EXETER CITY V SOUTHEND:
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 15TH.

BEER SCORES TWO GOALS IN 6-1 WIN.

Exeter City, playing at home against Southend, introduced Colin Beer, the 19-year old from Sampford Courtenay, at outside-right in place of Thomas. This was the only change from the team which drew at Newport two days ago.

The referee was Mr Griffiths, of South Wales, whose first experience of taking charge of a League match was in the City's match at Walsall in 1947. Beer started his first game well. He pushed the ball inside to John, and when the centre was blocked he cut in and shot, and saw his effort deflected for a corner. Buckle accurate flag-kick was headed low by Burke, but Threadgold was in position and held the ball. The City were in trouble when Hollis bustled his way through, but John stopped him with a resolute tackle. Southend kept up the pressure for a spell and in the fourth minute took the lead. They had a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, and Tulloch put the ball sideways to Duthie. Duthie shot, but not very hard, and the ball slipped from Hunter's hands and rolled over the line. Exeter had the hardest of luck in the 12th minute. Willis, receiving from Buckle, shot hard from 25 yards. Threadgold was completely beaten but the ball struck the angle of the upright and crossbar and bounced back into the goalkeeper's arms. A minute later, however, the City were level. Willis fed Currie, who centred, and Beer came rushing in to crash the ball low into the net. It was a great goal and a fine start for the young City player.

DEFENCE SOUND: JOHN AND BEER IMPRESS.
Exeter's defence was carrying on as soundly as it had played in the midweek match at Newport. So far Beer was impressing the crowd every time he moved for the ball and was giving his full-back little time to think. John, adaptable and equally at home defending or attacking, was another tower of strength in the Exeter ranks. In the 39th minute the City took the lead with a beautifully worked goal. Beer touched the ball inside to Willis, who fed Currie. Currie beat his man and placed Buckle in possession 12 yards out, and it is doubtful if Threadgold even saw the ball as it whizzed into the net. Within a minute of the start of the second half Exeter scored again, and this time it was Currie who beat Threadgold from Willis's pass. A long dropping shot from Beer went into the net but the referee dis allowed it on the grounds of a foul, committed by Currie. Southend also scored a goal which was ruled offside. And in the last fifteen minutes Buckle, Beer, and Burke each got a goal to bring the City's total to six.

EXETER CITY:- Hunter; Doyle, Ferrier; John, Harvey, Porteous; Beer, Burke, Currie, Willis, Buckle.
SOUTHEND:- Threadgold; Williamson, Howe; Duthie, Ruark, French; Tulloch, Whyte, Hollis, Thomson, Duchart.

CITY RESERVES DEFENCE CRUMBLED.
Southern League
Dartford v Exeter City Reserves 

Dartford, Exeter City Reserves' opponents, made several changes owing to injuries, but their unfamiliar attack was soon on the move today, and Cresswell nearly scored from close range in the first minute. Seconds later Bell completely missed a free kick from Peters and the ball went to Loukes, who shot wide from point-blank range. When Exeter hit back they had the home defence in difficulties with a round of accurate close passing and Kirkwood left his goal only just in time to prevent Phoenix getting in a shot. Dartford were again in trouble following a centre by Thomas, but the ball was scrambled away to safety. The Exeter defence was not confident under pressure and in the eighth minute Dartford scored through Cresswell. At the other end hard shots by Sword and Grinney were well handled by Kirkwood. Peters was the live wire of the Dartford attack, and the pass he fed Winter with should have produced a goal but the shot was wide from a good position. Loukes, however, put his side further ahead after 30 minutes when he headed a clever goal from a centre by Peters.

HALF TIME:
DARTFORD 2
EXETER CITY RESERVES NIL.

Dartford resumed strongly and Bell was soon in action. He had to deal with shots from Cresswell and Winter, which he did in splendid style. Kirkwood saved a dangerous situation for Dartford by cutting out a dangerous centre by Thomas with Sword challenging strongly. Then Grinney slammed an easy chance over the bar. For a lengthy spell after this Dartford took complete charge of the game. Exeter's defence crumbled and two further goals were added in four minutes by Cresswell and Winter.

Dartford: Kirkwood; Barton, Lyons; Clarke, Woodward, Cryle; Peters, Gleeson, Winter, Cresswell, Loukes.
Referee:- Mr S.J.Milford of Farnborough.
Exeter City Res:- Bell; Foley, Parr; Mitchell, Packer, Houghton. Thomas, Divers, Sword, Phoenix, Grinney.