ECFC 2-3 Portsmouth
Scorers: Newton (og), Kirk
Attendance: 6000

Saturday, March 10th.

Played at St James's Park.

EXETER CITY 2 PORTSMOUTH 3.

Last season: City 1 Portsmouth 4.

Exeter City's trip to Fratton Park last Saturday resulted in an exciting match, and the Grecians won on their merits, by 4 goals to 3. For today's return contest, Portsmouth made a few alterations, notably the moving of Abbott from right half to left back. Exeter City were again unchanged.

Unfortunately, at three o'clock, while the crowd was coming in, heavy clouds rolled up from the South West and rain began to fall. There were six thousand people present when Crompton won the toss, and Cherrett set the ball in motion with Exeter occupying the St James's Road end.

EXETER CITY
Paver
Pollard Ackroyd
Coopland Mitton Crompton
Matthews Kirk Crockford Davis Dockray

Referee:- Mr H.C. Curtis, of London.

Beedie Watson Cherrett Mackie Meikle Martin Parker Davies
Abbott Probert
Newton
PORTSMOUTH

The game opened at a furious pace, and Exeter were unlucky in losing the services of Mitton, who sustained a head injury, in the first minute. Portsmouth were very quick on the ball, clever play by Watson and Beedie threatening the Exeter goal, but shots by Mackie and Watson were parried by the City backs, and from a free-kick for offside against Meikle the Grecians transferred play.

Matthews raced through brilliantly on three occasions, but Probert cut out two of his centres, and Matthews himself put the other one over the bar. Mitton returned after an absence of seven minutes, but Exeter were unable to shake themselves free from the Portsmouth aggression. Pavey saved a fierce long shot by Martin, but after nine minutes was beaten by Cherrett. In the next minute, following a throw-in, Pompey increased their advantage, the ball being whipped smartly across field to Mackie, who gave Pavey no chance from eight yards. Portsmouth were very sound in all departments, and led at the interval by two goals to nil.

Second Half.

After ten minutes Cherrett broke through and netted, but the referee, after a brief consultation with one of the linesmen, refused the claim for a goal, apparently for "hand-ball."

Then Matthews raced through on the right and centred, and the ball was turned into the net by Newton, to the delight of the City supporters. Their pleasure was cut short, however, by the visitors third goal less than a minute later. Watson manoeuvred cleverly for an opening, and by sheer persistence got the ball into the goal area, whereupon his pass was snapped up and shot home by Cherrett. With fifteen minutes to go Kirk received the ball from Crockford and went through on his own to beat Newton with a flashing drive into the bottom corner of the net. It was the best goal of the match, but came a little too late to save the City from their first defeat at St James's Park for two months.

PORTSMOUTH RESERVES v CITY RESERVES.

Played at Fratton Park this afternoon. The City Reserves won the toss, and within three minutes were successful in taking the lead, Camble running through on the left and passing into the centre for Parsons to score at close range. Exeter managed to retain the lead until the interval, although for a long spell they were hemmed in their own territory.

In the second half Portsmouth continued to show superiority, and within ten minutes Harris equalised. Haines scored their second goal, Shankly the third, and Haines the fourth, and in the closing stages Fryer saved a penalty taken by Cooper.

The result was:
Portsmouth Reserves 4 City Reserves 1.