EXETER CITY v. PLYMOUTH ARGYLE RESERVES

Match of the Season at St. James's Park

Saturday, October 19th.

ARGYLE RESERVES 5
EXETER CITY 0.

This afternoon, before a big crowd, Exeter City met Plymouth Argyle Reserves in a Plymouth and District League match at St James's Park. The fixture is generally regarded as the match of the Soccer season at Exeter, and great interest was taken in it. The Argyle came with a fine record.

• So far they have won six League matches straight off, with the following scores:- 9-0 v Tavistock; 4-2 v Looe; 1-0 v Millbrook Rangers; 6-0 v Oreston; 6-0 v v Essa; and 8-0 v St Michael's.

They brought a full team, including in the defence Horne, who was last year understudy to Fryer at Fulham, and F. W. Black, who appeared several times for the Southern League side. Lillicrap, the centre-half, played for St Jude's, winners of the Devon Junior Cup, last season, and the left half, Simmons, was in the first Argyle side of 1906-07.

The City's team was strong on paper, the only doubtful place being goal, where Ancliff, last year's reserve, again appeared. Jones and Blunden, of Exminster, were at outside left and centre forward respectively, allowing Mudd to resume his old position at right half. The sides were :

EXETER CITY Ancliff Fenwick W.Wells Mudd Aspey Warner Singlehurst Eveleigh Blunden Chenneour Jones

Referee:- Sergt-Major Adams.

ARGYLE RESERVES W.H.Horne J.H.Cudlipp F.W.Black H.Rider F.Lillicrap
J.Simmons H.J.Leavey J.Meager E.Nugent A.Wheaton A.Peard

There was a crowd of about 2,000 at the start. Exeter lost the toss and played against the wind, but down the slope towards the town end. The Argyle pressed at the start, and Meager, eluding Fenwick, sent behind. The City's passing at the outset was wild and badly placed, and the Argyle again forced their way to the goal-line. Aspey at length got the City forwards going, and Blunden gave to Singlehurst, who, with a characteristic "rasper" sent the ball against the side of the net. After twenty minutes came Exeter's first reverse. The Argyle forwards got away in a line, and Nugent, pressing through, sent in a great shot with which Ancliff had no chance. Following the score Exeter played like a beaten team, and two good chances of further goals were missed by Nugent and Meager. The first corner of the match fell to the City, but from the flag kick Eveleigh headed wide. Directly afterwards the Argyle forced a corner, and Nugent, jumping up, easily headed the ball into the top of the net, scoring the second goal. The failure of the City in the first half was largely due to the ineffectiveness of Wells, who repeatedly missed the ball in the most unaccountable manner. Never before has he given so poor an exhibition at St James's Park as in this match. Meager scored a goal which was given offside, and Jones, who was the heaviest player on the field, tried one of his spectacular shots from a long range, but found Horne coolly waiting. At half-time Argyle Reserves were leading by two goals to nil.
Wheaton, Meager, and Lillicrap each scored for the Argyle, who simply toyed with Exeter in the second half, the final result of five clear goals being no more than Plymouth deserved. It was only Fenwick and Warner who saved the City from a worse drubbing, and the forwards, whenever they did get going, except Jones, displayed a vexing fondness to dilly-dally with the ball until the Plymouth defence stepped in and robbed them.