Exeter City v West Ham: 

Friday 26th December 1913
Holt Gives Grecians An Early Lead

Exeter City and West Ham Exchange Players:

The return Southern League match between Exeter City and West Ham took place in windy, threatening weather at St. James's Park on Boxing Day afternoon. The Hammers played George Hilsdon, the old English International, and Leafe, the big, bustling forward secured from Sheffield United, for Butcher and Bailey, and Casey in place of Denyer, with Ashton crossing over.

Rigby beat Randall with the toss and chose to defend the City end. Leafe's pass to Ashton went into touch, and Exeter got down on the left. The ball came across from Marshall, and Brooksbank tried a header, which went inches over. In the next move Irvine gave a corner off Holt, and from the flag-kick Brooksbank and Pratt were in each other's way. The leather went to Rigby, who shot wide.

Holt opened the scoring for Exeter after a quarter of an hour, racing for the ball and sending it rolling along the ground into an empty net as Lonsdale collided with him on the penalty line. Throughout the first half West Ham found it difficult to get the ball away, play being constantly near their goal. West Ham equalised early in the second half. Smith slipped in the mud and failed to clear, and Leafe shot swiftly into the net, Pym's dive to save the ball being a fraction too late. Pym then made two excellent saves from Puddefoot and Hilsdon, and West Ham were playing much better than they had done before the interval.

In the concluding stages the City made a big effort to regain the lead, and on one occasion Holt struck the crossbar from a centre by Marshall. The match, played on a very heavy ground, was attended by a crowd of about seven thousand, the biggest of the season.

Two important transfers were effected on the ground at the end of the match. Goddard, who was secured from Lancaster, signed for West Ham, and in exchange Exeter City obtained Fred Goodwin, an outside-left, who was formerly with Brighton and Hove, and played regularly for them in their championship season. It is hoped that the exchange will prove of benefit to both clubs.

Exeter City:- Pym; Fort, Strettle; Rigby, Pratt, Smith; Holt, Lovett, Brooksbank, McCann, and Marshall.

West Ham:- Lonsdale; Brandon, Irvine; Woodards, Askew, Randall; Ashton, Leafe, Puddefoot, Hilsdon, and Casey.

Referee:- Mr W.E.Russell, of Swindon.

Source

Alex Wilson unpublished work