ECFC 2-1 Swindon Town
Scorers: Crockford, Kirk
Attendance: 4500

Saturday, January 20th.

At St. James's Park, Exeter.

CITY 2 SWINDON TOWN 1.

Last season: City 1 Swindon 4.

When the Swindon Town team arrived at St. James's Park early this afternoon they were confronted at the ground entrance by a huge poster with the title in two-foot lettering "Orphans of the Storm." They thought it rather appropriate, their midweek trip to Barnsley on F.A.Cup business having brought them more kicks than ha'pence, at least as far as the players were concerned.
Thus, Cooke was unable to lead the attack, and Wareing and Dawe were both out of commission, as was Weston. Joe Coleburne, the popular ex-Grecian, received a cut on the head at Barnsley, but his heart was not affected, and he was able to maintain his record of not missing a match with the Chiefs this season.

Coleburne's partner was the veteran Maconnachie, who has been coaching Stockholm "Soccer-ites" in the way they should go, and now that the weather in Sweden is too hard for football, is home on two months' leave.

EXETER CITY
Fryer
Flynn Ackroyd
Rigby Mitton Clarke.
Matthews Kirk Devlin Crockford Dockray

Referee:- Mr R.C.Wildig, of Southampton.

Davies Daniels Phillipson Denyer Norton.
Rogers Hawley Cooper
Macconachie Coleburne.
Nash 
SWINDON TOWN

The City were without Pollard, who has been at his home in Wigan during the last few days on account of family illness, and Mathieson, of course, had to stand down on account of his being suspended for a fortnight by the Football Association.

The weather was very cold and boisterous, with the occasional shower, but the ground had dried out, and was in fair condition. There were five thousand spectators. Rigby won the toss, and put Swindon at the St James's Road end, and the game commenced in a very brisk fashion. Rigby had to kick to touch to keep out the Railwaymens' first attack, and in the next minute Kirk snapped up a pass from Matthews and was going through in his approved style when Coleburne raced across and cleared with a flying kick.

Exeter were in bustling mood, and for some minutes Swindon's rearguard was hard pressed, but Hawley fell back and covered effectively. Dockray was given an excellent opening through a clever move on Crockford's part, but his centre fell on top of the goal-netting. The veteran Maconnachie's play was a feature, his coolness in defence and accuracy in placing the ball being an example to some of the younger players. The first half was goal-less, although the City had enjoyed a greater share of the game 

Crockford on the Target.

Ten minutes after the change of ends Swindon came within an ace of scoring, Phillipson securing possession thirty yards out and eluding the defence to shoot low and hard towards the corner of the goal. Fryer dived on the ball and saved at the attempt. Then Crockford, who has been on the target in recent second matches, gave Exeter the lead with a swift rising shot from the edge of the penalty area direct from a free-kick awarded for a foul on Kirk.

Half a minute later Kirk claimed a goal when his shot struck the under-side of the crossbar and bounced down on to the goal line, but the referee ruled that the ball had not crossed the line. Swindon netted the ball, but this goal in turn was looked upon with disfavour by Mr Wildig, and Clarke having been fouled in the official's opinion Exeter were awarded a free kick.

A Brilliant Winning Goal.

The free-kick proved disastrous for Exeter, for it cannoned off a Swindon player to Hawley, who promptly equalised. Exeter City, however, won the match in the most dramatic fashion, and with a brilliant goal by Kirk, who headed into the net with the very last shot of the match, from Dockray's centre. It was a fitting conclusion to a very fine match.

Swindon Reserves v Exeter City Reserves.

The City Reserves won their Southern League match at Swindon by two goals (Parsons and Camble) to one (Cooke). Shelton was in excellent form, and both goals came from his centres, and under Ellis Crompton's captaincy the team was a very happy family.

The players were: - Pavey; Southway and Wilson; Richards, Duke, and Crompton; Newman, Camble, Parsons, Davis, and Shelton.


PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OF DEVONSHIRE

Wednesday, January 24th.
At St James's Park, Exeter.

EXETER CITY O TORQUAY UNITED 1.

Fine weather prevailed for the inaugural match in the Devon Professional Championship between the Grecians and Torquay, at St James's Park this afternoon. The Magpies brought following with them, and excitement was intense. The teams, as a large advertised, lined up before 3,000 spectators at 2.30 o'clock.

City:
Fryer; Flynn and Ackroyd;
Rigby, Mitton, and Clarke;
Newman, Kirk, Crockford, Davis, and Shelton.

Torquay :

Gartrell; Rice and Gaskell; Thompson, H.Preston, and Drew; Burch, Burley, Hill, Townsend, and R. Preston.

The Grecians were the first to become aggressive, and after clever forward work a kick by Gartrell cannoned off Crockford, and the ball flashed inches over the bar. The Magpies quickly retaliated, and H.Preston was prominent on the left. His centre was only half-met by Townsend and the ball went behind.

In an Exeter attack Davis lobbed across a beautiful centre, which Crockford only just failed to reach. The leather went out to Kirk, whose shot from an oblique angle was saved by Gartrell.

Torquay take the lead 

The City continued to have the better of the exchanges, and Crockford tested Gartrell with a grounder, but insufficient pace was behind the shot. Torquay had a glorious chance of taking the lead, a fine centre from R. Preston being completely missed in the goalmouth by Hill. The success was not delayed, however. With the City defence appealing for offside R.Preston ran in close before shooting. Fryer ran out and parried the drive, but Hill dashed in and headed the ball into the vacant goal.

Mitton tried hard to get his front rank going, and on one occasion a "pile-driver" from Kirk was luckily headed out by Rice. Then a miskick by Rice gave Shelton a clear field. Once more he centred across the goalmouth, and once again the ball was too high for Crockford to reach. Exeter were now showing something like their League form, and the vanguard was proving too clever for Torquay. Shelton, in attempting to ram the ball into the net, injured his leg badly, and had to be attended to by the St John's Ambulance man.

The game at this juncture was marred by a number of not very pleasant incidents, and the captains were called up and given a general warning by the referee. The City nearly equalised when Clarke hit the post with a great drive from just inside the penalty area.

Half-time: City 0 Torquay United 1.

Second Half.

Soon after the resumption Crockford overran the ball when he looked like going through, and Torquay became dangerous. Hill was fouled a yard outside the penalty area. He took the kick himself and shot hard and low for the corner, but Flynn free headed the ball clear. Clarke now had to leave the field with an injury to his knee, and from a free kick in midfield Shelton tested Gartrell with a stinging drive, but the custodian brought off a good clearance.

Percy Hill charged into Fryer while the goalkeeper was on the ground, and the referee ordered him off the field, in spite of numerous appeals not to do so by the Exeter players.

Nothing daunted, Torquay attacked strongly and came within an ace of increasing their lead, but Fryer made a brilliant save from H.Preston. Clarke had to be removed to hospital with an injury to the cartilage of the knee.

Devon Professional Championship

Having beaten Exeter City, Torquay United will now play the Argyle later in the season for the Championship.