ECFC 1-1 Newport County
FA Cup Q5

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CUP
City v Newport
Saturday November 29th. At St James's Park, Exeter.

The Fifth Qualifying Round F. A. Cup-tie between Exeter City and Newport County at St. James's Park to-day has been the big subject of discussion in Devon "Soccer" circles during the past twelve days or so. Everyone recognised the importance this of match to the respective clubs, and the stiffness of the Grecians' task, but in this latter connection the Ironsides undoubtedly had the more difficult job, seeing that they had to travel. Crompton's ill-luck in damaging a thigh muscle in training on Tuesday compelled the Exeter City selectors to rearrange the half back line, Pullan being given Crompton's position, and Coleburne coming in on the right. The forward line was not finally chosen until this morning, when it was announced that Murray would be replaced by Davis at inside left.

NEWPORT 'S TEAM CHANGES.

An "eleventh-hour" decision was also made by Newport County, and this perhaps was of considerable importance. W.Charlton had been selected to lead their attack, but at the
last moment the centre-forward position was given to Conner, the old Crystal Palace player, under whose leadership Newport put on three goals in each of the cup replays with Aberdare Athletic and the League match with Norwich City last week. Gittens, another very clever forward, was selected at inside left in the place vacated by Conner. These changes unquestionably strengthened the County team.

BLACK AND AMBER IN EVIDENCE.
Very heavy overnight rain was followed by a stormy, showery morning, and although the playing pitch at St James's Park looked to be in the pink of condition, nothing was more certain than that as soon as the teams got to work the sodden turf would cut up very badly, and that the players would be plastered with mud. The visitors brought along a good number of supporters, and the black and amber ribbons of Newport were as much in evidence among the crowd as the red and white of Exeter City. Rain began to fall again at two o'clock, but the crowd was now streaming steadily on to the terraces, and when Charlton led the Grecians out there were about six thousand people present. The Ironsides followed at once, to a loud outburst of applause.

EXETER CITY 1-1 NEWPORT COUNTY Scorers:- Compton and Gittens.

Exeter City:
Bailey
Pollard Charlton
Coleburne Pullan Jones
Matthews Kirk Appleyard Davis Compton

Referee: Mr E.E.Small, of Bristol. Linesmen: Messrs R.J.Kidby and C.E.Hoer. 

Cook Lowes Conner Gittens Forward Carney,Fred McKenzie,Naim Dimmock, Frank McKenzie Maidment
Newport County:

A Felix mascot, the gift of some Exeter ladies, was presented to Stanley Charlton, and the Exeter captain affixed it to one of the posts supporting the net of the Exeter City goal, and proceeded to win the toss. Newport started the game facing St James's Road. Exeter made good in whirlwind fashion, Jones intercepting from Newport's very first kick, and feeding Compton, who ran forward to centre carefully, but Kirk, attempting a shot, completely missed the ball. Davis put in a half-hearted shot which was saved by Maidment and cleared upfield for Cook to make progress until halted by Charlton. The City transferred play to the Newport end with a rapid move in which Coleburne, Pullan, and Jones all lent their support, a corner being won. Compton put too much weight behind the ball from the flag, the result being a goal-kick to Newport.

FAST FORWARD LINES.
Exeter's quickness on the ball was having a disconcerting effect on the County, although whenever their forwards gained possession they showed that they, too, were a nippy lot. Coleburne became the first player to come in for treatment from Mr. Small's celebrated handkerchief, beloved of regular St James's "Park-ites," and then Gittens was admonished for fouling Charlton, and a free kick to Exeter awarded. The infringement cost Newport dear, for Charlton's long kick up the field beat Frank McKenzie, and the ball was taken over by Compton, who shot for goal just as Dimmock was preparing to tackle him. The ball flew into the net via the far upright. Then McKenzie, having strained himself trying to tackle Compton, limped off the field for treatment.

