ECFC 1-2 Watford
Scorers: Crockford
Attendance: 5000

EXETER CITY v WATFORD

Saturday, September 23rd, at St James's Park.

EXETER CITY 1 WATFORD 2.

Last season: City 1 Watford 3.

The chances today favoured the Grecians, for with the sole exception that Newman was not yet quite fit enough to resume at outside-right, the team was at full strength, whereas the West Hertfordshire brigade were without Strain and Carter, who are two of their best half-backs.

Steady drizzle and rain from eleven o'clock in the morning onwards, with hardly a breath of air stirring, kept away most of the country enthusiasts, and reduced the attendance from the city itself, but a crowd of five thousand faced the field when Pagnam started the ball rolling, Crompton having beat White in the toss. The City defended the St James's Road end in the first half.

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

Referee:- Mr W.E.Russell, of Swindon.

Wilkinson White Pagnam Smith Stephenson Mummery Toone Bellamy ide, Gregory Horsman
Williams
WATFORD 

The ball was slung about in businesslike fashion, and early shots at both ends won applause. Some pretty combination was seen on both the City flanks, and for the visitors Pagnam impressed by his persistence, Southway being fully extended at times to check the old First Division centre forward.

Mathieson initiated a very clever Exeter attack, which seemed to fizzle out at the critical moment, and at the other end the City won applause for two fine clearances, with Ackroyd the main defender. In the steady rain the game was being eagerly contested, and twenty-five minutes had elapsed when Watford took the lead, White tapping the ball into the net from easy range after Fryer had saved twice in quick succession from Pagnam. Three minutes later, with Ackroyd temporarily off the field injured, the City equalised. Vowles passed to Dockray, who trapped the ball and swung it nearly into the goalmouth. Crockford rounded Williams and headed into the net for a very smart opportunist goal. Vowles gave Matthews an opening on the right, but the winger centre moderately and Vowles's header went wide.

At the interval the score was:
Exeter City 1 Watford 1.

The play in the second half was mostly in the Watford half, and the crowd waited expectantly for a goal. But it was the visitors who scored, albeit it much against the run of the game.

Smith made a big effort to take the ball through, but fell at the edge of the penalty area. He managed to tip the leather to Toone, who took a "pot shot" through a crowd of players, and his drive found the net.

The result came as a big disappointment to the home crowd, who had expected something of a very different nature.

BIDEFORD v. CITY RESERVES

Exeter City Reserves' visit to Bideford attracted quite a good crowd, despite the rain. The match was to have opened Bideford's new ground, but it was unfinished, and Hansens' pitch was the venue. Rigby won the toss, and J.Green set the ball in motion for the amateurs.

The game was only a few minutes old when Exeter bore down on the right wing and Shelton headed in the opening goal from a nice centre by Newman. Exeter dominated the play, and Camble netted a second goal after Drew had struck the bottom of the upright. The amateurs made progress, but J.Green got offside, and the City returned to the attack for Camble to add a third goal. Camble then scored the fourth goal, and Bell added number five with a great shot from just beyond the half-way line. Shelton completed half a-dozen goals within thirty minutes' play, while Parsons added another from Newman's centre. Drew found the net with the eighth and ninth in quick succession.

Half-time: Bideford O City Reserves 9.

Exeter City continued to have matters all their own way, and further goals were scored by Camble (2), Parsons, Drew, and Newman. Green (F) then got one for Bideford, but Camble and Parsons (2) made the final score:

Exeter City Reserves 17, Bideford 1.


Benefit Match for Two Exeter Players: Rigby and Dockray

PYM'S RETURN TO ST JAMES'S PARK: A BIG WELCOME

Wednesday, September 27th.

EXETER CITY O BOLTON WANDERERS 2.

A streaming wet morning augured anything but well for today's big match at St James's Park between Exeter City and Bolton Wanderers. The event had been anticipated with the utmost eager interest throughout East Devon. Bolton Wanderers, with Dick Pym, the Topsham fisherman, in goal, was regarded as an irresistible attraction. The heavy rain, however, toned down the picture to a certain extent, especially for those living at a distance from Exeter.

