AN EXCITING GAME
SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
EXETER CITY v CRYSTAL PALACE 

St. James's Park,
Saturday, 21st September 1912 

A keen and exciting game was witnessed at St.James's Park this afternoon, and a draw was a fair result. The Palace were, without doubt, the cleverer side in the first half, but the City rallied, and after the interval played surprisingly good football, to the delight of about four thousand onlookers.
Following last week's defeat at Merthyr, Golightly and Bassett were dropped, their places going to Brooksbank and Pratt. Rutter was moved to inside-left to allow Brooksbank to lead the attack. After missing one match Hurst was restored at left-back. Bulcock, the old Exeter City back, again appeared in the ranks of Crystal Palace. He has done well for himself since leaving the Grecians, and is starting upon his fourth season with the South London club.
Teams :
CITY
Pym Fort Hurst Rigby Pratt Lockett Whittaker Crompton Brooksbank Rutter Garside

Referee: Mr F.Curtis, of Bristol.

Davies Lloyd Smith Hewitt Garratt York Hughes Collins Bulcock Collyer Johnson
Crystal Palace 

The Game: City 1 Palace 1.

At the last minute it was decided to make a further change in the Exeter team, Garside being brought in, and Ives was despatched to Torquay with the Reserves.

The Grecians at once attacked, Johnson saving a header from Brooksbank following a centre by Whittaker, while just afterwards Collyer was busily engaged in stopping Garside and Rutter. Then followed a quick-passing movement by the Palace forwards which looked like being productive, but Smith was pulled up for offside when he only had Pym to beat. The game proceeded fast and open, and after Hughes had flashed the ball over the bar the Palace scored. Hewitt drew the defence out and put Smith through right in front of goal. The centre-forward, with an easy opening, made no mistake with his shot, and Pym could only assist the ball on its way into the net.
Half-time:
PALACE 1-0 CITY

Exeter restarted in a truly convincing manner, a powerful shot by Brooksbank missing by inches only, and the Palace goal had two narrow escapes when Johnson came out to fist the ball away. However, the City's reward was not long delayed. Garside gave to Brooksbank, who dashed through and drew Johnson out. The City leader shot hard, Johnson saving, but before he could properly clear Brooksbank recovered possession of the ball and promptly netted, thus saving the game for Exeter City.

Last season City 1 Palace 1.
In 1910-11: Palace 4 City 3.

BABBACOMBE v CITY RESERVES.

Played at Plainmoor, Torquay, in connection with the Plymouth and District League.
Golightly opened the scoring after ten minutes' play with a fine drive from long range, and followed up with a second goal less than a minute later. Bassett shot over the bar from quite a favourable position, and in the final fifteen minutes two excellent centres from Nevin provided goals for Bailey and Ives.
Half-time:
City Reserves 4, Babbacombe nil.
Chapman tipped a shot from Clifford over the bar, and after several Exeter attacks had been repulsed Golightly scored with a pretty "screw-shot" into the bottom corner. The Reserves, with a lead of five goals, slackened off, and Bassett, trying to clear, had the misfortune to put through his own goal.Play became fast and exciting again towards the close, and after Chapman had saved from P.C.Evans, the old Exeter forward, Clifford scored from a penalty for "hands" against one of the City backs.
Final:
City Reserves 5-2 Babbacombe 2.