Reading 0-1 ECFC.

23rd April 1921

Scorer: Vowles
Attendance: 7,500.
Elm Park, Reading.

The Grecians Clear of the Danger Zone.

A strenuous game was expected this afternoon as both clubs are badly in need of points. The team left Exeter at 10:18, arriving in Reading at five to three. The ground was reached ten minutes before the time of the kick-off.
Elm Park had been refreshed by a heavy morning rainfall, but the afternoon was warm and sunny. 

Reading:-
Crawford. Smith. Horler. Wilde. Getgood. Harbidge. Bartholomew. Bailey. Weston. Cameron. Carr.

Exeter City:-
Pym. Pollard. Feebery. Rigby. Carrick. Green. Appleton. Makin. Vowles. Hinton. Dockray.

A burst of applause from the grand-stand occupants signalled the apperance of Colonel Wilson, Member of Parliament for Reading, who was recently appointed Chief Conservative Whip.

Pym won the toss, and Reading had to face the sun. Reading got down immediately on the right, and Bartholomew middled the ball, but Getgood sent behind.
Then Appleton made ground from Pym's goal kick, Horler having to find touch. Smith intercepted a promising pass from Carrick to Dockray, and the next minute Weston had gathered the ball and put it through to Carr, but Pollard and Rigby between them were equal to the emergency. The Reading forwards were combining well at this stage, but Pym and his backs were alert to every possibility.
The easiest chance of the match fell to Bailey after a shot by Getgood had been tipped over bybPym, but with the whole goal to shoot at he lifted the ball high over the bar from about six yards' range.

Vowles Magnifcent Goal
The first half ended with the score-board blank. On resuming play Reading raised the hopes of crowd with some smart work by the forwards, but Feebery nipped across and cleared.
A shot by Carr was tipped around the post by Pym for a corner, which was cleared, and then, in the fifteenth minute, of the second-half, the game was won and lost, and it was Vowles, whose goals had scuttled Luton and Southampton, who once again did the trick.
Exeter gained ground from Pym's long clearance, and Appleton after beating Smith for pace, passed to Vowles. (Pictured) The "old soldier" gathered the ball and shot in his stride from a distance of thirty five yards, and the leather thundered into the net over the up stretched arms of Crawford with the speed of a cricket ball. It was truly a magnificent effort, and never has a goal meant more to Exeter City than this one.

Full-Time:-Reading 0-1 Exeter City.

Notes on the Game.
Reading opened well, but their passing deteriorated as the game progressed, and they did not regain their earlier form.
Bailey should have won the match with the chances that came his way early in the game.
Vowles, who has been pressed into service as centre-forward, had done the trick again. His goal was sensational, and one of the most spectacular scoring shots seen on the Reading ground.
That goal, allied to Pym's goalkeeping and fine defensive work by Pollard and Feebery, won the match. Exeter have waited long for an away victory. Their success today was fully deserved, and it relieves the club of anxiety regarding the future.

Reserve Match
City Reserves v Taw Shipyard.

An interesting "friendly" between the above teams was played at St James's Park, the Reserves winning by one goal, scored by Brayshaw in the eighth minute, to nil.

Reserves:-
Charles. Wilson. Betteridge. Crawshaw. Lakin. Hilton. McIntyre. Brayshaw. Cox. Waldron. Kelland.

Taw Shipyard:-
Horn. Seymour. Fewings. Mogridge. Saxon. Carter. Cozens. Goulding. Butt. Stapleton. Clements.