The Wanderers distinguished themselves at Burnden Park last Saturday before 20,000 spectators by defeating Birmingham by a margin of three clear goals, the scorers being: Smith (two) and Vizard. On Monday evening the First Leaguers turned out at Home Park, Plymouth, in a match for the benefit of Mr Robert Jack, the Argyle secretary-manager, and were beaten by a similar score, the Pilgrims being very much on their mettle. It was the first time that Dick Pym had played on a Third League ground since he left Exeter City for the North in the summer of last year, and the game must have revived a host of "Devon Derby" associations.

BOLTON WANDERERS:
STRONGEST POSSIBLE SIDE

The Wanderers left Plymouth for Exeter this morning. It had been announced that they would field their strongest possible side and the East Devon crowd were very eager to see, in addition to Pym, such notabilities as David Jack, Joe Smith, Frank Roberts, and Vizard and Jennings, the famous Welsh Internationals. The precise composition of the Exeter City eleven was left in abeyance until this morning.

The ground had been thoroughly rolled, and was in good trim for the match, although of course on the heavy side. Mr E.E.Small, of Bristol, was specially invited by the City club to referee, for he has always been held in high esteem both by Devonshire football enthusiasts and the players and officials of Exeter City. Smith and Seddon were omitted from the Wanderers' team this afternoon, their places being filled by Flood and Rowley respectively. Exeter City decided to make no change from last Saturday's eleven, and the teams took the field as follows:

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

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

Linesmen: Messrs A.W.Lamacraft and A.W.Martin.

Vizard Flood Roberts Jack Buchan Jennings Rowley Nuttall Thirkell Haworth Pym
BOLTON WANDERERS

Several of the Bolton Wanderers' officials, and many of the Plymouth Argyle club, occupied grandstand seats. The grandstand and covered part of the enclosure filled early, and when Pym, wearing an emerald green sweater, led out the Wanderers' team, he received a wonderful ovation from more than 4,000 spectators, and the Band struck up "Auld Lang Syne."

The cheering was renewed when a boy followed Pym to the goal and presented him with a bouquet of red and white single dahlias. There was another cheer for Ellis Crompton and the men of Exeter City when they followed Bolton on to the field.

CITY SHOULD HAVE SCORED

Pym, who was the Bolton captain for the day, won the toss and chose to defend the St James's Road end in the opening half, and the new ball was kicked-off by Crockford.

Rowley fed Vizard with a grand pass in the first minute, but the winger's centre was headed to touch by Pollard. Matthews was instrumental in helping Exeter to the attack, and he presently tried his luck with a shot, but sent high over the goal. Exeter returned to the attack, Clarke feeding Dockray with a nice pass for the winger to send across to Mathieson. The Irishman gave to Crockford, but the centre-forward's shot was of the wrong sort.

Exeter should have scored just afterwards, clever play on the part of Crockford leading to a brilliant centre from the touch line by Matthews. Vowles had raced in to the middle position and had a glorious chance of beating Pym at close quarters, but his shot was taken too hastily and the ball sailed over the bar. 

A HEAVY RAINSTORM

Delightful and effortless wing play by Vizard, well supported by Flood, pleased the crowd immensely, but Clarke prevented the move developing at the expense of a corner. This was placed on top of the net by Vizard, and when the goal-kick came out there was some clever play on Exeter's left wing, but Haworth saw to it that the ball went behind. The ensuing play was of high interest, some very pretty work being exhibited by Flood and Vizard, for Bolton, and Mathieson and Dockray for the Grecians. And Haworth rendered good service to his team by getting his head in the way of a dangerous centre from Dockray.

A heavy rainstorm broke over the field, and just at this time, Pym having fielded a shot from Matthews, the Bolton forwards were seen in a dazzling and dashing attack. Vizard beat Pollard with consummate ease and passed inwards to Flood, from whose shot Fryer jumped and pulled the ball down right under the bar. In the next minute, with Bolton warming up, a mistake by Pollard let in David Jack, who flashed the ball right across the goalmouth for Vizard to meet it first-time and shoot. It looked like a goal, but Fryer dived to his right and scooped the ball away.

