A Poor Day for the Grecians 

Saturday, March 18.

At St James's Park, Exeter.

EXETER CITY 1 READING 3.
Attendance: 4000
Last season: City 0 Reading 1.

The City Club made efforts during the week to new inside forward, who would have appreciably strengthened the secure another attack, but it proved impossible. It had been announced that the centre-forward position today would be filled either by Parsons or Bullock, but at the eleventh hour the team problem was settled in another fashion. Kirk was again chosen to lead the line, with Crompton at inside right. Charles Squires and Harry Wilson were selected for the wing half-back positions.

EXETER CITY
Fryer
MacKechnie Stewart
Squires Mitton Wilson
Newman Crompton Kirk Townsend Congdon

Referee: Mr A.E.Caseley, of Wolverhampton.

Carr Jennings Weston Gardiner Scott Dand Hanney Eggo Walker Grant
Crawford 
READING

The weather was dull, but dry, and the ground was in excellent condition. Two big attractions in the seven days previous to the match had some effect on the "gate," but there were four thousand spectators present when Reading won the toss.

EXETER CITY COME A CROPPER.

Badly in need of League points as they are, Exeter City "came a cropper" at St James's Park today, losing by the substantial margin of three goals to one. The game was fought out at a fast pace, but there was only one goal scored in the opening half, the visitors being the first to find the net. The score was the result of some clever combination between Scott and Gardiner, who had received from Hanney. Scott, from a position halfway between the touchline and the edge of the penalty area, sent in a high curling drive, and the ball entered the net off the far upright. This happened five minutes before half-time, and although Exeter tried hard for the equaliser Reading offered a stubborn defence, and changed over still maintaining their lead. 

Second Half.

In the second half Exeter set about their task with vigour, and twelve minutes after resuming Kirk made the renewed level with a fine drive. The Plymothian later experienced a bit of scores bad luck with a beautiful header which struck the crossbar, and to "rub it in" was knocked out in the scramble which followed.

From now on to the end Reading dominated the game, and Weston secured the lead for them fifteen minutes from time, after Fryer had partially saved from Jennings. The issue was settled eight minutes later, when Weston put Jennings clean through, and the inside-left beat Fryer with a neat shot into the bottom corner.

READING RESERVES v CITY RESERVES.

Exeter City Reserves were engaged in a Southern League match at Elm Park this afternoon against the reserves of Reading. The following teams lined up in fine weather, before a crowd of about two thousand people.

Reading Reserves:-
Cooper; Horler and Sayles; Lockhead, Rose, and McGarry; Heffle, Bennett, Jones, Ritchie, and Springell.

City Reserves:-
Watson; Pollard and Gaskell; Brown, Hookway, and Saltmer; Edge, A.V.Green, Vowles, Camble, and W.Hill.

Reading attacked from the kick-off, but got no further than Pollard and Gaskell, although Watson was called upon to save one or two long shots. From a well placed corner by Edge, the ball was headed through Reading's goal by Alf Green. Cooper got one hand to the shot, and pushed the leather on to the post, whence it dropped over the line. point was struck off. Pollard, Camble, and Edge were in excellent Jones headed a goal for Reading but handled in doing so, and the form for Exeter, who maintained their early lead, and eventually won by that goal to nil.




THE SPOONER CUP
EXETER CITY V PLYMOUTH ARGYLE WEDNESDAY MARCH 15TH
AT ST JAMES'S PARK

If only Exeter City's League position was assured on a basis of points, what a tremendous attraction would be today's Spooner Cup match between the two big Devon clubs at St James's Park. Here are Plymouth Argyle, right on top of the Football League, Southern Division, with one of the best records and some of the finest players in the country, visiting Exeter to try to recapture the handsome trophy which Exeter City snapped up so unexpectedly at Home Park eight years ago.

Eight years is a long time, especially as this competition was intended to be an annual event. Longer ago still, when Exeter City first took the plunge into the swirling waters of professionalism, meetings between the Grecians and the Pilgrims were frequent.

"Friendlies" galore were arranged, and the fixture lists of the two clubs seemed to consist of Devon Derbies and a few other games thrown in as an after consideration.

