EXETER CITY v SOUTHEND UNITED.

WEDNESDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 1954

EXETER WERE LUCKY TO GET BOTH POINTS.

EXETER CITY 2.

Morton; B, Doyle, Douglass; Dunne, Davey, Mitchell; Priestley, Ellaway, John, Mackay, Rees,

SOUTHEND 1

Threadgold; Pavitt, Anderson; Duthie, Howe, Lawler: Smith, Whte, Hollis, Baron, Bainbridge.

Scorers
Exeter City Ellaway, Mackay.
Southend Bainbridge,

Attendance 7,142,
Receipts £615,11s, 3d,

Although Southend United vere vastly superior to Exeter City's disjointed team they travelled back to Essex empty handed. They held mastery in midfield, their positioning was intelligent but there was too little good direct shooting by their forwards, and often the final pass was wasted. This was a grave tactical error from which the City profited and won.

The match opened at a fast tempo, Rees and John both had shots blocked, Ellaway shot over the bar when well placed, but Morton had to make two good saves to keep out shots from Smith and Bainbridge. The persistent Ellaway beat two defenders to the ball and shot into the net with an acutely angled shot eight minutes before half time.

Southend stormed into the attack at the start of the second half and they got their reward through Bainbridge whose ten yard shot was in the back of the net before Morton could move. Slow to meet the ball the City were kept on the defensive forl ong spells, then with eleven minutes to go, away went City and Ellaway was brought down in the area. Mackay making his 250th first team appearance for City scored with the penalty.

EXETER CITY 2
Ellaway, Mackay penalty
SOUTHEND UNITED 1
Bainbridge

Half-time Exeter City 1 Southend 0.

City: Morton; B.Doyle, Douglass; Dunne, Davey, Mitchell; Priestley, Ellaway, John, Mackay, Rees.

Southend :- Threadgold; Pavitt, A.Anderson; Duthie, Howe, Lawler; Smith, Whyte, Hollis, Baron, Bainbridge. Referee: Mr. G. F. J. Sawyer.