EXETER A WELL BEATEN SIDE AT BRISTOL
Heroic Defence but the Attack Won't Do

Saturday, October 30th 1954.
Bristol City 2 (Atyeo, Micklewright) Exeter City 0.

The home side had the better of the exciting opening exchanges in the West-country derby at Ashton Gate, Bristol this afternoon but sound defence kept the League leaders at bay throughout the opening half. Before today's game Bristol City led the League with an advantage of three points over Norwich City; Exeter were sixteenth, twelve points behind the Bristolians. In fine but windy weather Exeter kicked off and attempted to make an advance on the right, but John was dispossessed and play was quickly transferred to the other end. Davey cleared a Bristol raid and midfield exchanges came to an end when Donaldson craftily created an opening, but from his diagonal pass Bailey kicked back to Cook to avert further danger.

BRISTOL CITY:
Cook
Guy Bailey
Regan Peacock White
Rogers Atyeo Rodgers Micklewright Boxley

Referee Mr A. A. Howlett of Wiltshire.

Kaile Anderson Donaldson John Callan
Dodgin Davey Mitchell
Douglass B.Doyle
Kelly
EXETER CITY:


At the finish Exeter were a well-beaten team. Good as the defence was in this match it was unequal to the strain of having to wage such an uneven battle. The fact is that the Exeter attack is not good enough at the moment to do duty in 3rd Division football. The line today, as in so many matches this season, was deficient in craft and too slow in anticipation. There was little wrong with the defence, in which Doyle and Douglass were stubborn full-backs and Davey a more than useful centre half. Constructively the best Exeter efforts came from Dodgin. He tried repeatedly to rally his attack, particularly in the second half, but met with next to no response from this woefully weak forward line. In the 60th minute Bristol at last gained their reward for long periods of pressure that had gone before. A corner on the right was accurately placed by Rogers and although it was partially cleared Atyeo was on the spot, and his low, first-time left-footed shot into the far corner was a winner all the way. Bristol increased their lead in the 79th minute. A powerfully taken free kick by Boxley was headed into touch by Davey. The home outside left was in possession again from the throw-in, and his centre gave Micklewright the easiest of chances to lob the ball into the Exeter net from a few yards' range. The closing stages were nearly all Bristol and Boxley almost added a third goal with a cross shot that missed the far post by inches.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
HEREFORD BEATEN 5-2 BY CITY RESERVES

Hereford forced a corner in the first minute, but the kick was badly placed and Doyle cleared. After five minutes Vigar scored for Hereford, but within a minute Ellaway equalised in a goalmouth tussle. In the 17th minute the City went ahead when Priestley's cross-field pass was lobbed back into the centre by McClelland, and Murphy was on hand to supply the finishing touch. Dunne and Ellaway put Exeter further in front but shortly before the half-time interval Anslow replied for Hereford. Exeter put on more pressure in the second half and Murphy was robbed in the act of shooting. Precision passes by Dunne were troubling the Hereford defence time and again, and from a movement started by the old Leicester half back Ellaway headed Murphy's centre into the top of the net for the City's fifth goal.
Result:
City Reserves 5 Hereford United 2.

• The referee sent off Lewis, the visiting right half, shortly before the close, after a bounce-up near the halfway line had been given.

City:- R.Hunkin; Walton, L.Doyle; Setters, Harvey, N.Packer; Priestley, Dunne, Ellaway, Murphy, and McClelland.

Hereford: - Sewell; Layton, Phillips; Lewis, Thompson, Chilvers; T.Bowen, Mountford, Vigar, Coulson, and Anslow. Referee:- Mr G.F.J.Sawyer of Weston-super-Mare.

• Note: - Last season Hereford knocked Exeter City (first team) out of the F.A.Cup in the first round.