IDOL OF THE CROWD ONCE MORE

Exeter made a short-lived incursion, but the Wanderers soon took play to the other end, where the clever combination of the forwards, with Rowley in close attendance, had the Exeter defence on tenterhooks. Crompton won loud applause for breaking up the attack, and when the City advanced through a very nice passing movement on the part of the forwards Pym was the idol of the City crowd once more, for he punched around the post in his well remembered style an accurately judged shot by Vowles which looked to be making for the net.

Again the City attacked, and a centre from Dockray was neatly turned goal-wards by Crockford with the side of his foot, and Pym was glad to see that one go over the bar. It was all Exeter at this stage, and the spectators warmed up to eager expectation. The quick passing of Crockford and Mathieson was proving rather troublesome to the Bolton defence. Flood, however, snapped up a chance in midfield and endeavoured to go through on his own but Clarke nipped across and stopped him. At the other end Vowles had a scoring chance, but Thirkell was too fast for him, and cleared. Fryer saved a tricky shot from Roberts, and for a brief spell the Bolton men toyed with the City defence on the edge of the penalty area, but failed in their endeavours to gain room for a scoring shot.

Exeter got busy again just before the interval, and there was some more bright play, but too little regard for the offside law. Half-time: Exeter City O Bolton Wanderers 0.

SECOND HALF: AND BOLTON GET THE GOALS

Soon after the restart Jack dribbled through and drove the ball a foot wide of the upright. Then Clarke robbed Buchan just inside the penalty area and the ball went behind. The referee, however, awarded a penalty against Clarke on the grounds that he had swept Buchan's feet from under him. The second half was ten minutes old. There was a storm of protest from the stand, but this of course availed nothing. David Jack, renowned for his deadly shooting and goal-scoring, took the spot kick and the crowd held their breath, but as the ball flashed towards the top of the net Fryer leaped up and punched it high over the crossbar, a brilliant save by any

standards, and one that Pym himself could not have bettered. boo At the other end a centre by Matthews was punched out by Pym. Midway through the half Vizard went to the centre forward berth, with Roberts inside left and Flood on the wing.

Pym distinguished himself by saving from a dangerous shot by Vowles, and Crockford came very near to scoring from a centre by Matthews. In the last ten minutes Flood and Roberts scored for Bolton Wanderers.

BOLTON'S TWO LATE GOALS

Another Game That the City Might Have Won

Exeter City might well have beaten Bolton Wanderers if the inside forwards had made better use of their chances. Early in the game Pym saved Exeter's one big shot of the afternoon, from Vowles, by diving and turning the ball around the post. But on two occasions the Topsham man was helpless to avert a score when strong low cross-kicks from the wing were met by inside forwards less than five yards from the goalmouth. Vowles and Crockford had one such gilt-edged chance each of opening the score, and each failed to steer the leather into the net. The Wanderers, with Rowley their strongest player at centre half, were finely served by their whole defence, whose players link up with each other in a style rarely seen in the Third Division, whilst in the attack their combination and ball control, particularly that of Vizard and Flood in the first half, was very effective. With more dash and speed it would have been very impressive, but with the City cutting such a moderate figure in front of goal the Wanderers were content to delay their scoring efforts, especially as the Exeter half-backs were in such lively and resolute mood, and the backs equally keen.

FRYER'S GREAT SAVE

Mr Small awarded a penalty to Bolton early in the second half, a decision which met with a storm of protest from the occupants of the grandstand, opposite which the alleged incident occurred. Jack's rising shot from the spot-kick, however, was brilliantly diverted over the bar by Harry Fryer.

Flood's goal was a gem. He cut in from the outside - left position (Vizard having received a roving commission) and after a dazzling dribble with the ball never more than a yard from his foot, scored with a sharp cross-shot. Many people thought that Roberts's goal, a few minutes before the end, should not have been allowed, on the grounds of offside. The centre forward shot from near the 18-yards line when there was another Bolton man standing not a yard from Fryer in the Exeter goalmouth. Unfortunately Crompton strained a muscle midway through the second half, and could do very little afterwards.

GAME GREATLY ENJOYED

Despite the big disappointments referred to the game was very greatly enjoyed by all. It left the impression that no good Third

Division team need fear meeting a First League side.it And considering the bad weather the attendance of 5,000 was in every way satisfactory.