Newport County 3-3 ECFC
FA Cup Q5 Replay 

CUP TIE REPLAY:
NEWPORT v EXETER CITY AT SOMERTON PARK

Grecians Force a Second Replay: Six Goals Shared

Thursday, December 4th.
NEWPORT COUNTY 3 EXETER CITY 3
After Extra Time.

Rain fell without intermission at Newport today, Somerton Park being waterlogged for the fifth qualifying round F.A.Cup Replay. There was also a stiff breeze blowing from end to end. Exeter City considered themselves fortunate in having Crompton at centre half again. Davis was given the centre-forward position in preference to Appleyard, and Smelt appeared at inside-left. The County fielded the same side as that which drew at Exeter, and in view of their unbeaten record at Somerton Park since last December, were very optimistic as to the result of the struggle.

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

Referee:- Mr F.P.Farrow, of Bristol.

Compton Smelt Davis Kirk Matthews
Jones Crompton Pullan
Charlton Pollard
Bailey
Exeter City:

Blackmore and Potter were with the City as travelling reserves, and among the earliest arrivals at the ground was a company of the Grecians supporters. A good quarter of an hour before the start there were not twenty people on the open side of the ground, and in the stand there was less than a thousand. The figures had increased to four thousand when the teams took the field, and Exeter City had a very encouraging reception. Charlton won the toss and Exeter had the wind at their backs in the first half. Crompton who opened up the play, putting Kirk through for the ball Exeter forced the pace from the start, and it was the veteran to be quickly transferred to Matthews, but Dimmock cleared. The first few minutes were spent in the Newport territory, and the Welshmen then engaged in a stylish attacking move, the accuracy with which the ball was slipped from man to man testifying not only to fine execution, but to their adaptability on a treacherous turf.

Reward came following inter-passing between Gittens and Lowes. The inside left crossed the ball to Forward, who returned it on the floor after beating Charlton, and Lowes, almost in the City goalmouth, side-footed the ball into the net. From the restart Newport got through again, and a nice centre from Cook travelled across the goalmouth and beyond. Lowes from a difficult angle tried a shot, and the ball was diverted by Jones for an unproductive corner.

CITY EQUALISE AND TAKE THE LEAD.
Even at this early stage of the game the value to Newport of so useful a centre-half as Fred McKenzie became very apparent, but Exeter were nothing if not determined, and with swinging passes they made good use of Compton and Matthews on the extreme wings. A breakaway by Matthews after twenty minutes' play led up to the equaliser. With Newport appealing unsuccessfully for offside, Matthews slung over a beautiful dropping centre that Davis met at full force with the side of his head, flicking the ball into the net with Maidment well beaten. It was now Exeter's turn, and Compton five minutes later placed a low centre to the vicinity of the home goal. Maidment dived out and punched the ball, only for it to reach Kirk, who promptly put it in the net. On the actual run of play the Ironsides did not deserve to be behind, and they swarmed to the attack. Bailey saved a drive by Cook from outside the penalty area and a header from Nairn. A keen midfield scramble in the mud followed, and when Cook got clear he tried another long shot, Bailey again saving.

NAIRN LEVELS THE SCORE.

The excitement was intense, and the crowd, which now numbered six thousand, was on tenterhooks. All the Exeter players, and most of Newport's, looked as though they had had a mud-bath. A foul by Kirk on Cook led to Newport equalising, Carney taking the kick on net, giving Bailey no chance. For some time play was over robust, the edge of the penalty area, and Nairn heading the ball into the but with both sides excelling in attack a visit to one end of the ground was immediately replied to with a counter-attack. Conner was making fine headway until brought down by Crompton, but the City packed their goal, and the free kick, taken by Forward, was scrambled away somehow, and right on the half-time whistle Bailey intercepted a centre from Cook. At the same time Fred McKenzie was being assisted off the field, he having injured his leg. The half time interval arrived with the score at two goals each.

SECOND HALF.
The balance of the play was fairly even on the restart, and the ball control of both sides was excellent, considering the rain and the slippery turf and ball. Clever passing between Lowes, Cook, and Carney threatened the Exeter goal, but Pollard eventually tackled the left-half and kicked back to Bailey, who cleared. A quick transfer of play to the Newport end saw Davis force a corner, and following Compton's flag kick there was keen pressure on the home goal. Smelt attempted a shot, but put the ball over the bar. From the goal-kick Newport made a rapid advance, and Forward outwitted Charlton almost on the back line, and he placed the ball low and square across the goalmouth. Bailey missed it, and with the Newport inside forward trio all available Exeter were lucky that none of them got possession.

MATTHEWS CONVERTS A PENALTY KICK.
Newport's continued pressing merited some tangible reward, but the resolute defence of Pollard and Charlton, supported finely by Crompton, denied them. After thirty-five minutes a header by Lowes from Cook's centre very nearly found its way into the net, but as the ball flashed towards the top corner Bailey's right hand shot out. to punch clear, and once again thwart the Newport forward. In the next minute Compton drove the ball into the penalty area, and it was knocked down by Frank McKenzie with his hand. From the penalty spot Matthews drove the leather home to give the City the lead for the second time. With thirteen minutes remaining Lowes brought the scores level at three-all, beating Bailey with a strong shot from about six yards range. Compton was blatantly fouled, the incident being ignored by the referee, then Jones was cripped and had to be carried off.

EXTRA TIME PLAYED.
With the re-opening of the game Newport attacked, and Bailey held the slippery ball well from a hot by Carney. Davis missed from easy field and went to outside left, Kirk going to left half, and Compton range, and Maidment saved from Matthews. Jones limped back to the inside right. Maidment collapsed in his goalmouth, and was revived by ambulance men.
Nothing was scored, and the match will be played for the third time on Monday, at 2 p.m., on Bristol City's ground.