ECFC v Merthyr Town (D 3-3)
Scorers: Vowles, Shields, Appleton
Attendance: 5,000

Best game on the ground this season.

Exeter City were out this afternoon to prove that the result of the match at Penydarren Park was not a true reflection of the comparative playing strengths of the two sides.
Under the influence of a drying wind, St James's Park has been regaining something of its Autumn excellence, and the Merthyr Town representatives who inspected the the turf this morning (for the part travelled through to Exeter last night) were highly elated at its condition. Merthyr are making a serious bid for the Third Division Championship, and are particularly keen on getting points away from home.
Naturally, after last Saturday, they had big hopes of achieving a "double" at Exeter's expense. Exeter had Pym in goal I place of Sergeant Waller, Coleburne for Lakin at right back, and Vowles for Hetherington at inside-left. The City skipper was heartily glad to be again on the active list following his injury,

Exeter City;
Pym, Coleburne and Feebery; Crawshaw, Carrick and Green, Appleton, Makin, Wright, Vowles and Dockray.

Merthyr Town:
Lindon, Holmes, Ferrans, Clarke, Jennings, Crowe, Godfrey, Walker, Beel, Turner, Edwards.

Beel set the new ball in motion, but Exeter were the first to show any signs of constructive work, playing the ball so keenly that Merthyr were unable to do more than hold them. Appleton swung the ball across nicely from the corner, but it hit the framework of the goal and went behind. Dockray then forced a corner, but the visitors quickly gained ground, only to be checked by Coleburne.
Ferrans handled in preventing a pass to the right wing reaching its objective, and Crawshaw dropped the ball nicely into the goalmouth but Jennings cleared with a header.

Pym hampered and Merthyr score.
Makin was applauded for his persistence, which won a corner to the City, and so eager were the Grecians at this stage that two corners followed before the visitor could effect relief.
Then Merthyr broke away on the right wing and Godfrey swung the ball across nicely. Pym was hampered by the players of both sides who crowded in on the goal, and although he dived for the ball he was unable to clear it, and Turner netted with the goalkeeper prone on the ground. Ten minutes' play had gone by.
In less than 2 minutes Merthyr went further ahead. Beel gained possession in midfield, and by brilliant dribbling and swerving went right through the City defence with the ball at his toes. Pym came out to meet him, but with fine artistry Beel side stepped and drive the the leather into the empty goal with a swift rising shot.
Exeter now redoubled their efforts, and when Lindon was in the act of clearing the ball from the right wing Dockray charged him. The goalkeeper released the ball and Vowles drove it into the net. The City continued to press, and Dockray raised the hopes of the crowd by a fine burst along the left wing. He was fouled on the edge of the penalty line as he was in the act of passing to Shields. Feebery's free-kick cannoned off a Merthyr defender, and the City players appealed loudly for a penalty for hands, but the referee ignored them.

Two more goals.
Play continued fast and intensely exciting. Makin was prominent for sound approach work, but the pass was behind the men waiting in the middle. Vowles gathered the ball, however, and frightened the goalkeeper with a lightning shot which scraped the paint off the top of the crossbar. The players were revelling in the form turf, and the game was developing into the finest seen at Exeter for a long time. 7 minutes before the interval Turner scored a third goal for Merthyr Town. Pym's fist shot out over the shoulders and heads of Feebery and Beel to punch out a centre from Godfrey, but the goalkeeper failed to meet the ball squarely, and sliced it to Turner, who promptly banged it into the net, along the ground. A dismayed Exeter pressed hotly. Lindon made three great saves in quick succession from Shields and Vowles, and in another fast attack Makin tapped the ball to Appleton, (pictured), who scored with a splendid first-time shot into the corner of the rigging.

Half Time: Exeter City 2-3 Merthyr Town.

Second Half.
The first incident of any note was a full length save by Lindon from Dockray, but within three minutes the City drew level. The ball came across from Appleton to Shields, who beat Lindon, with a brilliant header. The Grecians came within an ace of taking the lead shortly afterwards, but the ball was scrambled away by the combined efforts of Holmes and Ferrans after Dockray had provided an opening for Shields.
12 minutes from the finish Shields headed narrowly wide from Makin's centre. Exeter appealed for a penalty against Jennings for hands, but the referee declared it to be accidental. Makin had bad with luck with a ground shot that travelled  just wrong side of the upright, and the best chance fell to Dockray, but with an open goal facing him ballooned the ball high over the bar.
There could have been no fairer result, for both teams deserved their point, and it turned out to be the best game seen at Exeter this season.

Observations on High Scoring Against Exeter.
A search of the Grecians' records shows that prior to last weekend the club had not conceded more than 4 goals in any League match since December 16, 1911, when they visited Crystal Palace, and were beaten by 5 clear goals. They were, however, defeated by 5-1 a year later in a Cup-tie at Cardiff.

The long period of immunity from heavy defeat enjoyed by Exeter is a matter for congratulation, and it is not too much to say that Dick Pym's fine goal-keeping has more than a little to do with it.

On only one occasion prior to last Saturday have the Grecians lost by as many as 6 goals; that was on April 25, 1910, when they visited Coventry and lost by that number without reply, and on the following Saturday they went to Leyton and
lost 5-1.

Western League (Reserves)

Douglas 1-1 City Reserves.
The Reserves managed to draw with Douglas, after being a goal in arrears at half-time. Leigh scored for the Bristol side in the first half from Garland's pass and Exeter equalised after McIntyre struck the crossbar.