ECFC 1-0 Swansea Town
Scorers: Mitton
Attendance: 5000

Saturday, October 28th.

At St James's Park, Exeter.

EXETER CITY 1 SWANSEA TOWN O.

Last season: City 1 Swansea 1.

Glorious weather attended the visit to St James's Park today of Swansea Town, the club with the most dangerous forward line in the Football League, bar Liverpool.

The Swans have scored in every match to date except that at Bristol a fortnight ago, when the "Babes" by a solitary goal, rather luckily inflicted on the Welsh club their first defeat since September 2nd. Including that match Swansea are credited with fourteen goals in their last four games, as compared with 0 only three conceded to opposing sides. So pronounced was the superiority of the Swans over Exeter in the second half of the game at the "Vetch" last Saturday, when they put on four goals without reply from the Grecians, that they confidently expected to bag another brace of points this afternoon.

Exeter were compelled to make a change in the forward line, Devlin having broken down in training during the week, and the choice of a leader fell upon Mathieson, who has had plenty of experience in that position, with Crockford coming into the side at inside-left. The teams were:

EXETER CITY
Fryer
Pollard Ackroyd
Rigby Mitton Crompton 
Matthews Kirk Mathieson Crockford Shelton

Referee:- Mr E.Tolfree, of Southampton.

Gough Thompson Smith Deacon Hole Williams Harwood Roulson Milne Morley
Denoon 

SWANSEA TOWN

Crompton won the toss and elected to attack towards the city end, thus giving Exeter the advantage of a strong breeze. The visitors were dangerous from the start, their forwards opening up the game with great speed and clever combination. A drive by Smith looked dangerous but it cannoned off Ackroyd, and Pollard completed the clearance. Rigby robbed Thompson and got the City moving, but the attack broke down in the penalty area, and when Swansea returned Mitton was applauded for a fine tackle against Smith.

ONLY A TOUCH NEEDED

The light ball was always moving fast, and Swansea's forwards made ground in fascinating style. Mitton again dispossessed the visiting leader and forced his way past three opponents before transferring to Shelton, who won a corner off Morley. The flag kick was placed too far out. Nevertheless the City were settling down in promising fashion, and with all their cleverness and speed in close passing the Swans were not having matters all
their own way.

The City, in fact, came the closest so far to scoring when Crockford made an opening for Shelton, and the winger's strong centre flashed to the goal-mouth, where the other forwards were gathered. The inside men missed the fast-travelling leather when only a touch was needed to send it into the net. In the end the ball came through to Matthews, who accidentally handled. Exeter were improving all the time, and Denoon had to make a desperate save from Crockford.

Crockford conceded a corner, but atoned for this by heading out the flag-kick and then stopping a dangerous looking shot by Roulston. Pollard completed the work by taking the ball through forcefully to Matthews, and only the steady play of Milne at this stage kept the Grecians out. Five minutes before half-time Swansea came within ace of scoring, Thompson sending the ball against the crossbar from Gough's centre. From the rebound Fryer saved at full-length from Deacon, and with the goalkeeper on the ground two quick shots were turned aside by Pollard. At half time the score remained: City 0, Swansea Town 0.

12 SECOND HALF

The City opened with a smart attack but Matthews overran the ball. Ackroyd cleared from Smith at the other end, but conceded a corner, taken by Gough and punched out by Fryer. Ackroyd was forced to retire with an injury to his ankle, but was soon back on the field again. After fifteen minutes a miskick by Harwood in front of the popular bank let Matthews and Kirk through. The winger centred, and the ball ran to Shelton, who steadied him self before shooting. The shot was parried, and another quick one headed out, but only to Mitton, who returned the ball to the net through a crowd of players with a swift shot all along the ground. A veritable explosion of cheering greeted the goal.

With play becoming faster than ever and Swansea striving for the equaliser Pollard and Gough came into collision and Gough was carried off. Mathieson forced his way past two defenders, using his weight to good effect against Milne, and passed out to Matthews, who, however, put the leather behind. In the end the Swansea team was beaten by good, honest football, and no-one can deny that the City fully deserved the spoils of victory.

COVENTRY RESERVES V CITY RESERVES

In a Southern League match at Swan Lane, Coventry and Exeter Reserves met, in brilliant weather, before a crowd of 5,000. The Grecians had England, of Taunton Town, in goal, following his sound display for Okehampton on Wednesday against a City forward line which included Jazzo Kirk. Despite the presence of the new goalkeeper, however, Exeter Reserves were defeated at Coventry by two goals, scored by Herbert after 20 and 33 minutes, to nil.

City Reserves:- England; Bell, Flynn; Litten, Southway, Clarke; Camble, Vowles, Parsons, Dockray, and Lendon.