Watford 1-0 ECFC
FA Cup 2nd Round Proper Replay

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH.

WATFORD 1 (Poole)
EXETER CITY 0

Referee: Mr J.W.Lucas, of London.

Watford: Williams; Johnson, Gregory;
Toone, Eggleton, Strain; Stephenson, Anstiss, Poole, Mummery, Foxall.

City: Bailey; Coleburne, Charlton; Crawshaw, McIntosh, Gilchrist; Matthews, Gallogley, Davis, Batten, Shelton.

DESCRIPTION

The weather was beautifully fine, and the ground in quite good condition, though rather on the heavy side. There were about six thousand spectators at the start of the game. Coleburne captained the Grecians, but lost the toss, and Exeter were set to defend the Rookery goal with the wind slightly in Watford's favour.

Davis immediately got Matthews going, but Strain intervened, and on the other side Shelton was given offside. Eggleton injured his knee after five minutes, but resumed, though limping. Shelton delivered the first shot of the match, but sent wide. Crawshaw received a nice ball from Matthews, but his shot also missed the goal, and Johnson robbed Davis in the Watford penalty area. McIntosh cleared well from a Watford free-kick, and Matthews
was twice pulled up for offside. At the other end Anstiss forced his way through, and had beaten Charlton when Coleburne dashed across to make an effective clearance. Watford began to force the game mainly by good play on their left wing. Stephenson worked an opening for Mummery, who passed to Foxall, but the ball travelled too fast and went over the goal line.

KICK AND RUSH TACTICS

A good centre by Foxall was cleared by Charlton. Play was fast, but at quarter time there was no score. A fast raid on Watford's right spelt trouble for Exeter, and Coleburne again had to cross the field to intervene when Charlton had failed to tackle.

Play deteriorated on the muddy ground, being generally of the kick and rush type, and stoppages for offside were frequent. Williams saved from Gallogley and Batten, but the City forward line, without Kirk, lacked thrust. Watford attacked in a strong formation just before half-time, but Charlton stepped in and made a fine clearance.

At half-time there was still no score.

SECOND HALF : WATFORD WIN

When play was resumed Stephenson was immediately conspicuous with a clever run and dribble, which Charlton nullified almost on the goal-line. Watford began to have a big share in the game, and were almost continuously on the attack. Bailey saved from Poole, and in a further assault the centre-forward shot wide.

In a brief Exeter raid the Watford goal escaped miraculously. Williams punched out a centre from Shelton, but the ball was sent back to the goalmouth, and with Davis rushing in Eggleton headed behind to give a corner, and in doing so nearly put through his own goal. Batten next fed Shelton, whose shot bounced on top of the crossbar and then into the crowd behind the goal.

Stephenson got away on the Watford right wing, and cleverly e luded Crawshaw. His shot was saved by Bailey right under the bar. Then from a corner, conceded by Coleburne, the ball was swung in by Foxall, and headed into the net well out of Bailey's reach. By this goal Watford won the match, and Exeter City's glorious Cup exploits of season 1923-24 came to their conclusion.

The attendance was 9,234, and the receipts £640.8s.0d

Exeter players gave of their best in the replay, but the absence of Kirk and Hunter weakened the team.