ECFC 3-2 Reading
Scorers: Kirk, Edmondson, Matthews (pen)
Attendance: 6000

EXETER CITY V READING
Played at St James's Park, Exeter,
on September 22nd.

City:- Bailey; Coleburne, Charlton; Hunter, Crompton, Gilchrist; Matthews, Kirk, Edmondson, Murray, Dockray.

Reading:- Wicks; Grant, Thorpe; Eggo, Thompson, Cockerill; Smith, Davis, Goldie, Jennings, Carney.

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

DESCRIPTION

Today's match at St James's Park was of altogether exceptional interest, for more reasons than one. Edmondson, the new centre forward from Swansea Town, was to make his debut for the City as the leader of the attack, and Murray, formerly of Reading, was to be given a trial at inside-left in recognition of his meritorious work in the City's Southern League side. The Reading manager is Mr Arthur Chadwick, who resigned his post with Exeter last season, while the City manager, Mr Mavin, who succeeded Chadwick, is a former captain of the "Biscuitmen."

Dull but dry weather prevailed this afternoon, and the ground, which had been rolled and cut since Wednesday's match, looked good enough for anything. The crowd rolled up early, and at the kick-off numbered about six thousand. Hunter won the toss, and Goldie set the ball rolling towards the St James's Road end.

An Early Goal.

Exeter attacked briskly in the opening minute, Matthews and Kirk being prominent. Matthews centred smartly, but offside checked the operation. The City continued to make headway, and Edmondson gave Matthews a fine pass, and from the winger's transfer Thompson headed the ball behind. Matthews placed the flag-kick perfectly, and Kirk steered the ball into the net for a quick opening goal. The Grecians raided again, and Hunter narrowly missed with a strong shot. Murray and Dockray made another smart attack, but eventually Wicks cleared with Edmondson and Kirk hampering him. It was five minutes before the visitors entered the City half, and when they at last did Charlton dispossessed Davis and cleared. After a short spell of midfield play the Grecians attacked again with fine dash, and Wicks had one or two desperate moments.

After fifteen minutes' play, as a sequel to a tremendous scramble in the Reading goalmouth, the City were awarded a penalty. Hunter took the kick but missed the goal by about a foot, trying to place it just inside the upright.

At the other end Bailey flicked the ball over the bar from a sharp shot by Davis after Charlton had failed to clear.

Edmondson Scores.

The game opened out nicely, with Reading causing Bailey and his backs some trouble from their wingers, who were receiving some long swinging passes from Eggo and Cockerill. Exeter set up another strong attack, and from Matthews's centre Dockray headed against the bar.

Again the City pressed, and from another one of Matthew's clever centres Edmondson brought the ball under control very smartly right in front of the Reading goal and scored with a great shot that went into the net off the crossbar. The City players hastened to give the new centre forward their congratulations upon his first goal in the Grecians' colours, and the crowd cheered him lustily.

The game was nearly half an hour old when Carney was grassed by Crompton in the penalty area, and Mr Russell promptly awarded a spot kick, from which Goldie scored with an unstoppable shot. In subsequent play Bailey fisted out a great shot by Carney, and Edmondson hit the foot of the Reading upright.

Interval score: -

EXETER CITY 2 READING 1

Second Half.

The crowd had been delighted by the City's enterprising play in the opening half, and on the run of the play Exeter should have been more than one goal in hand.

When play was resumed Exeter again got busy, and Dockray forced a corner, but put the flag-kick behind. After five minutes Kirk, from Murray's pass, attempted a dash through. He rounded two opponents but was then brought down heavily by Thompson, and Mr Russell awarded the third penalty of the game, and Exeter's second. The Reading players protested vigorously again the decision, but to no avail. This time Hunter called up Matthews to take the kick, and the young Bristolian made no mistake. Centres by Dockray and Hunter caused more trouble to Reading's hard pressed defence, and a full-blooded thirty yards' drive by Crompton cleared the crossbar by inches only. Reading, though outclassed, never gave up trying, and their margin was reduced by a somewhat lucky goal with twenty minutes remaining. A fast centre from the persistent Carney came across in front of Exeter's goal, and Charlton in attempting to clear, only succeeded in heading the ball into his own net.

Exeter were so decidedly the superior team that on the run of the play they should have won by a much wider margin. The coolness shown by Murray was a very pleasing feature, and the rare pace of Matthews served his side well. Carney played very well for Reading.

Southern League 
BRIDGEND 2-1 CITY RESERVES.

