111th Battery 3 City Reserves 2.

Wednesday, April 18th.

Saturday, April 21st,
at County Ground, Exeter.
DEVON V SOMERSET.

"Soccer" held undisputed sway in the football field at the Ever Faithful City today, the attraction being the match with Devon and Somerset on the Rugby Club's ground. It was anticipated in both counties with a great deal of interest, and the excursion trains brought a considerable number of supporters, on either side. Lintott, of St Luke's College, was unable to turn out for Devon on account of a sprained ankle, and his enforced absence was a great loss to the Dumplings. The teams were:- 
Devon
Gunner Steele (R.F.A.) C. Manning (Plympton) J.H. Cudlipp (Plymouth Argyle) A. Muncey (Dawlish) Shaddock (Plympton) A.Ellis (Oreston) W.Hill (Plympton) Gunner Massey (R.F.A.) F.A.Burch (Plymouth Argyle) Rev. E. Reid (Exeter City) Lt.McLeod (Devon Regiment)
Somerset
F. Catley (Welton Rovers) Maynard (Yeovil Casuals) J.Mullins (Wells City) W.Gibbons (Wells City) F.P.Hardy (Taunton Casuals) R.Underwood (Wells City) H. Lee (Taunton Casuals) W.Hyman (Bath City) Sgt. Carter (Somerset L.I.) M.Read (Clevedon) F.W.Cox (Williton)

The Somerset side was practically the same as that which beat Devon at Frome earlier in the season. On that occasion Devon retired with the score at 3 to 1 against them, and the desire to wipe out that reverse was sufficient incentive to the home eleven to play up all they knew. They were regarded as a much stronger side now, and with little variation having being made in the representatives of the Cider county, the chances of the Devonians were looked upon as pretty hopeful. The weather was fine, and the ground in splendid condition. The gate, however, despite the running of the excursion trains, was disappointing. At three o'clock, when the match started, there could not have been more than three or four hundred spectators present, but the crowd was growing.
FIRST HALF.
Devon kicked off, but lost the ball immediately, although Reid quickly recovered it. Hill was then pulled up for offside. The Somerset men could not get going, and Devon set up an attack, which was finished off indifferently by McLeod, the ball going outside the posts. Massey tried a shot at goal, which Catley saved. Then Somerset at last got going and travelled the whole length of the ground with the ball, for Lee to take advantage of a slip by one of the Devon backs and fire in a sharp shot which Steele had no chance of stopping, and first blood was therefore drawn in favour of Somerset. The game brightened up now, the pace becoming faster, and thus far Somerset were certainly having the better of the exchanges. Steele was put on his merits, and twice in quick succession he saved formidable looking short kicks by Lee. The spectators on Devon's side were not satisfied with the display being served. up by their favourites, and there were sundry cries of "Wake Up Devon!" It was no use, however, and Somerset were only denied a second goal by a really brilliant save by Steele. At half-time the score was Somerset 1 Devon 0.

SECOND HALF.

With both wind and sun against them on the change-over, there appeared to be long odds against Devon avoiding defeat unless their play improved considerably. After a little up and down play there was a real bombardment of the Devon goal, and Steele was given a hot timę. He cleared a shot from Lee under difficulties, but the relief was only of a temporary nature, for Hyman, getting possession, put in a fast low shot which found the net. Steele had been obstructed by a couple of Somerset men, however, and the referee disallowed the goal. It was lucky for Devon that their goalkeeper was in such brilliant form, otherwise the score against them would have been mounted up. Steele, however, met the persistent attacks in the coolest manner imaginable. At length, however, he was once more beaten, for Lee came in to meet Hyman's centre beautifully, and landed the ball in the back of the net to notch another goal to Somerset's credit. Burch next made an attempt to wipe off the arrears, but judged his shot badly, the ball sailing over the top of the net. There was more disappointment when Reid, after a capital run, skied the ball over the bar when he might more easily have had a goal. Three minutes from the end Lee obtained Somerset's third goal, beating Steele with a low shot following a corner kick. This was the end of Devon, who retired a well beaten side, the score being
Somerset 3 Devon nil.

• The referee was Mr J.B. Wilkinson, the President of the Cornwall County F.A., and the linesmen were the secretaries respectively of the Devon and Somerset Associations, Messrs G.Jones and H.J. Cockram.