OPPORTUNITY FOR DIS-INTERESTED EFFORT

The soccer public tired, and so did the clubs. Too much of this good thing palled, and there was a general cry of "enough." Yet the League fixtures alone seemed hardly enough. It was left to the "Stanley Spooner Memorial Cup Competition" to supply the public want, and at the same time to give the clubs a wonderful opportunity for disinterested effort. The entire management and control of the Spooner Cup Competition is vested in the Council of the Devonshire Football Association.

RULES OF THE COMPETITION:

Then and The rules provide that the competition shall be annual, and that it shall consist of one match between the two Devon professional clubs, Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle, the matches to be played alternatively at Exeter and Plymouth, and each to field its best available side. In the event of a draw extra time is to be played, and if no decision is reached the Cup-holders retain possession of the trophy for the next year, but no medals can be awarded.

The net proceeds of the match are to be devoted to charity and the promotion of schoolboy football, each club having the power to nominate half the proceeds for these objects. The Spooner Cup Competition was inaugurated in season 1913-1914 and the only match played under its auspices to date is that which took place at Home Park on April 29th 1914, a Wednesday. The City sprang a tremendous surprise on the Argyle club, and ran out the winners by a solitary goal, netted by F.Goodwin. A set of very handsome medals went to the winning team.

It is illuminating to note that the "gate" realised only £56. No wonder the promoters decided that for the future the match should be played early in each season when interest is very keen, and the receipts are bound to be larger.

THE MATCH

The eagerly awaited Spooner Cup-tie between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City at St James's Park this afternoon attracted a crowd of three thousand enthusiastic followers. The weather was dull, but dry, and with the ground in good condition a lively game appeared more than likely. Russell, the Argyle captain, received a kick on the shin whilst playing for Wales against England at Liverpool F.C. ground on Monday. severe the

THE CITY
Fryer
MacKechnie Stewart Rigby Mitton Brown Edge Kirk Bullock Crompton Congdon

Referee: Mr E.E.Small, of Bristol.

Baker Raymond Richardson Gallogley Corcoran Eastwood Hill Dickenson
Devine Forbes
Craig 
THE ARGYLE

Crompton beat Forbes in the toss, and decided to occupy the St James's Road end in the first period. Hill was prominent to begin with, and he gained a corner, the ball spinning off Stewart.

MacKechnie cleared Baker's flag kick, and the Exeter forwards took play to the other end, where a free kick for hands middle the ball nicely, Bullock shooting over the bar. saw Edge

FAST AND SKILFUL FOOTBALL.

Exeter continued in the ascendant, Edge being to the fore with Some dashing play, but a breakaway by the Argyle and neat passing on their right wing won a fine opening for Dickenson, who tested Fryer with a hefty shot. From a free kick against the City, Hill shot low and hard for goal, and the ball was booted out of danger by Stewart. Another drive by Hill flashed just wide of the post, following which Exeter came away in style, and Congdon made a good opening for Crompton, who swung the leather across to the right. Edge took up the running, and passed to Kirk, but a shot by the I new Grecian was wide of the mark. The football was good to watch, the play being full of skill and very fast.

Exeter missed a rare opportunity of taking the lead, when the ball was thrust forward quickly by Mitton to Kirk, whose cross left Bullock with only Craig to beat, but the centre-forward shot over.

Half time:
CITY 0-0 PLYMOUTH

Second Half.

Plymouth Argyle were the first to become dangerous. A splendid centre by Corcoran was met by Gallogley, and Fryer had to be on his mettle to prevent the inside man scoring. Exeter thanked Fryer again the next minute for a brilliant clearance from Richardson's flying header, the ball being aimed just below the crossbar. A third time Fryer saved the day, and a magnificent clearance by him from Corcoran "brought down the house."

Goal From a Penalty.

After fifteen minutes Richardson came bustling through when he was brought down by MacKechnie just outside the penalty area. Hill tried a shot at goal from the free kick, and the ball was headed clear by Stewart, but in a scramble in the goalmouth which ensued Stewart handled and Richardson scored from the spot.

Eight minutes before the finish the Argyle increased their lead in remarkable fashion. Fryer was hampered by Richardson in trying to clear. After a moment's dodging on the goal-line the custodian attempted to clear with a huge kick. Richardson, however, got his foot to the ball as it left the goalkeeper's boot, and the leather shot into the net.

Final:
Exeter City 0, Plymouth Argyle 2.