CRYSTAL PALACE 1 (DEVONSHIRE)

EXETER CITY 1 (THOMAS).

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18TH 1954.


AT SELHURST PARK, LONDON, ATTENDANCE 6,500.

Norman Douglass, the Exeter City left-back, was out of the team today having gone down with influenza overnight, and was replaced by Evan Williams, who was one of the City players to make his Third Division debut this afternoon. The other was a former clubmate of his at Cardiff City, Peter Thomas, who was signed by Exeter a week ago. The Palace suffered a shock in the cup-ties last week, being defeated on their own ground by Bishop Auckland, an amateur eleven.

Palace:- Bailey; Edwards, McDonald; Belcher, Briggs, Andrews; Taylor, Choules, Tilston, Deakin, and Devonshire.

City: Kelly; B.Doyle, Williams; Setters, Davey, Mitchell; Thomas, Mackay, Ellaway, Murphy, and John.

Referee:- Mr. R. Smith, of Newport.

The first half was poor and almost featureless from the standpoint of Exeter City. The second period was much brighter, and Exeter were a more determined force than previously. Kelly was always a sound goalkeeper and Williams made a very promising debut at left-back. Thomas, the new outside right, scored Exeter's goal and was the pick of the forwards.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
CITY RESERVES v TONBRIDGE 
CITY RESERVES HOLD ON TO ONE GOAL LEAD.

Late changes were made by both Exeter City Reserves and Tonbridge at
St James's Park this afternoon. A reshuffle was caused in the visiting side because of the inability of Constantine (ex Millwall) to play, and McClelland turned out at right back for the City Reserves.

City Reserves:- Morton; McClelland, Rowe; Dunne, Harvey, Owens; Robinson, Anderson, Donaldson, Houghton, and Priestley.

Tonbridge:- Watson; Gibbons, Hailstone; Robshaw, McCoy, Mulheron;
Boyd, Hamilton, Collins, McGuire, and Mullen.

Early play was all in the Tonbridge half and Watson had to dribble the ball away from Donaldson after the centre-forward had beaten McCoy in a heading duel. The City won by a goal to nil, Houghton scoring after 55 minutes, and from then on Exeter had to fight hard to keep their lead.