EXETER CITY v BELMONT

Saturday, January 7th 1905.

The meeting of Exeter City and Belmont was productive of much excitement, and in spite of the disparity between these two organisations on the Senior League Table, the respective teams were backed by a large number of their supporters. The "crack" City have maintained an unbeaten League certificate, and it is unlikely that Belmont could have thought seriously of beating the Grecians on the latter's own turf today, when the regular and most reliable set of players at the command of the Exeter management did duty. Belmont had a reorganised team out, and when the teams took the field there was a good crowd present. The sides were:

EXETER CITY:- Peters Ashford Horner Wallage Davidson Morgan Sellick Thomas Reid Eveleigh Russell

Referee:- Mr. Waghorne.

BELMONT:- Antcliff Thorne Fenwick Veale Leece Hill Reed Flannagan Hynds
Andrews Smeath


The City had the better of the opening play, and a shot by Reid cannoned off one of the Belmont backs, a corner resulting. It was cleared by Fenwick, but when Belmont tried to attack they lost the ball to Davidson and Morgan.
The City were not showing their best capabilities, however, and R.G.Reed, for Belmont, showed a great deal of speed, and Horner was severely pressed. A combined movement by Reid and Eveleigh was successfully dealt with by Fenwick, but ten minutes before the interval Exeter at last scored, Reid kicking through from Davidson's centre.

HALF TIME:  EXETER CITY 1 BELMONT 0.

The play in the first half had not been of a high standard, but the soft nature of the ground rendered good passing difficult. R.G.Reed was again prominent, leading the Belmont attacks with great vigour and dash. Horner and Ashford broke up a Belmont attack and sent through to Sellick, who scored Exeter's second goal. Thomas landed the third goal with a shot which quite deceived the visiting goalkeeper, and by this time Belmont were a well beaten side. Nearing time, Belmont rushed the ball through, when they were however pulled up for offside, much to their disagreement, and then Eveleigh scored for the City, who won by 4 goals to nil.