ECFC 0-0 Charlton Athletic
Attendance: 6500

Saturday September 9th, at St James's Park.

EXETER CITY 0-0 CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Last season: City 1 Charlton 0.

Charlton Athletic provided the opposition today at Exeter in the City's third home Football League match of the season. Exeter City made no change from the side which went down 3-0 to Brighton on Wednesday, Frank Newman being still unfit to take his place at outside right.

The weather was fine, with an autumn nip in the breeze, and a crowd of between six and seven thousand welcomed the teams.

Whalley won the toss, and Charlton Athletic, looking hefty and very smart in their new bright red shirts and white knickers, took their places at the St James's Road end at the start. had in Vic

EXETER CITY
Fryer
Pollard Ackroyd
Crompton Southway Clarke
Matthews Vowles Devlin Mathieson Dockray

Referee:- Mr R.C.Wildig, of Southampton.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 
Wood
Burton Goodman
Purdy Whalley McKinnon
Castle Thomson Filliston Smith Knight 

The crowd at St James's Park were disappointed with the form of the Grecians, who drew with Charlton Athletic. Matthews, standing in for Newman, did excellently, but as a unit Exeter never really found itself, spasms of good form only serving to emphasise the general lack of skill.

The Charlton defence was well supported by Whalley, and Burton and Goodman were generally too clever for Exeter. Charlton played the steadier game, and were well served by Castle and Knight in the attack.

Wood twice came to the rescue of his side in the first half, once coming a long way out of his goal to clear a cross-kick with Matthews trying to steer the ball through, and then saving one of Crompton's "specials," the City captain having received a good pass from Vowles. Charlton's best attempt was a shot by Whalley, who had secured the ball following a throw in by McKinnon.

Charlton opened the second half with a strong attack, and got a free kick for "hands" against Ackroyd just outside the penalty area, the ball being eventually cleared by Crompton. The crowd took exception to this award, and the referee became the object of a mild demonstration.

Eight minutes before the close a corner-kick by Dockray led to some lively play round the Charlton goal, and an appeal by Exeter for a penalty was ignored by the referee, who then came in for a further outbreak of hooting from the spectators.

In the last minute Dockray missed a fine opening after Devlin had put him through, and taken all round a goalless draw justly represented the run of the play.


WATFORD RESERVES v. CITY RESERVES

Watford Reserves gained their first Southern League victory today, when the Grecians' Reserves provided the opposition at the new ground in Vicarage Road. Exeter City had Kelland and Carter, of Exmouth, at outside-right and left-half respectively, and they both showed great promise.

Watford:
Cutts;
Wilson, Slade;
Carter, Brown, Johnson;
Miles, Kirby, Wright, Miller, and Mallett.

Exeter City:
Dart;
Flynn, Bell;
Rigby, Mitton, Carter;
Kelland, Camble, Parsons, Crockford and Shelton.

Dart was the victim of an unfortunate accident in the match at Watford, being kicked on the head whilst diving at the feet of Kirby in a vain attempt to get the ball. Kirby scored, and the goalkeeper was taken off the field suffering from concussion.

This occurred after twenty minutes' play, and for the rest of the game Exeter had only ten men, Flynn going in goal, where he played exceptionally well. He was beaten only once, by Miller.

The City had so much of the play that it is reasonable to say that with their side intact they would not have been defeated.
Final score:
Watford Reserves 2-0 Exeter City Reserves.

CITY RESERVES v. BOSCOMBE

Shelton's Solo Effort

Wednesday, September 13th.

At St James's Park, Exeter.

EXETER CITY 2-1 BOSCOMBE

Boscombe were beaten by the odd goal in three at St. James's Park on Wednesday evening in a particularly bright and lively Southern League match. When they left the ground for the long journey home (their arrival was timed for 2 o'clock on Thursday morning) it was with the consoling reflection that if the City had fielded a purely reserve side the result would have been very different. In this, perhaps, Boscombe were right. For they played excellent football, and at times their accurate combination was pretty to watch. The sides were:

CITY RESERVES
Fryer
Flynn Bell
Rigby Mitton Clarke.
Matthews Vowles Devlin Crockford Shelton

BOSCOMBE
Heron
Paisley Lamb
Butt Matthews Wingham
Wakeley Meyer Davey Kelsall James 

The City were strongly represented, yet first blood was drawn by Boscombe. Mitton missed narrowly with a header in the first minute, and Crockford caused Heron some anxiety with a shot which the goalkeeper just managed to reach and turn round the post. A smart cross-shot from Shelton led to another exciting passage. Boscombe were a lively team, however, and when Rigby headed clear Wakeley's centre the ball went to Matthews (Boscombe) who returned it to the net with a fast ground shot.

The Boscombe Matthews nearly scored again but drove his shot narrowly over, and a fine centre from James was good for a goal, but Davey headed wide. The equaliser came five minutes later, in
exactly half an hour's play. Rigby initiated a move from which Shelton won a corner. When the flag-kick came across, Mitton headed goalwards, but the ball was met by Lamb. He turned the leather aside, whereupon Matthews (Exeter) whipped it across in great style, and Crockford nodded it into the net for a very nice and very well-earned goal.

Second Half.

Boscombe were lucky to be on level terms still at the interval, their goal having been in jeopardy on several occasions. Devlin had one glorious chance, with the ball at his toes close in, and with only Heron to beat, but the goalkeeper somehow managed to smother the ball before Devlin could shoot.

It was an excellent first half, with plenty of pace, plenty of thrills, and plenty of good football.

The second period was not quite as good, and there were a few dull patches of play, with neither side showing to advantage. One fierce first-time shot by Shelton would have beaten the Boscombe custodian but the ball flashed just over the bar. Fryer saved a certain goal when he tipped over the bar a hot one from James, Wakeley having provided the opening. Heron capably dealt with a header from Devlin, from Matthews's centre, and then another shot by James caused Fryer to be on his best form.

Shelton's Glorious Goal.

Clarke came very near with a fine rising shot, and then, just as people were beginning to think all the scoring was over, for only ten minutes of the play remained, Exeter took the lead.

Crockford got the ball in midfield from a kick-out from the Exeter goal, and sizing up the position at a glance, he sent a well-placed pass through to Shelton. The left-winger sprinted on at a great rate, rounded Butt neatly, coaxed the ball past both backs, and finished the effort in brilliant fashion by beating Heron with a beautiful cross-shot along the ground and into the far corner of the net.

Features were the strong play of Clarke, the determined and brainy work of Crockford, the eagerness, speed, and accuracy of Matthews and Shelton, who shirked nothing, and Fryer's worthy performance "between the sticks."

Boscombe's best players were Heron, Matthews, Butt, Davey, and James. Exeter's two goals are the first the Boscombe team have yielded so far this season.