Newport County 6-2 ECFC
Scorers: Crockford, Davis
Attendance: 6000

Saturday, February 3rd.

At Somerton Park, Newport.

NEWPORT COUNTY 6 EXETER CITY 2.

Last season: Newport 1 City 1.

The Newport supporters were disappointed at the non-appearance of Devlin in the City team, as they had looked forward to seeing their old centre-forward again at Somerton Park. The news of his injury in the match at Swindon was not welcome.

Exeter City introduced Davis at inside left, for his first taste of League football, and Crockford led the forward line. The attendance numbered 4,000 at the start, and although Newport was basking in bright sunshine the football pitch was a sea of mud. Edwards beat Crompton in the toss, and Crockford started the game with the Grecians facing a dazzling sun and a stiff breeze.

NEWPORT COUNTY
Lowe
Dimmock Lee
Groves Whitton Edwards
Charlton Conner Wood Lowes Gaughan

Referee:- Mr T.J.Duke, of London.

Dockray Davis Crockford Kirk Matthews
Crompton Mitton Rigby
Ackroyd Pollard
Fryer 
EXETER CITY

Whitton checked the Grecians' initial spurt, and when Newport attacked Wood was offside. The County centre forward regained possession, but was checked by Ackroyd. The ball went to Lowes, who transferred to the left wing, where Gaughan had a clear run through, and closing in towards goal he lifted the ball over to Conner, who shot the first goal to Newport with the game less than a minute old.

The City goal fell again after eighteen minutes' play, Lowes shooting into the net from twelve yards following some cleverplay on the left wing. Two minutes later the ball was netted for the third time, but Wood was offside and the goal disallowed. A long shot from Charlton was saved on the line by Fryer. Newport were making rings round the City at this stage, their forwards varying their tactics very cleverly, and the quick passing of the County players on the wet ground had the Exeter defenders frequently running in the wrong direction.

Whitton was the "general" responsible for most of Newport's best movements, and for long spells Exeter's forwards had little or no chance, for the simple reason that they did not get the ball.

However, the City at last bucked up their ideas, and with a quarter of an hour wanting for the interval Crockford scored, the move leading to the goal having been started by Kirk. Three minutes before the half-time whistle Crockford made a brilliant run through the middle and passed to Dockray, from whose centre Davis netted, thus putting the Grecians on level terms.

Second Half.

Newport began the second half in the same way as they started the first, and almost before Exeter realised the ball was in play Lowes put it in the net. The City deserve full credit for their first-half rally after being two goals down, but the play of the defence in the second half was woefully weak. In fact Pollard and Ackroyd, by relying more on the offside law than on sound football, beat themselves. Gaughan, Conner, and Wood scored for Newport in the concluding stages of a match that the City will want to forget.

A Friendly Match at St James's Park.

Exeter City Reserves entertained the 1st Brigade of the Royal Horse Artillery from Topsham Barracks at St James's Park today, in a "friendly." Although the weather was fine the attendance was very moderate at the start.

Reserves:
Pavey; Flynn and Bell;
Richards, Duke, and Southway;
Newman, Camble, Parsons, Shelton, and Wilson.

1st Brigade:
Clark; Gosden, and Brown;
Pitkin, Hibbert, and King;
Hobbs, Lesse, Langridge, Watling and Straney.

The marksmanship of the City Reserves was erratic, to say the least, although Parsons (two) and Camble gave them a three goals lead, which was reduced by Hobbs before the interval.

The Gunners played up pluckily in the second half, but could not match the Grecians in either speed or combination, and goals were scored in turn by Camble, Parsons, and Shelton.

Final Score
Exeter 6-1 1st Brigade