Exeter City v Plymouth Argyle
20 January 1945.

In the Plymouth Argyle team to meet Exeter City at St James's Park tomorrow are Brown, Scotland's goalkeeper, Gibson, the Manchester United centre-half, and four players who wore the Argyle colours before the war.

Teams for tomorrow
Argyle-
Brown: Silk. Rae: Gorman. Gibson. Bungay: Grainger, Sharp, R. Brown, W. Foster, Hurst.

Exeter City-
F. Halliday: Corbett (Manchester City), Rich: Ryan, Hellier. Latham (Villa): Wardle (or Allen), Walker, Ebdon. Mitcheson. Hodge.

This game, watched by a crowd of around 2,400, resulted in a 2-2 draw. Cpl. Jimmy Wiltshire, one of the finest referees in the land, was the man with the whistle on this historic occasion. The City team was K.Halliday; Corbett (Manchester City), Rich (Stockport County), Ryan (Swindon Town), Helliar (Torquay United), Urquhart, Allen, Walker, Ebdon, Mitcheson (Ipswich Town) and Hodge. Most of these were still in the forces and only Halliday, Walker and Ebdon were on City's books, the last two being pre-war players. Ken Halliday was an amateur goalkeeper from Lyme Regis and not to be confused with pre-war full-back, Tom Halliday.

DRAW AT EXETER
Plymouth Argyle Visitor To St. James's Park

Though it was not until two minutes from the end that Exeter City drew level with Plymouth Argyle at St James's Park, the home side would have been unlucky had they been beaten. In a keenly-contested game which produced, much good football Argyle impressed as the more virile  team before the interval. Afterward however. Exeter's experience told and the City attacked for long spells. R. Brown scored Plymouth's first goal, running smartly into position to meet a long pass down the middle and then placing the ball wide of the advancing goalkeeper into the net, Second Argyle success just before the interval must be credited to Hurst. He cut in and shot strongly, Kimberly partly cleared. but knocked the ball on to the back of a defender from whom it rebounded into the net. Both Exeter's goals, scored in the second half, were obtained by Walker, and each followed a Mitcheson corner kick. Brown, the Scottish International goalkeeper, was Argyle outstanding player, and he set the seal on a great display by saving a penalty. Rundle centre-helf, and Hurst outside-left were also prominent. Exeter's best men were Mitcheson and Rich.

The gate was nearly 3,000.

The City team was:-
K.Halliday; Corbett (Manchester City), Rich (Stockport County), Ryan (Swindon Town), Helliar (Torquay United), Urquhart, Allen, Walker, Ebdon, Mitcheson (Ipswich Town) and Hodge.

"Match against Plymouth Argyle at St. James' Park on the 20th January, that particular match will, I think, be remembered by the crowd present for, not only did it mark the City's first real encounter since the outbreak of war, but it provided an afternoon's entertainment that was well worthy of those happier days that we can all so well recall. Despite the circumstances and adverse weather conditions, the game produced some excellent football, and both teams are to be complimented on their performance. Needless to say, the return game to be played at St. James' Park on Easter Mon- day will be awaited with increased interest and, in this connection, the Argyle Manager's request that the match be switched from Plymouth to Exeter was a big compliment to both the City club and it's followers, especially as it was made immediately after the final whistle had blown"
by Grecian,