MARCH 29th 1958

CRYSTAL PALACE 2 EXETER CITY 0.

Exeter City today took the team which drew with Reading last week to Selhurst Park, hoping to avenge last December's 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at St James's Park. The Palace made several changes in their forward line and included Tony Collins, the former Torquay star, at outside-left. McNichol, formerly of Chelsea, was at inside right, and a further late change was Edwards for Noakes at right-back. After only eight minutes Hunter had to fling himself at the feet of McNichol to prevent a certain goal, and a succession of accurately placed centres from Collins forced both MacDonald and Oliver to boot the ball desper ately away. The bombardment of the Exeter goal continued unabated, with several corners being conceded, and in the 18th minute the pressure resulted in McNichol defeating challenges from three City defenders, weaving his way through the penalty area and beating Hunter with a crashing left-footed shot. Collins, who played a brilliant game on the Palace left wing, scored his side's second goal with a header in the 70th minute.

Palace:- Rouse; Edwards, Greenwood; Long, Choules, Sanders; Berry, McNichol, Brett, Byrne, Collins.

City: Hunter; Foley, MacDonald; John, Oliver, Mitchell; Stiffle, Wilson, Calland, Churms, Dale.

Referee:- Mr. J.S.Pickles of Cheshire.

Crystal Palace's superior team work and finishing gave them the right to these two points in a generally uninteresting game. Although the City improved after the first half hour they still had a noticeable lack of combination, especially in the forward line. The scoring potential of Calland, the only man in the City attack with a real shot, was wasted because he spent all the second half out on the left wing. The effect was that the chances fell to other forwards, who did not have the power to hammer them in. Result:
Crystal Palace 2 Exeter City nil.
Attendance 10,506.


Southern League 
Exeter City Res v Merthyr Tydfil 
CITY RESERVES WIN AT ST JAMES'S PARK.

Although Exeter City Reserves have dropped down the Southern League in recent weeks they started favourites to win their home match against a Merthyr Tydfil side which is bottom of the table and which has so far conceded 114 goals this season.

Reserves:- Bell; Packer, Gilchrist; Cleverly, Harvey, Simpson; Atkins, Hill, Beer, Rees, Cruz.

Merthyr:- James; Thomas, Anderson; Lloyd, Carpenter, Howarth; Davies, Hancox, Lowe, O'Carroll, Howell.

Noel Simpson skippered the City Reserves in this, his first game since injuring a knee at Coventry last November. Exeter won by three goals, Rees, Cruz, and Hill scoring, to one for Merthyr by Howell.

Scorers

Dave Rew, Jack Matthews for Sidmouth 

Terry Atkins for Friernhay 

Paper report:

In the closing minutes of extra time Sidmouth Town snatched the winning goal to defeat Friernhay 2-1 in the final of the East Devon Senior cup at Exeter Citys ground St James Park last night (30 April 1958). A free kick just outside the penalty area was taken by Vincent, which was blocked, but Jack Matthews rammed home the rebound. When Friernhays Terry Atkins closed in from the right, Bess headed away a dangerous looking attack. The shooting of the Friernhay attack was poor and when Atkins put Mills through he shot well wide. A long ball up the Friernhay defence was collected by the burly Dave Rew and beating Joe Mills he cooly lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper Gerald May to put Sidmouth ahead. May held a long shot from Hart, and Bess was again on hand to head away a shot by Ron Atkins. Rew and Trivett combined well and set up a Sidmouth attack which saw Vincent shoot wide. The Friars had bad luck when Terry Atkins their most capable forward burst through and cracked the ball against the crossbar. Friernhay mounted more attacks but Wood denied Richards and Dommett. Friernhay defender Joe Mills was a big stumbling block for Sidmouth. Richards shot wide for Sidmouth, and then when Terry Atkins dribbled through his cross pass was fiddled away by other Friernhay forwards in front of goal. A long clearance by Ron Isaacs found Good who headed forward for Terry Atkins who equalised with a fine cross shot. Friernhay moved their forwards around in extra time but to no avail their best chance coming from a free kick which Isaacs hit wide.

Then came the winning goal with minutes remaining, and the trophy was presented to Sidmouth skipper Bess by Mr A.S. Line chairman of Exeter City F.C