ECFC 2-1 Merthyr Town
Scorers: Mathieson, Devlin
Attendance: 1000

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

EXETER CITY 2 MERTHYR TOWN 1.

Last season: City 1 Merthyr 0.

Heavily defeated at Southend on Saturday, Exeter substituted Clarke for Crompton in the half-back line and Ackroyd for Flynn at full-back. Merthyr Town lacked the services of H.W.Turner, who was injured in a Cup match at Brentford last week, and the club decided to make the experiment of introducing J.Cook, who is a half-back, at centre-forward, with E.Turner moving to inside right and Smith inside-left.

The weather was unsettled, and the ground heavy in consequence of the recent storms. There were only 1,000 spectators when the teams took the field at 2.25 o'clock, but late comers were still streaming in. Lindon beat Rigby in the toss, and Exeter faced the St James's Road end, Devlin kicking off in bright sunshine.

EXETER CITY 

Fryer Pollard Ackroyd the Greg Rigby Mitton Clarke Matthews Kirk Devlin Mathieson Dockray

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

Edwards Smith Cook E. Turner Dempsey
Scott Foxall Pillinger
Jackson Langford
Lindon
MERTHYR TOWN

From the centre line Mathieson sent Dockray away with a long pass, and the winger went on to middle the ball to Kirk, whose header went wide. The City then won a corner on the right, but it was cleared by Jackson.

The game opened out a little after ten minutes, and Cook fed his forwards with long, swinging passes, but miskicked when the ball was returned to him.
At the other end Kirk won applause for a dashing run, but he kicked the ball too far in front, and Langford cleared. Clarke drove fiercely just over the bar, and Lindon saved from Devlin at full length. Pollard was hurt in tackling Cook, and had to go off for attention.

After twenty minutes Dockray delighted the spectators with a splendid run through, and following on his centre there were one or two exciting moments in front of the Merthyr Town goal. After hot scrimmage Mathieson netted, the ball going into off the post. the net

Cook was injured in the goalmouth scramble preceding Exeter's goal, and had to follow Follard to the dressing room. The City continued to puzzle the Martyrs' defence, and fifteen minutes prior to the interval Devlin snapped up a pass from Mathieson, and with the visiting backs spread-eagled took the ball on, and beat Lindon to the wide with an unstoppable shot. Mitton drove a hefty looking shot just over the bar, and Lindon saved one from Clarke. Cook returned to the field but Pollard was still away.

Half-time:
Exeter City 2 Merthyr Town 0.

Second Half.

Merthyr resumed with four forwards, Cook being unable to turn out, but Pollard's return brought Exeter to full strength. Turner attempted a solo break-through but was brought down by Mitton near the penalty area, the referee deciding the tackle was a fair one and allowing play to proceed. A brilliant shot by Kirk was headed off the goal-line by Jackson. Twenty minutes from the end, with the Grecians slackening off, Turner scored for Merthyr with a neat shot into the bottom corner of the goal.

Exeter Player Ordered off.

Five minutes from the end a regrettable incident occurred, and Mathieson was ordered off the field for attempting to kick one of the Merthyr players. Fryer cleared a centre from Edwards.

Bristol Rovers Reserves v City Reserves.

In the Southern League match at Eastville, the Rovers had the better of the exchanges, and beat the City Reserves by four goals to nil. After 20 minutes Taylor scored from close range. Pavey made many brilliant saves, but he was powerless to stop Taylor adding another point with a header following a corner kick.

Two more goals were scored in the second half. The ground was in a muddy condition, and this appeared to be a greater handicap to Exeter than to Bristol.

The Brilliance of Mathieson.

Mathieson's brilliant play in the first half of the match on Saturday against Merthyr Town will long be remembered by Exeter supporters. Unhappily, the recollection will be tinged with re gret at the unfortunate incident just before the close, which marred the Irish International's wonderful exhibition. He tried to kick Langford, and was sent off immediately by Mr Russell, the Swindon referee.

Exeter City have recognised all along that in Mathieson they I have a great footballer, but they have had to wait four months before seeing the best of him. In these last few games he has come right out of his shell, and won the esteem, not only of the spectators, but of his colleagues. It will be hard luck on the lub if they lose his services for many weeks after persevering with him so patiently, and in the face of a certain amount adverse criticism.

No reference to the Merthyr game would be complete without a word of appreciation in regard to Jimmy Rigby's superlative game at right half. His tackling and feeding were amazingly well done, and the triangular play on the right wing was a feature.