ECFC v Brentford (W 1-0)
Scorer: Coleburne
Attendance: 3500


City v Brentford

Wednesday, April 2nd,
at St. James's Park.
Attendance 3,500.

CITY:- Bailey; Pollard, Charlton; Coleburne, Crompton, Gilchrist; Matthews, Kirk, Davis, Gallogley, and Dockray.

BRENTFORD:- Young; Kell, Alton;
Hunter, Inglis, Johnstone; Garnish, Clayson, Parker, Williams, and Hendren.

Exeter City beat Brentford by a goal, scored by Coleburne in the second half, to nil.

The referee was:-
Mr A.F.Davis of Bristol.

ASSOCIATION.

THE "BEES" HIVED.

There was quite a large attendance at St. James' Park, Exeter, last evening, to witness the Third League match between Exeter City and Brentford. Although the terraces were sparsely lined when the teams kicked off, quite 5,000 people were present when Coleburn scored the goal which gave the Grecians victory by a goal to nil.

The game was one of the poorest seen on the ground for some time, and honours in the opening half undoubtedly went to the "Bees." The Citizens hung back in a manner that was foreign to them instead of going in first time to meet the ball. Consequently, the visitors often took the ball unchallenged. Luckily for the homesters, the rear division once more proved safe, and the many accurate centres from Hendren, the famous Middlesex cricketer, who operated on the "Bees left wing came to nothing. 
On the other occasion, however, Clayson got the ball into the net, but used his hand to do so. The referee (Mr. A. F. Davis, of Bristo!) awarded a goal, but after consulting a linesman rightly gave the City a frée kick.

After the interval the Grecians showed vastly improved form, and played a forcing instead of a waiting game that was a relief to the spectators! Three-fourths of the play was confined to the visitors' half, but the Brentford forwards were exceedingly dangerous in breakaways. Still, the play of the Exonians was decidedly ragged, and not the sort that is generally shown by a winning team. There were three things, however, that accounted for the uninteresting exhibition. First, there was the high wind, which played all manner of tricks when the ball went up in the air, secondly, the ball was very lively and difficult to control; lastly, the rulings of the referee caused much comment, and rightly, too. He gave some extremely weird decisions, stopping the game for practically nothing, and allowing it to continue  when a serions offence had been committed. His control of the game was not  conducive to good football-in fact, it made way for a deal of rough play.

The goal was the best bit of football during the whole 90 minutes, and was so smartly engineered that the Brentford men were powerless to prevent it. Kirk snapped up the ball near the ten yards circle and swung out a perfect pass to Matthews. The winger drew Alton, and, slipped the ball through to Coleburne, who while feinting to centre, gently and wisely followed up. The City skipper took the ball in his stride, beat two men, and ended up with a rising shot which Young, the Brentford goalkeeper, hardly  saw. 

The score came after 25 minutes of second half had been ticked off. The Grecians might have had more goals if the forwards had used a little more discetion. Selfishness on the part of Davis cost a certain goal in the second period of the match. He broke through, but was forced to the goal-line some five yards wide of the framework. Just when one expetced a pass back to Matthews, who were waiting unmarked  Davis shot, and, naturally, the ball flew high over the goal into the laurel bushes. It was an exceedingly bad blunder on the part of the Exeter leader.

The win is of great value to the Exeter Club, and practically places them in a secure position. They still have a game in hand of some teams, and with this advantage it seems hardly probable however, that Queen's Park Rangers, Watford, Reading will overtake them.