A DANGEROUS BREAKAWAY.
Forward spoiled a County move by shooting weakly wide, and the City again made fast progress to the opposite goal, Appleyard just missing with a good left-footed shot. Maidment then punched out a header from Davis following a scramble in the goalmouth. The Newport goalkeeper was being overworked at this stage, and he dived full length to save a sudden shot from Appleyard. Exeter protested when Newport were awarded a corner, claiming a goal-kick on the grounds that Gittens had put the ball over the line, but a corner it had to be, and the flag kick led to trouble. When Conner shot, the ball was diverted out of Bailey's reach due to it striking the arm of a home defender, but to the huge relief of the crowd Bailey managed to pick up the leather, and clear. When another corner fell to Newport, the kick, taken by Cook, put the ball right across the front of the Exeter goal, and with Bailey hampered by two Newport forwards and being unable to get to it Forward closed in but scooped his shot over the bar. The corner, like the earlier one, had resulted in a dangerous breakaway on the part of Cook, who was proving too fast and tricky for Coleburne. urbatin

THE CROSSBAR SAVES NEWPORT.
Although a goal ahead the City's position was by no means safe, as Newport had come back into the game strongly with raids mostly stemming from the left wing. In fact the crowd was on tenterhooks every time Cook was seen to get the ball. But a well directed pass from Pollard to Compton enabled Exeter's outside left to get round Frank McKenzie, who had returned to the fray, and the ball went to Davis and then to Kirk, who electrified the crowd with a terrific shot which struck a Newport defender and then the crossbar. Kirk was unlucky not to score, for the crossbar alone saved Newport. In subsequent play Cook struck the side netting with a curling shot from near the corner flag, Bailey saved under the bar from Nairn, and Jones, under pressure, was compelled to concede a corner. And with five minutes remaining till half-time Gittens equalised. The ball came to Conner from a throw-in on the County left, and the centre-forward's clever transfer to Gittens gave the latter ample time to control the ball and beat Bailey with a well aimed ground shot near the post. Play then remained in midfield, and Coleburne I tried to regain Exeter's lead with a hefty looking shot from about twenty yards, but the ball passed well over the goal. At half time the score was:
Exeter City 1 Newport 1.
SECOND HALF.
Newport were glad to be on level terms at this stage. There had been times when the Exeter forwards simply made rings round their defence, and if the City goal had escaped on the occasion when the ball was fired across the goalmouth by Cook, so had that of the Ironsides, from Kirk's shot on to the crossbar. The visitors, however, deserve every credit for the way in which they set to work midway through the first half to put their house in order after a shaky beginning. Heavy rain clouds rolled up now, and the light was very bad when play was resumed.

CITY FORWARDS POOR FINISHING.

Exeter quickly got busy, and Maidment saved a stinging shot from Davis right under the crossbar. In the next moment Davis was fouled in the penalty area, but Mr Small waved play on. At the Exeter end Conner missed a grand chance by shooting wildly. Newport were now having a full share of the play, but Matthews broke away from midfield, and touching the ball past Dimmock, tried to feed Davis but instead gave the ball away to Frank McKenzie. And a bad shot by Compton and another poor kick by Matthews caused the spectators some perturbation, and the length of time Newport took to get a goal-kick away showed that they were counting the minutes in the hope of getting a draw, at least. Play was very patchy for a while. Dimmock's ascendancy over Kirk and Matthews was an unpromising feature in these stages from Exeter's point of view, but a sudden breakaway by Davis nearly brought a goal, Maidment falling just in time to gather a low shot near the post. The excitement was then transferred to the other end where a miskick by Jones was fielded by Bailey and cleared with a flying kick to the half way line. The City suddenly swung into full activity, and encouraged by rousing cheers from the crowd, pressed hotly. Frank McKenzie was again in the wars, and had to go off the field for the second time, Nairn and Gittens each dropping back one place to cover the gap. Play reverted to midfield, and in the closing minutes Maidment saved a centre from Matthews and a shot from Coleburne.

NOTES ON THE NEWPORT CUP TIE.

Exeter had the greater share of the play taking the game as a whole, but, as so often in the past, the forwards could not profit by their territorial advantage. The attendance at St James's Park was officially declared to have been eight thousand. The tie will be replayed at Newport, the date of the match being Thursday, December 4th, and the City's task is now a difficult one. Newport have not lost at home this season. Exeter looked like winning well at one period, but they fell away considerably midway through the first half, and did not get back to form again till the second period was well under way. The Newport defence rallied well after a shaky opening, and their cool, steady play was a feature of the remainder of the game. Frank McKenzie had the misfortune to be injured and subsequently off the field on two separate occasions. Exeter's best players were Charlton, Pollard, and Jones, but a more workmanlike display would have been made with Crompton in the half back line. The City veteran should be fit for the replay, and the tie is by no means lost from the Grecians' standpoint.

RESERVES AT BIDEFORD.
Friendly 
While the first eleven was battling for the Cup at St. James's Park, the second string travelled to Bideford, where they played a friendly match against the local team. The Reserves crossed over having secured a lead in the first half of two goals, scored by Lievesley and Murray, to nil. Green scored for Bideford after the interval.