Match 42
16th April 1955
Shrewsbury (Home)

Southern League
Bedford Town (a)

19th April 1955
Paddy Doyle Benefit
Exeter v Wolves

21st April 1955
Bideford v Exeter City All Stars X1

CITY WIN AT THE THIRTEENTH ATTEMPT.
MANY MISSES IN A POOR GAME:

SATURDAY APRIL 16TH.


Shrewsbury kicked-off before a small crowd at St James's Park today and showed neat footwork until the City advanced. The City team's attacks, though less skilful, were more dangerous.

EXETER CITY:- Bell; B.Doyle, Douglass; Dunne, Harvey, Mitchell; Priestley, Mackay, John, Murphy, and McClelland.

SHREWSBURY: McBride; Bannister, Parr; Wallace, Maloney, Candlin; Hudson, O'Donnell, Weigh, Russell, and McCue.

Referee:- Mr G.F.J.Sawyer of Weston-super-Mare.

Play was uneventful until the fifteenth minute when Shrewsbury made a strong attack and Russell had a good chance, which he wasted by tapping the ball weakly into Bell's hands. While the City were enjoying the balance of play, Shrewsbury gave the home side a fright when a free-kick taken by Bannister from 40 yards missed the far post by a foot. Bell, partly blinded by the glare of the sun, completely missed the ball as it flew high into the crowded goal-area. Misplaced passes were generally the order, and there was little life in either attack.
Half-time
Exeter 0 Shrewsbury 0.

GOLDEN GOAL.

Fifteen minutes from the end the City scored the goal that was to bring them two golden points. A long pass down the middle by Mackay went over Maloney's head, and McClelland was on to the ball in a flash. As McBride came out rather belatedly McClelland got his shot in, and the ball spun into the net to the relief of the City supporters who had despared of ever seeing their team score in this match. The City's were welcome but the football was poor. Neither side was able to master the light ball, and there were far too many passing movements which were badly constructed and consequently broke down. Exeter, who did much more attacking than Shrewsbury, deserved their win. Their best player was the determined Mitchell, one of the few players who adopted the right tactics of going in to meet the ball. Murphy was the best of a poor attack, and Doyle the better full-back.
Final score:
Exeter City 1 Shrewsbury Town nil.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
RESERVES LOSE AT BEDFORD.


Bedford were soon dangerous but in Exeter's first attack a shot from Walton hit the post. Morton saved twice from Duggan and a good header from Farquhar went over the bar. Bedford took a deserved lead in 24 minutes when Faulkner scored from The City were under pressure for most of the second half and Bedford a goalmouth mix-up eventually won by three goals to nil.

City team:- Morton; Walton and Foley; Ellaway, Doyle, and Houghton; Robinson, Rees, Thomas, Anderson, and Grinney.

Benefit Match for Charlie McClelland and Paddy Doyle
CITY v WOLVES 

Tuesday April 19th.

Although the Wolverhampton team which played at St James's Park on Tuesday did not contain any of the really "big" names, it was a sprightly young side with several naturally gifted footballers who will be stars of the Molyneux firmament in the not so distant future.
EXETER CITY:- Kelly; Walton, Douglass; Dunne, Harvey, Mitchell;
Thomas, Mackay, John, Murphy, McClelland.
WOLVES:- Sims; Stuart, Baillie; Thompson, Russell, Clamp; McDonald, Booth, Middleton, Deeley, Moore.
Referee:- Mr W.T.Marsh. Linesmen: Messrs J.Marsh and S.J.Smythe.

These young "Wolves" were dangerous when they were on the prowl. But so were Exeter City, who confounded their critics by playing football of a standard which was far above their everage League performance. The Wolves took an early lead when Kelly failed to clear from Deeley and McDonald closed in to score an easy goal. McClelland ran through on his own to beat Sims and dribble the ball into the net following miskicks by two Wolves' defenders. Mackay and Thomas scored Exeter's two goals in the second half.

BIDEFORD v CITY ALL-STARS XI: FRIENDLY MATCH.

PLAYED ON THE BIDEFORD SPORTS GROUND: APRIL 21ST.

An Exeter City and Torquay United combined eleven beat Bideford in a friendly match on the Sports Ground by five goals to one.

BIDEFORD:- Harris; Hocking, Pate; Booth, King, Harrower; Miller, Heagarty, D.Jones, Spalding, Blatchford.
EXETER CITY:- Kelly; Walton, Douglass; Priestley, Webber, Mitchell; Shaw, Collins, Donaldson, Mills, Mackay.

Scorers:- Mills 2, Mackay, Donaldson 2 for Exeter, and Jones for Bideford.

  • Collins, Mills, Shaw, and Webber are Torquay United players.

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