Plymouth Argyle 3 Exeter City nil.

This afternoon a big crowd was assured at Home Park, Plymouth, where the Argyle and Exeter City renewed their Southern League rivalry. Form pointed to rather an easy victory for the Pilgrims, but the match was nevertheless expected to furnish a strenuous encounter, from the fact that the Argyle are dead set on gaining the Championship this season, and cannot afford to drop points at home, while the City, an improving side but third from last in the League table, were all out to better their position. For the Devon Derby this afternoon Exeter expected to be able to turn out the same team as appeared against Crystal Palace. Rutter and Garside had been nursi slight injuries incurred in that game, but eventually reported fit, and they were therefore both included. The Argyle also announced that they would rely on last week's eleven, except that McCormick was bracketed along with Baker as the possible right-half. They had out, therefore, their famous defence of Horne, Butler, and Atterbury, and Wilcox, the "skipper", at centre-half. The forward line, also, was their strongest, including the two amateurs, B.Bowler, late of the Sherwood Foresters, and H.W.Raymond, who has been their "star turn" so far this season. At the last minute it was decided to play McCormick at right-half. The teams were:
ARGYLE
Horne
Butler Atterbury
McCormick Wilcox Malcolm
Burch Raymond Bowler Boden Dixon

Referee: Mr I. Baker, of Nantwich.

Garside Rutter Brooksbank Crompton Whittaker
Lockett Pratt Rigby
Hurst Fort
Pym
CITY

Despite the boisterous weather there was a crowd of 8,000 at Home Park to give a hearty welcome to Exeter, paying their first visit of the season. A large number of excursionists came from the Ever Faithful City and they made their presence known.
Crompton won the toss, and set the Argyle to face the easterly gale. The City made an advance in the first few seconds, through Garside, but were repulsed by Wilcox, who fed Boden. The Argyle inside-man passed cleverly to Bowler, who was halted by Hurst.

Nearly a Goal.
The Argyle were playing excellent football, and in a strong attack Dixon centred the ball into the goalmouth. The wind curled it out of Pym's reach, and it was a great stroke of luck for the City that Lockett was in position to kick away. It was nearly a goal for the Plymothians, and play had been in progress for only eight minutes. Despite having the advantage of the wind Exeter could not move out of their territory, and following smart play by Bowler, Burch tried a swinging first-time shot which just failed. In a further attempt, also from one of Bowler's beautifully judged centres, Burch again shot wide, then Pym was called upon to save a header from Boden. As Pym cleared the ball he was tackled by Burch, and the action was resented, both players then being admonished by the referee. Exeter played up for a minute or so, and paid a fleeting visit to the other end, but the best they could manage was a long shot by Brooksbank, which Horne dealt with. Then it was "all Argyle" again. A nice centre from Dixon presented a good scoring chance, but Hurst got the ball safely away. Fort next intercepted the return shot from Burch, and Exeter still survived. Bowler then drove wildly outside the posts when he could have passed either to Raymond or Burch.

Blinding Rain.
The continuous attacks by the Argyle were surprising, and far above expectations, having regard to the gale of wind against them. Then a storm of blinding rain swept into the faces of the Pilgrims, and they had that additional element to contend with. Exeter attacked with a pretty move, which ended with Crompton driving in a shot which Horne saved splendidly. Although pressed, and still facing wind and rain, the Plymouth defence easily kept the Exonians in check. Play slowed down, and Exeter had a fair share of the game, but their forwards were ineffective against that great half-back line of McCormick, Wilcox, and Malcolm, although Crompton and Whittaker were very good. In any case, Plymouth had done by far the greater share of attacking, and had several times nearly scored. Pym had played first-class game a for Exeter City, and his excellent and fearless goalkeeping was the main reason for Plymouth failing to score before half-time.

Second Half.
Changing round, it was of course apparent that there would be no holding the Argyle once they had that wind behind them, and so it turned out. The second period began with their forwards all round the Exeter goal, and Pym quickly distinguished himself by making a brilliant save from McCormick, who shot hard towards the top corner of the net from only a few yards out. But with superb agility the young City custodian hurled himself across his line and smothered the shot. However, good as he was he had to be beaten eventually, and after fifteen minutes Bowler did so. Just as it seemed that the ball would be cleared from Dixon's centre, Bowler regained his possession of it and sent in a tremendous drive which sailed into the top of the rigging, and even Pym could not get near that one. The second goal was obtained by Raymond, who turned a ground pass from Bowler over the line from easy range, and in the last five minutes Burch headed the third and final goal.

Last season: Argyle 3 City 1.
In 1910-11: Argyle 0 City 0.

PLYMOUTH LEAGUE

City Reserves v Argyle Reserves

The reserve teams of Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle met in a Plymouth and District League match at St. James's Park.
Both clubs were very strongly represented, Exeter including eight professionals, and Plymouth, apart from Paltridge and Daniells, being entirely composed of professionals. Bailey, Hunt, and Lewis were the amateurs in the City's eleven.
There was not such a large crowd as had been hoped for, for many enthusiasts had travelled to Plymouth on the excursion, to watch the first-teams, and in addition the weather was decidedly unfavourable, there being a strong blustery wind, together with dark clouds threatening rain. The Argyle were captained by Paltridge, who beat Chapman with the coin, and Bailey kicked off. A free kick was given against the City for a foul, but the ball was sent over the bar. Black headed away a dangerous looking centre from Ives, and a mix-up between Mullineux and Golightly ended with the half-back putting wide. Lewis was given offside, but Exeter regained the ball, and Golightly sent a long pass out to Ives, who raced round Forbes, and sent in a fast, rising shot which Craig tipped over the bar. After Bassett had narrowly failed to score the Argyle broke away and forced a corner, which Cooper and Bassett cleared between them. Tainsh did not like the way Golightly kept on tricking him, and retaliated, which earned a free-kick to Exeter and a "ticking-off" to Tainsh by the referee. Both sides were having about an equal share of the play towards the end of the first half, with Chapman having to save from first Morrison, then Hutchinson, while Morris conceded a free-kick for deliberate hand-ball, but Chapman saved the kick. Kirkpatrick received a splendid opening, but was stopped by a good tackle by Morris. Half-time: No score.
The City started the second half with the wind behind them, and Cooper set Lewis going, but Forbes stepped in and cleared. Bailey sent out a long pass to Lewis, but Black intercepted the move and then lost the ball to Ives, who sent in a hard grounder, well saved by Craig. Exeter's forwards got going again, but the referee, who had been very sharp on giving offside against the City, once more pulled Golightly up for this offence. Mullineux managed to get in the way of a shot from McLaren when the Argyle broke through, then "hands" against Lagan provided Plymouth with a free-kick just outside the penalty area. This was taken by Tainsh, but Chapman saved the shot. McLaren then sent wide with a rousing shot, and the end came with this result: No score.

CITY: Chapman; Morris and Hunt; Bassett, Lagan, and Mullineux; Lewis, Cooper, Bailey, Golightly, and Ives.

ARGYLE:
Craig; Forbes, Black; Paltridge, Tainsh, and Thom; Kirkpatrick, Daniells, Morrison, McLaren, Hutchinson.