Saturday, December 4th 1948.

BARNET 2  (Kelleher, Phipps)
EXETER CITY 6 (Bartholomew, Smith 4, Dymond).

Half-time Barnet 2 City 3.

Attendance 6,000.

F. A. CUP FIRST ROUND.

No cup-tie could have started on a more sensational note than did the one at Barnet, where Exeter City successfully negotiated their first F. A. Cup hurdle. The City kicked off and the ball was in the Barnet net within ten seconds from a movement, planned and worked out at St James's Park during the week. Smith flicked the ball to Smart, who put Mackay in possession. Mackay dribbled past two or three defenders and finally gave to Bartholomew, who shot low and wide of Stevens. No Barnet player had touched the ball. Their defenders were stricken with momentary paralysis and the home team supporters were just as dumbfounded.

CHANCES MISSED.

With more steadiness the City could have scored enough goals to have made the game safe in the first 15 minutes. Chance were missed, how ever, and Exeter had to fight desperately to maintain the advantage of that quick goal during the next hour. Credit must be given to Barnet for a magnificent come-back. A number of menacing attacks were delivered against the visiting defence, which was unstable on the left flank. Kelleher equalised, and though Smith put the City ahead again, it was not long before Phipps levelled the scores for the second time. The amateurs continued to hold the balance of the play, but Dymond got Exeter's third goal two minutes before the interval.

SECOND HALF.

Exeter's biggest fright was yet to come. Directly on the restart they were forced to defend desperately as Phipps, Kelleher and Haskow ad vanced in well-planned raids. Three times the amateurs came within an ace of scoring and Hoyle saved at point-blank range from Kelleher and Phipps. Exeter then recovered and took command. Their superior stamina told in the final stages and Smith crowned a good performance with a "hat trick" in the last 20 minutes. There was one change in the advertised team, Evans replacing Fallon at left half.