Grecians heavily defeated by the Welshmen.

At Penydarren Park
Attendance 12 000.


The Exeter City team, in the charge of Mr Chadwick, left St David's Station yesterday afternoon and stayed overnight at Cardiff. They completed their journey into the Welsh hills this morning.
Hetherington was at inside-left, otherwise the team was as last Saturday's eleven at Brighton, Sergeant Waller having completely recovered from the injury to his hand, sustained in that match.

Merthyr Town:
Lindon, Langford, Ferrans, Clarke, Jennings, Crowe, Williams, Walker, Beel, Turner, Edwards.

Referee: Mr E. Tolfree, of Southampton.

Exeter City
Sgt. Waller. Lakin. Feebery. Crawshaw. Carrick. Green Appleton. Makin, Shields, Hetherington and Dockray.

There was a drizzle of rain in Merthyr, and the ground was very heavy, with a soft surface of thick mud all along the middle of the playing pitch. The match started at 3:20pm., it being feared that darkness would set in early.
Merthyr pressed immediately on the left but were repulsed, and Shields gave Hetherington a chance. The inside left nearly caused a sensation, for he dribbled past both backs and shot splendidly, Lindon having to jump and effect a miraculous clearance just under the bar. Waller saved from Jennings a moment later, and the ball quickly transferred to the other end, where Lindon saved from Shields.
The ground was in a dreadful condition, and Exeter in particular were finding difficulty in keeping their feet, and playing anything resembling their normal style. Merthyr Town were, however, very dangerous when on the attack, and the crowd, was roused to high enthusiasm as the home team strove hard for an early goal.
Although they opened quite well the City were eventually overwhelmed, and four goals went into their net before half-time, the last of the four being scored almost simultaneously with the interval whistle.

Half-time: Merthyr Town 4-0 Exeter City.

Biggest Fluke
The score at the finish was Merthyr 7 (seven) Exeter City 1, and it can only be stated in mitigation that it was one of the biggest flukes of all time, as far as Exeter City are concerned.
The deplorable condition of the ground was all against Exeter's style of play, but steadiness on their part and better goalkeeping would have kept the score to a minimum.
The City forwards only needed proper support, and they would have responded with a few goals. Green was the best of a very poor middle line, and Feebery was sound.
The margin of 7-1 represents the heaviest defeat in the club's history.

TIME TABLE OF GOALS.
23 minutes, Turner back heeled the ball into the net.
40 minutes, Walker, with a knee-high shot just inside the post.
44 minutes, Beel cut twixt Lakin and Crawshaw to score from 5 yds.
45 minutes, Crowe following a scrimmage in the goalmouth.
60 minutes, Shields, a header from Dockray's corner.
62 minutes, Beel, from Williams centre.
75 minutes, Turner at short range.
80 minutes, Clarke, after Waller had partially saved from Beel.

Exeter City Reserves v Barry

Barry, who have a poor record in the Western League competition where today's visitors to St James's Park, where they were opposed to the City Reserves. Brayshaw, who played for the seniors last week was dropped, and returned to the Reserves, while Hillings took over from Charles in goal.

City Reserves:
Hillings, Pollard, Betteridge, Rigby, Taylor, Hilton, McIntyre, Brayshaw, Hesmondhalgh, Vowles, Lincoln.

Barry:
Vallis, Thomas, Williams, Beaumont, Webb, Green, Powell, John, Coombes, Reynolds, Howells.

Rigby won the toss, and set the visitors to face the St James's Road end. Barry attacked from the outset and won a corner, which Pollard cleared, and when Reynolds obtained possession in front of the Exeter goal Betteridge nipped across and robbed him.
Hesmondhalgh was unlucky with a fine shot which hit the crossbar, and with a header which the goalkeeper saved. Vowles passed the backs, but with an open goal before him sliced the ball wide. After some close passing John scored for the visitors.
The Reserves made persistent efforts to equalise, but their shooting was poor despite their territorial supremacy.

Half Time: City 0-1 Barry.

Consternation reigned among the spectators when the half time score at Merthyr became known, and some were of the opinion that it was either a mistake or a joke.

On the resumption the Reserves made tracks for the Welsh goal, but Thomas and Williams, the backs were sound. Barry took the play to the Exeter end, and Hillings punched out a hot shot from Powell.
The Reserves suffered their second reverse when Coombes hooked the ball into the net from almost under the bar, Howells having put across an ideal centre.
A minute later Taylor reduced the lead from a corner-kick taken by Lincoln. Hesmondhalgh was knocked out in a collision a quarter of an hour from the end, and Vowles found the net, but was ruled offside.

Full time: Exeter City Reserves 1-1 Barry.