EXETER CITY v D.C.L.I.

JANUARY 19TH.

A very good attendance gathered at St James's Park to-day, when Exeter City played the Dukes in a return Plymouth League match. The game was started punctually at 3 o'clock. The City were the first to attack but lost a good chance through dally ing with the ball when they had it right in front of White. In a counter attack by the soldiers Hill and Fenwick were a safe pair of backs. Exeter had hard lines when a grand header from Youlden hit the crossbar and rebounded into play. A penalty for hands against Bastin was awarded the D.C.L.I., but as fortune would have it Burrows failed to beat Vibart with the kick. Hill became the second player to miss a penalty two minutes after the change of ends, his shot going straight to White, who saved. The reason for the penalty award was not apparent. Youlden scored for the City, the goal being disputed by the visitors on the grounds of offside with no effect. In the last minute another penalty was given against Bastin for hands, but again the Dukes failed, hitting the crossbar. Right away went Massey and Youlden, taking the ball down the field in splendid style, and Massey scored Exeter's second goal.
Teams :
City :- Vibart; Hill, Fenwick; Muncey, W.Wells, Bastin; Sellick, Thomas, Massey, Youlden, Reid.

D.C.L.I.- White; Bedder, Merrett; Sedgeley, Bailey, Baker; Flowers, Johnson, Burrows, Heath, Chester.

Referee: Mr J. Dennis.

The City, if they had made use of all their chances, would have won by four goals instead of two. Fine opportunities were lost in the closing stages, and earlier a lovely header from Youlden struck the crossbar and returned into play. It was not a great game, and it would have been doubly disappointing if any of the three penalties had materialised. Everyone was unanimous that in neither of the cases was the offence (if any) serious enough to justify the granting of a penalty, and Mr Dennis, it seems, has profited little by the kindly advice which was given to him on a previously well-remembered occasion, when he gave away penalties ad lib. It is his one great fault, for he seems to quite overlook the principle of the rules which govern the award of a penalty kick.