.
Half-time:
CITY RESERVES 1 -1 YEOVIL
In the second half Yeovil had a goal disallowed, and after a few minutes Golightly gave Exeter the lead. Rutter next scored a beautiful goal with a first-time left footed drive, and several more chances went begging. Yeovil, however, continued to play a creditable game. Brooksbank scored Exeter's fourth goal from a pass across the goalmouth by Golightly.
Final:
CITY RESERVES 4 YEOVIL 1

• The City Reserves' Plymouth and District League programme begins on Saturday, when they visit St. Austell.