Saturday, April 21st 1956.

WALSALL 3
(MITCHELL og, HODGKISSON, TAYLOR).

EXETER CITY 1 (SIMPSON) 

Half-time Walsall 1 Exeter City 0.

WALSALL OUTPLAYED CITY FOR LONG SPELLS.

Two minutes to half time with the score 0-0 the classier Exeter City were holding the more robust Walsall, then a harmless looking centre from Taylor dropped towards Mitchell, who with no one near him, inexplicably he headed the ball into his own net past a bemused Hunter, Four minutes after half time it was Hunter's turn to make a mistake in an otherwise flawless display, he moved too late to save Hodgkisson's 25 yard shot and City were 2-0 down,

Two ridiculously fluky goals then, before Walsall made certain of the points when Taylor scored, Simpson replied for City but it was too late, City deserved to lose, for allowing themselves to be outplayed for long spells by a team which had little but effort to commend them. The extra skill City possessed came to nothing, because neither Mitchell, Harvey nor Porteous filled their positions more than adequately and because City possessed not one inside forward worthy of a place. Willis, Iggledon and Thomas were never in the game, Their danger to the Walsall defence was non existent.

Walsall:- Chilvers; Haddington, Gutteridge; Dorman, McPherson, Crook; Morris, Hodgkisson, Taylor, Love, Cooper.

Exeter City:- Hunter; Doyle, Mitchell; John, Harvey, Porteous; Simpson, K.Thomas, Iggleden, Willis, Buckle.

Referee:- Mr G.W.Pullin of Staple Hill near Bristol.

Attendance 13,656

Southern League 

EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
(MURPHY THOMAS) 
LOVELLS 2 (RIDSDALE LOWRIE)

Half-time City 2 Lovells 1.
At St James's Park, attendance 2,364.

Reserves Trail, Then Lose LEAD

By J. P. Donaldson (Express and Echo)

Lovell's Athletic were visitors at St. James's Park today for City Reserves' last home game of the season. Alan Sword filled the centre-forward berth for Exeter. Lovell's had an early chance when Reynolds sent Lowrie through the middle but the centre-forward shot over the bar from the edge of the penalty area. Reynolds opened a similar move by robbing Ellaway, but after Lowrie beat Davey, Foley ran across to clear, A good cross by Ridsdale found Hales closing in too fast from the left wing; then Sword was too slow in shooting, and was robbed by Robling. Neither team were producing much to work up any interest, but Thomas won a couple of corners, and from the second one, ILovell's were lucky when Robling kicked away a shot from a crowd of Exeter players round the goal area after Cross had fisted the corner away. Packer ran up to drop the ball back into the Lovell's goal area, but Cross gathered the ball safely and cleared. A dash by Ellaway took him half the length of the field and his long pass found Rees. The winger tried to slip the ball to his inside man but the pass lacked strength and was cleared. Sword shot about a yard wide, and a Murphy-Rees move won a corner, but Cross ran out to make a high catch, then was in position to hold a shot from Packer. Kelly made a clever interception of a good centre by Ridsdale, but it was the winger who opened the scor- ing in the 18th minute. RIDSDALE cut through the Exeter defence, side-stepped Davey, and shot past the advancing Kelly. Exeter almost drew level a minute later. Ellaway took a pass from Sword to hit the ball on the bounce. Cross made a fine save, and from Thomas's corner Houghton shot hard but Reynolds handled. The free kick on the edge of the penalty area was only partially cleared, and when Rees centred the ball to Murphy, the inside-left tried a side-footed shot which went yards over the bar. Exeter's defence had to concede three corners in as many minutes. When Walton handled a pass from Reynolds intended for Hales, Lowrie shot hard from the free kick and struck the foot of the Exeter post. Exeter were now having more trouble in breaking through the Lovell's half-back line, although Murphy and Packer tried to get the attack moving. Promising moves had been breaking down through weak passing, but in the 39th minute a clever interpassing move by Murphy and Ellaway took them through to the Lovell's penalty area. MURPHY beat off a tackle by Wood and scored with a fast shot off the underside of the cross-bar. Little had been seen of the Exeter wingers-until right on half-time when THOMAS put City in the lead. He ran on to a pass from Sword, and as he cut in chipped the ball over the heads of the two backs and past Cross into the top corner of the goal.

Exeter continued to dominate the early play in the second half and Cross saved shots from Murphy, Packer, and Thomas. Sword put Murphy through and the inside-left weaved past three defenders but his shot passed narrowly over the bar. Lovells were being confined to breakaway raids mainly by the wingers but in the 60th minute they equalised through centre-forward LOWRIE, who ran through the middle, side-stepped Davey. and beat Kelly with a good shot. A moment later Kelly had to leap high to hold a back pass from Davey as the half-back made a hurried clearance from Reynolds.

Result:-
Exeter C. Res. 2-2 Lovell's Athletic 

Attendance: 2,364.
Receipts £105 16s.

City Reserves:- Kelly; Walton, Foley; Packer, Davey, Houghton; P. Thomas, Ellaway, Sword, Murphy, Rees.

Lovells Athletic:- Cross; T.Davies, Wood; I.Robling, Elwell, A.Hales; Ridsdale, Reynolds, Lowrie, A.McCall, R.Hawthourne.

Referee:- Mr L.R.M.Cornish, of Bridgwater.

MONDAY 23rd APRIL 1956.
FRIENDLY.

HOLSWORTHY 0. EXETER CITY 8.

Exeter City name two trialists in the squad against the 'Magpies' tonight

Two Trialists From Saltash Utd. Travel To Holsworthy

Exeter City may have two young trialists in their team for the friendly match at Holsworthy tonight, writes Clive Toye.

CITY PLEASED AT HOLSWORTHY

When Exeter City met and beat Holsworthy 8-1 at Upcott Field, on Monday evening, in a guarantee match, they carried out the purpose of their visit by giving a big crowd a good exhibition of football, writes "Magpie."

Holsworthy put up a very good fight against heavy odds, but the positional play and accurate passing of the City, proved too much for them. Holsworthy had their moments, and did well to keep their opponents' score down to one nil at the interval, but in the second half City showed better finishing than they did in the first period. Michael Harris and Ellis Stuttard were oustanding in the Holsworthy defence, breaking up many Exeter movements Eric French. put through by Peter Bailey, netted for Holsworthy after Exeter were two up.

Rees opened the scoring for Exeter in the first half and after the change-over Ellaway increased their lead from a Thomas centre Holsworthy retaliated and Bailey put French through to beat Lobbett. Exeter came back immediately and scored through Beer and for the greater part of this half dominated  play and added further goals through Rees (2). Ellaway (2) and Thomas

Exeter 
Lobbett: Walton, Foley: Davey Parr Houghton; PThomas, Ellaway, Beer, Sword, Rees.
Holsworthy
Chevins; Rogers, E. Harris; M. Harris, Stuttard Gerry; Haskell, Bailey. French Gibbs, Gifford

Scorers:-
Holsworthy
French

Exeter City
Thomas, Ellaway 3, Beer, Rees 3,