Match 22
25th December 1922
Bristol Rovers (a)
Southern League
Argyle Reserves (h)
Bristol Rovers 3-3 ECFC Scorers:
Kirk 2 (1 pen), Mathieson
Attendance: 10000
Football on Christmas Day.
Bristol Rovers 3 (LUNN HAMMOND RUTHERFORD)
Exeter City 3
KIRK 2 (1 PEN) MATHIESON
Rovers:- Whatley; Armitage, Haydon; Furniss, Rutherford, Currie; Wainwright, Morgan, Lunn, Hammond, and Lea.
City:- Fryer; Pollard, Ackroyd; Rigby, Mitton, Clarke; Matthews, Kirk, Crockford, Mathieson, and Dockray.
One great patch of about forty yards square in front of the main The Rovers ground was in a shocking state on Christmas Day. grandstand reminded Mathieson of the Irish bogs, and Clarke, who Squelched and slithered about in the slimy substance, was quite animated mass of mud. Kirk should have opened the scoring account unrecognisable, being completely and absolutely disguised as an for Exeter when he received from Matthews close in, about three minutes from the start, but his shot struck the crossbar. The game was twenty minutes old when the Rovers broke away from the half-way line, and Morgan, on being tackled by Pollard, slipped the ball through the middle to Lunn, who was yards offside.
The referee failed to observe the infringement, and despite Exeter's appeal, allowed play to continue. Lunn had only Fryer to beat, and the goalkeeper had no chance with the shot.
Five minutes later the Exeter forwards went down the field in style, and Kirk went through like lightning, but one Bristol backs caught the ball and fell on it. A penalty for the of the City resulted in Kirk equalising from the spot. The teams were level at one goal each when the interval was signalled.
Four Goals in Quick Time.
After ends had been changed there were four goals in less than a quarter of an hour. Good combination by the City forwards made an opening for Kirk, and he seized it eagerly, beating Whatley with a "hot" drive. Hammond equalised just afterwards following good play on the Bristol right wing, then Exeter took the lead a second time. The ball across from Dockray, and Mathieson charged it into the net off the goalkeeper.
Promptly the Rovers got on level terms again, but there was a good deal of luck in the goal, and it was partly due to dallying by the City defence. Fryer only half stopped a centre, and the ball was driven hard against the upright, whence it rebounded off Mitton to Rutherford, who put it in the net.. From then onwards it was a gruelling battle in the mud for the deciding goal, but this never came, although Whatley had one or two very fortunate escapes.
The Grecians' performance was very creditable. They gained the lead twice, and broke new ground this season by scoring thrice in the one match. Kirk and Matthews, both ex-Bristolians, were in their element.
City Reserves v Argyle Reserves.
Exeter City Reserves gave their supporters a nice surprise at St James's Park, defeating Plymouth Argyle Reserves by two goals to one in a Southern League match. Both the City scores were of the "snap-shot" variety, Parsons getting the first a few minutes from the start, and Crompton the second ten minutes before the interval. Midway through the second half Fowler scored for the Pilgrims.
Kirk 2 (1 pen), Mathieson
Attendance: 10000
Football on Christmas Day.
Bristol Rovers 3 (LUNN HAMMOND RUTHERFORD)
Exeter City 3
KIRK 2 (1 PEN) MATHIESON
Rovers:- Whatley; Armitage, Haydon; Furniss, Rutherford, Currie; Wainwright, Morgan, Lunn, Hammond, and Lea.
City:- Fryer; Pollard, Ackroyd; Rigby, Mitton, Clarke; Matthews, Kirk, Crockford, Mathieson, and Dockray.
One great patch of about forty yards square in front of the main The Rovers ground was in a shocking state on Christmas Day. grandstand reminded Mathieson of the Irish bogs, and Clarke, who Squelched and slithered about in the slimy substance, was quite animated mass of mud. Kirk should have opened the scoring account unrecognisable, being completely and absolutely disguised as an for Exeter when he received from Matthews close in, about three minutes from the start, but his shot struck the crossbar. The game was twenty minutes old when the Rovers broke away from the half-way line, and Morgan, on being tackled by Pollard, slipped the ball through the middle to Lunn, who was yards offside.
The referee failed to observe the infringement, and despite Exeter's appeal, allowed play to continue. Lunn had only Fryer to beat, and the goalkeeper had no chance with the shot.
Five minutes later the Exeter forwards went down the field in style, and Kirk went through like lightning, but one Bristol backs caught the ball and fell on it. A penalty for the of the City resulted in Kirk equalising from the spot. The teams were level at one goal each when the interval was signalled.
Four Goals in Quick Time.
After ends had been changed there were four goals in less than a quarter of an hour. Good combination by the City forwards made an opening for Kirk, and he seized it eagerly, beating Whatley with a "hot" drive. Hammond equalised just afterwards following good play on the Bristol right wing, then Exeter took the lead a second time. The ball across from Dockray, and Mathieson charged it into the net off the goalkeeper.
Promptly the Rovers got on level terms again, but there was a good deal of luck in the goal, and it was partly due to dallying by the City defence. Fryer only half stopped a centre, and the ball was driven hard against the upright, whence it rebounded off Mitton to Rutherford, who put it in the net.. From then onwards it was a gruelling battle in the mud for the deciding goal, but this never came, although Whatley had one or two very fortunate escapes.
The Grecians' performance was very creditable. They gained the lead twice, and broke new ground this season by scoring thrice in the one match. Kirk and Matthews, both ex-Bristolians, were in their element.
City Reserves v Argyle Reserves.
Exeter City Reserves gave their supporters a nice surprise at St James's Park, defeating Plymouth Argyle Reserves by two goals to one in a Southern League match. Both the City scores were of the "snap-shot" variety, Parsons getting the first a few minutes from the start, and Crompton the second ten minutes before the interval. Midway through the second half Fowler scored for the Pilgrims.
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