City Reserves:- Pavey; Pollard, Whelan; Potter, McIntosh, Lowson; Lievesley, Batten, Wray, Davis, Shelton.

DESCRIPTION

The Reserves lost their unbeaten away "certificate" at Bridgend, but the manner of it was exceedingly unfortunate.

Batten scored for the Grecians in the first half with a great thirty yards' shot, and they were still leading in the second half when the referee ordered off Whelan, who had just tackled Anderson and robbed him of the ball.

Abdullah equalised later, the goal being strongly disputed on the grounds that he had been standing yards offside, while the winning was registered by Curtis following a corner kick, and in this case the Exeter defenders also felt aggrieved, being of the opinion that the ball had gone into touch near the corner flag, and there should have been a throw-in and not a corner kick.

Play became rough in the second half, and Davis of Exeter, and Curtis of Bridgend were both warned by the referee. It was altogether a most unsatisfactory match.

Torquay United v. Exeter City

DEVON PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Played on Wednesday, September 26th, at Plainmoor, Torquay.

Torquay:
Fryer; Rice, Morgan;
Fretwell-Hall, Miller, Brown;
Burton, Kellock, Babbage, Rogerson, Pearson.

City:
Bailey; Pollard, Charlton;
Murray, McIntosh, Gilchrist; 
Matthews, Kirk, Edmondson, Davis, Shelton.

DESCRIPTION

The advantage of a "super-start" in a soccer match was illustrated on Wednesday (kick off 4.45 p.m.) at Plainmoor, when Torquay United and Exeter City met in their Devon Professional Cup-tie. Exeter City scored a goal after five minutes, and continued for some time to be quicker and smarter in the critical phases of the play, even though the United could claim a full share of the game by virtue of their great enthusiasm and dash.

After the interval Exeter again did plenty of smart things, but in the last twenty minutes Torquay put up a magnificent fight, the last few moments especially being crammed with exciting incidents in front of the City goal. Tremendous enthusiasm was aroused, and although the United failed to break down the resistance of Exeter's stone wall defence, the spectators were unanimous in voting the match the finest in all the history of Plainmoor, and they were right in considering that the Magpies were unlucky to lose.

The Superiority of Exeter.

Exeter City's superiority in the opening phase of the play, though only slight, was sufficient. Matthews was the chief danger to Torquay United, while there was no other half-back on the field with Murray's knack of being in the right place and doing the right thing. The City were also stronger at full-back. The pace of the game was terrific, and the Torquay forwards as well as those of Exeter had their great moments; there would have been goals to both sides but for the sound judgment of Bailey and Fryer between the sticks.

Exeter City, captained by Pollard, lost the toss, and had to face the wind and sun and play up the slope in the opening half. In the first minute Edmondson sent Shelton away with a clever pass, and from the winger's centre Kirk headed the ball back to Edmondson, who shot instantly, the goal being missed by inches.

Brilliant Goal by Matthews.

Shelton repeated the manouevre after five minutes' play, and this time Edmondson headed into goal close to the upright. It appeared to everyone that the shot was beating Fryer, but the old Exeter 'keeper threw himself bodily towards it and made a wonderful save, fisting the ball outside. Matthews met it close to the goal line, and though the angle appeared to be prohibitive he drove the ball swiftly into the net. It proved to be the deciding goal.

Following the score Pearson and Burton were prominent in turn, as was Babbage. Bailey punched out a rising shot from Pearson, and one from Babbage, and Exeter's goalkeeper distinguished himself in these stages by turning aside a rousing drive from Fretwell-Hall.

At the other end Kirk almost got another goal for the City, but at the last moment Fryer jumped and flicked the ball over the bar. And right on the half-time whistle Shelton's header was punched out by Fryer, and Kirk's shot hit the goalkeeper's legs for the ball finally to be driven wide by Davis.

Second Half.

Exeter applied a lot of pressure after the change of ends, but a goal never looked like materialising, owing to the brilliant form of Fryer, and to a lesser degree Rice and Morgan. The City gradually slackened their efforts, and quick to take advantage of any chance that was going, the Magpies assumed the ascendancy.

Except for one occasion when Shelton went through, having been supplied by an excellent pass from McIntosh, and shot wildly wide of the posts, Exeter offered little danger in the closing half an hour, and Torquay attacked persistently and with great energy. The light began to fail badly in the closing fifteen minutes, and how Exeter's goal escaped in these stages was a mystery.