ECFC v Brentford (L 0-2)
Attendance: 6000

Saturday, October 7th.

At St James's Park, Exeter.

EXETER CITY O BRENTFORD 2.

Last season: City 1 Brentford 0.


Bell's inclusion at left-back for the City brought the number of Bristol born men in the first XI up to five, whilst of course Ellis Crompton, the skipper, has had a long Bristol experience with the Rovers.
With Crompton fit again the regular half back line was relied upon, and the forwards were as last Saturday at Watford. The "Bees" reached St James's Park early, and found the turf soft after much rain, but the afternoon was fine and the air keen. Brilliant sunshine flooded the pitch as the teams appeared, before a crowd of approximately six thousand. Crompton won the toss, and elected to hold the St James's Road end.


EXETER CITY
Fryer 
Ackroyd Bell
Crompton Southway Clarke, 
Matthews Kirk Vowles Mathieson Shelton


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

Stott Johnstone Morris Clayson Capper
Kerr Hunter Inglis
Rosier Alton
Young

BRENTFORD

Southway was penalised in midfield in the first minute of play, and Brentford at once threatened the Exeter goal, but Clayson was given offside before anything could develop. The visitors were in excellent shape in the opening stages, and very quick to get to the ball, but the home defence was sound.

In a lightning raid by the Grecians the ball was cleared over the touch-line by Alton from the feet of Shelton. After seven minutes' play Brentford scored the opening goal. Stott and Ackroyd fought a bit of a duel out on the wing, and the Brentford man eventually got clear. The ball was swung across to the Exeter goal-mouth, and Fryer left it to Bell, who failed to get it. Clayson headed the leather across the goal-mouth, whence Morris headed it into the net for a soft goal.

Exeter came away in style after this reverse, and a goal looked likely, but Vowles shot from outside the penalty area, and Young saved with ease. A centre from Shelton was kicked out by Alton. The City were well served by Matthews and Shelton, but their inside men were weak when it came to finishing off the work of the wingers.

Towards the interval there was a spate of midfield play, then in a sharp attack Brentford netted again, Morris, unmarked, firing the ball fiercely through the posts from Clayson's pass. To the relief of the crowd Morris was given offside and the goal refused.

HALF TIME: CITY O BRENTFORD 1

Exeter pressed promptly through good work on the right wing but Young's only fare in the early minutes consisted of goal kicks, although Kirk and Vowles both had chances of levelling matters.

With half an hour remaining, however, the Bees still led by the goal by Morris in the first half, and the spectators were getting very anxious. Their fears were not lessened when at 4.25 o'clock Morris put Brentford further ahead. A clearance from Ackroyd was breasted forward by Capper, and he went on to put the ball across to the opposite wing. Stott's centre went through to Morris, who at close range scored another "soft" goal, the result of a short snappy attack.

Vowles and Mathieson exchanged places in the forlorn hope of retrieving the game, and Shelton again put in a brilliant touch line run, but when the ball across no-one was in position.

The best shot of the game as far as Exeter were concerned was delivered by Ackroyd, who went up among the forwards, and shot a yard or so wide with a powerful swerving drive.

NOTES ON THE GAME

Weakness in defence cost Exeter dearly. The Brentford attack is not the most brilliant in the Division, yet they got with one-fifth of the pressure exerted by Exeter. two goals

Shelton's play at times was a revelation, but the many chances he provided were all squandered. The half backs failed badly at times, and Bell's play at left back did not impress. He was most certainly not an improvement on Pollard, when the Wigan man is in form. The crowd left the ground disappointed, and not a little disheartened.

EXETER CITY RESERVES

Beaten at Boscombe and Newman Breaks His Arm

Wednesday, October 11th.

At Dean Court, Boscombe.

BOSCOMBE 2 CITY RESERVES 1.

Ill-luck continues to dog Exeter City. At Boscombe, in the last minute of the Southern League game against the local side, Newman broke his arm. A home defender was clearing the ball with a mighty kick, and Newman, being close up, received the full and considerable weight of the leather at the back of his elbow. The game ended almost immediately.

Newman was removed to hospital, where he remained behind d over-night for treatment and to have the damaged limb X-rayed, so that the exact extent of the injury may be determined.ng but Exeter City had much the better of the play but were beaten by two goals one. Davey scored twice for Boscombe, and near the end Clarke reduced the deficit from a penalty awarded for a foul on Devlin. 

Exeter City:- Fryer; Flynn, Bell; Rigby, Mitton, Clarke; Newman, Vowles, Devlin, Crockford, and Dockray