Charlton Athletic 0-0 ECFC
Attendance: 5000

CHARLTON v. EXETER CITY

Saturday, September 16th, at The Valley.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0-0 EXETER CITY 

Last season Charlton 1 City 0.

Exeter City's return match with Charlton Athletic promised an exceptionally interesting fixture in view of the re-arrangement of the Grecian attack. Shelton got his first run in the team on the left-wing, and Crockford was elected to lead the forwards for

the first time. Dockray and Devlin stepped down to make room. Charlton also made two changes in their attack, but in this instance it was a case of the regular men returning after having recovered from injuries.

The City party, in charge of Messrs Nichols and Chadwick, only reached Charlton half an hour before the kick-off. Since Exeter's last visit the ground has undergone an amazing transformation, there now being no finer changing or dressing-room in the Third Division than at The Valley. The weather was fine, but cool.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Wood
Burton Goodman
Purdy Whalley McKinnon
Castle Rees Filliston Steele Smith


Referee:- Mr R.C.Wildig, of Southampton.
EXETER CITY
Fryer
Ackroyd Pollard
Clarke Southway Crompton
Shelton Mathieson Crockford Vowles Matthews

Whalley won the toss, and Charlton had the wind in their favour during the first half. Exeter's initial burst was countered by Whalley, and midfield play followed. The home forwards were given offside twice in quick succession. Crockford initiated an Exeter attack, and Vowles took the ball on well, but his centre went straight to Burton. Away dashed Charlton's right wing to the other end, and Castle middled the ball nicely. Fryer gathered it close to the upright, and Filliston hustled the goalkeeper and ball over the line for a corner. Following the flag kick Whalley drove inches over the bar. Smith got through a moment later and rounded Pollard to lob the ball to Filliston, who headed against the crossbar. Charlton were combining well, but found the City defence solid, whilst Pollard's frequent use of the offside trap was not to the liking of the crowd.

Near the interval Exeter almost scored from a move which was started by Vowles in his own half of the field. He fed Matthews a long pass, and the winger outpaced McKinnon and Goodman before slipping the ball to Shelton, who closed in and shot against the side netting. Fryer was injured in saving at Filliston's feet but resumed after treatment behind the goal-line.

Second Half.

Play improved considerably after the interval, especially from Charlton's point of view, and Fryer, who had damaged his jaw in the collision with Filliston, was kept busy. For long periods the home forwards pressed, and they could do everything but score. The Grecians were practically penned in their own half, yet in an isolated Exeter attack Wood saved brilliantly from Vowles. It was, singularly enough, about the best shot of the whole game. The most exciting incident, however, took place in the last minute, and Exeter should have scored. Mathieson was going ahead in great style when he was tripped up by Burton in the penalty area. He took the kick himself, but his shot was turned over the bar by Wood with outstretched right hand.

CITY RESERVES v. WATFORD RESERVES

Exeter City Reserves received Watford Reserves at St James's Park this afternoon in a Southern League engagement. The Exeter forward line was strengthened by the inclusion of Dockray and Newman on the extreme wings and Devlin in the c centre. At right half Carter, a promising young player from Exmouth, was again given a trial.

Rigby won the toss, and set his team defending the St James's Road end. Mitton relieved temporary pressure in midfield with a good pass to Devlin, who diverted the ball to Camble. Cutts came out of his goal and mis-kicked in attempting to clear, whereupon Camble regained possession but this time Slade kicked the ball away. In another bright spell Devlin shot over from just outside the penalty area. Dockray outpaced Field in a race along the wing, and his centre was picked up by Newman, who returned the ball, which was put over the bar by Mitton. Wallington and Miles strove hard to open up matters for the visitors, who enjoyed a slight territorial advantage at this stage. The Grecians then got going again and Mitton sent Camble away in style. He kept the ball in motion, and Johnson, in coming up to tackle, handled inside the penalty area. Rigby took the spot-kick and scored in the left hand corner of the net. At the Exeter end Loram, who was making his first appearance in the Southern League, was injured in his successful attempt to prevent Miles from scoring.
At the interval the score was:
City Reserves 1 Watford Reserves 0.

Second Half.

Loram did not appear on the restart, having sustained a knock on his hip, and Flynn went in goal. The Grecians commenced very strongly, a centre by Dockray being narrowly missed by Devlin, whose header went too high. the attend

Devlin then delighted the spectators, about 2,500 in number, with a sparkling piece of dribbling, but as he was about to score he was fouled. The referee awarded a penalty, and Rigby repeated his performance of the first half amid much enthusiasm.

Exeter's third goal followed in the next minute. Devlin raced through and beat the defence. He transferred the ball to Parsons, who swung it across to Camble, and the inside-left was in perfect position to bang the leather into the net from about ten yards.

Flynn won well deserved applause for saving shots from Miles and Field, and then the fourth City goal was obtained. Dockray centred perfectly to Camble, who scored with a first-timer.

Final score:

Exeter City 4-0 Watford Reserves

City Reserves:
Loram;
Flynn, Bell;
Rigby, Mitton, Carter;
Newman, Parsons, Devlin, Camble, Dockray.

Watford Reserves:-
Cutts;
Johnson, Slade;
Field, Marshall, Brown; 
Wright, Wallington, Miles, Norman, Mallett.

Referee:- Mr F.H.Wheaton.