Northampton Town 1-0 ECFC Attendance: 7000


NORTHAMPTON TOWN v. EXETER CITY

Saturday, April 5th,
at Northampton County Ground.

Attendance 7,000.

Result:
Northampton 1 (Lockett);
Exeter City nil.

TEAMS

Northampton:-
Smith; Watson, Brett; Needham, Wood, Williams; Pease, Braidford, Lockett, Myers, Page.

Exeter City:-
Bailey; Pollard, Charlton; Coleburne, Crompton, Gilchrist; Matthews, Kirk, Shelton, Gallogley, Dockray.

Referee:- Mr A.F.Davis, of Bristol.

DESCRIPTION

The Grecians put up an excellent fight at Northampton, their defence being particularly sound, but the Cobblers were by far the superior side, to a greater extent than the score suggests. In the first half some fine football was witnessed, both teams keeping a good control of the ball on a very hard surface and with a gusty wind blowing variously in different directions. Exeter began well, and were the more forceful side in the opening stages, and a great shot by Dockray was turned over the crossbar by Smith.

The more the game progressed, however, the better Northampton became. Their strength, as usual, was on the wings, where Pease, with his tearaway tactics, speed, and cannon-like shooting on the right, and Page, with his more subtle methods, tricky dribbling, and accurate centreing, on the left, threatened the City defence on numerous occasions once they got into their stride. Their well directed centres always spelt danger, and the Grecians were kept at full stretch.

NARROW ESCAPES.

The Exeter goal escaped miraculously after Bailey had punched out from Lockett, for it was lobbed back again by Wood, and Pease headed forcefully against the upright, and Lockett from the rebound struck the crossbar. The ball returned into play, and was kicked to touch by Charlton.

With two minutes remaining for the interval Page advanced on the left wing and crossed the ball to Lockett, who drove it low into the goal. Exeter came more into the game later on, with Matthews and Kirk very prominent in the forward line. Several good attempts were made to equalise, but Smith, could not be beaten.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CITY RESERVES v BRIDGEND.

Played at St James's Park, on a cold dull afternoon. The City, who lost the toss, opened up the game with some very nice football, but after five minutes Flynn was stunned in a collision with one of the Welsh forwards and had to be carried off the field. He resumed in about ten minutes with his forehead bandaged.

City Reserves:- Pavey; Flynn, Smith; Hunter, McIntosh, and Potter; Lievesley, Murray, Blackmore, Lowson, and Lendon.

Bridgend: Lewis; Davies, Murray; Benfield, Curtis, and Hibbert; Rawlings, Smith, Rutherford, Thomas, and Turner.

Rutherford made tracks for the Exeter goal, but Hunter raced him and turned the ball into touch. Exeter were far more the polished side, and a brilliant pass from Blackmore to Lievesley looked to be ominous for Bridgend, but Hibbert raced back and cleared. The City at length transferred the scene of action, and when Potter gave the ball to Blackmore, the Silverton amateur missed the goal by inches with a crashing shot.

The match, however, was won by Bridgend by a goal scored in the second half by Thomas, to nil.