CITY START OFF WELL AND BEAT THE PALACE

McClelland and Houghton Are the Park Marksmen

The football season did not open in the traditional heatwave this afternoon at Exeter, though the weather was pleasant enough for the City and Crystal Palace match, at St. James's Park. In the Exeter side were three players who were making their debut in the Third Division, namely Brian Doyle, at left-back, Tommy Dunne, at right half, and Frank Houghton, as leader of the forwards. The Palace paraded two newcomers, Bert Addinall, Brighton's leading goalscorer last season, was at centre-forward, and David Grieve, of Reading, was given an early opportunity at outside right. Fred Davey captained the City and won the toss, but the home side had an early fright. An attempted short pass from Walton to Priestley was intercepted by Devonshire. The Palace were away in a flash, and the dangerous centre from Devonshire was headed behind the goalline by Davey. A corner resulted but the City were not troubled. Each side failed to profit from free kicks for minor infringements, and Exeter attacked on the right through Priestley, who beat McDonald for speed before giving to Dunne. The ball eventually ran loose to Houghton who was unlucky not to score, his shot passing across the face of the goal with Bailey badly positioned. By the time the interval whistle was blown the City were two goals to the good, McClelland getting the first after 21 minutes, and Houghton the second three minutes before half-time.

EXETER CITY:
Kelly
Walton B.Doyle
Dunne Davey Mitchell
Priestley Ellaway Houghton Mackay McClelland

Referee: Mr R.E.Smith of Newport.

Devonshire Tilston Addinall Thomas Grieve
Simpson Briggs Woods
McDonald Choules
Bailey
CRYSTAL PALACE

Resourceful covering by Doyle kept the Palace at bay in the opening stages of the second half, with the visitors shaping up as the more aggressive side. Their approach play was accurate and Kelly had to move smartly to punch out a centre from Devonshire. A few minutes later the same forward headed the ball into the Exeter net, but was ruled offside.
Result
Exeter City 2 Crystal Palace 0.

The City got off the mark with a win in an opening of the season game which was no classic. It was evident quite early that this was going to be no repeat of last season's 7-0 win by the City. While Crystal Palace played neatly in approach, there was more danger about the less frequent City attacks. Frank Houghton signalled his come-back after nearly four years by scoring a goal. He also seized the opportunity from which McClelland previously put Exeter into the lead. He sold a perfect dummy to Choules, had the full-back running the wrong way, and laid on the ideal pass for the City outside-left. It was just the sort of chance McClelland thrives on. He took the ball in his stride and beat Bailey with an angled drive into the far corner of the goal. The half-back line was Exeter City's strongest department. Mitchell had a brilliant game, both in attack and defence. Davey was his usual resourceful self, although he was pitted against a forceful and capable leader in Addinall. Completing the middle line Dunne made a satisfactory debut in the City ranks.
Details:
Exeter City 2 (McClelland, Houghton) Crystal Palace 0.
Played on August 21st at St James's Park.
Attendance 10,000.



PRESSURE BY TONBRIDGE:
CITY RESERVES TESTED

Tonbridge had the better of the early part of their match against the City Reserves at Tonbridge. There were several attempts at the Exeter goal, but Alex Bell, the new goalkeeper, kept the ball out. Exeter won the toss and elected to play away from the sun. Kaile took the ball up the left wing but the Tonbridge backs relieved him of it. Exeter's two backs and the goalkeeper must take most of the credit for the lack of a score by Tonbridge until five minutes before the interval, for the home side had been pressing hard. After Constantine had headed into the net from two yards range Exeter went straight into the attack from the kick-off and ohn equalised. Half-time 1-1. Tonbridge scored another goal in the second half, and won by two goals to one.