Monday, August 31st 1925.
BRISTOL ROVERS 0-1 EXETER CITY
Matthews. (Pen)

Attendance 10,000.

Half-time 0-0.

Referee: Mr A.J.Bissex, of Midsomer Norton.

ROVERS.
Whatley; Armitage, Haydon; Bowers, Wilson, Crichton; Gardiner, Phillips, Wilcox, Holcroft, Lofthouse.
CITY.
Bailey; Pollard, Hawkins; Pullan, Crompton, Potter; Matthews, Kirk, Lievesley, Myers, Compton.

DESCRIPTION
Exeter City followed up their Reading match by visiting Bristol and defeating the Rovers on Monday evening, the game being won by means of a penalty for "hands," successfully taken by Matthews at the end of an hour's play. A gusty cross wind, coupled with th uneven turf, made accurate football well nigh impossible, but the City were decidedly the better team on the evening's showing, and the single goal victory underestimates their superiority. Exeter had Lievesley for Blackmore at centre forward, and Bristol made one alteration from the team which won at Charlton, Bowers taking the place of Dick (injured). Crompton won the toss. Territorially, the first half was greatly in Exeter's favour, bu the ball was light and lively, and try as they would the Exete forwards were unable to coax much service out of it. Pollard and Crompton were the most successful of the Grecians in overcoming the conditions, while in attack the right wing was prominent to greater degree than the left, there being some very pretty moves between Pullan, Matthews, and Kirk.

Lievesley Rose to the Occasion.

Exeter relied very largely on running the ball down the middle, and this move gave Lievesley, some chances of showing his skill. He rose to the occasion admirably, and was responsible for some good shooting, but Whatley dealt capably with the straight ones, and after a time the Rovers' defence adopted tactics which robbed the plan of most of its effectiveness. It was Kirk who sent in the most dangerous shot of this half, at the Bristol end. This, as it happened went to the middle of the goal, where Whatley was, and the Bristol custodian is noted for his safe hands. Myers tried hard to play good football, but the bumpy turf was often too much for the new inside-left. A centre from Matthews gave him one glorious scoring chance, but Myers got underneath the ball and headed over the bar at point-blank range.

The Second Half.
Exeter had much more of the play when facing the wind than the Bristol side had enjoyed, but they were not helped by the referee when he failed to notice two cases of handling by Bristol. But a third offence proved fatal to the Rovers. Wilson was the culprit. He knocked the ball out of the penalty area with his right elbow. The referee, again, took no notice till his attention was drawn to the linesman on the popular side, who had most certainly signalled for an infringement. The fruit of a consultation between the officials was a penalty to Exeter, and Matthews took the kick, beating Whatley with a low and powerful drive to the corner of the net. Great were the cheers of the Exeter following, and the lead was richly deserved on the run of the play.

Southern League
City Reserves v Bristol Rovers 
Wednesday, September 2nd 1925.

Exeter City Reserves won their second Southern League match, at St James's Park on Wednesday evening, when Bristol Rovers Reserves were beaten by a goal to nil. The attendance was 3,500.

Exeter:- Pavey; Burdon, Flynn; Arscott, Lowton, Crawshaw; Newman,
Bolam, Casson, Blackmore, and Shelton.
Bristol:- Densley; Ashton, Lennon; Hayward, Wragg, Charlesworth, Duchers, Whatmore, Roberts, and Foster. Bowers;

The winning goal was scored by Casson ten minutes from the start with a classic shot from the edge of the penalty area. Exeter should have had a penalty for a foul on Casson, but only a free kick was given by the referee after he had closely examined the turf. A penalty was, however, awarded Bristol through Flynn fouling Whatmore, but Pavey, who played a brilliant game, punched Roberts's shot over the bar.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE MATCH.

Two more points from Bristol preserves Exeter City's remarkable sequence of successes against the Rovers and the Babes. And how pleased the several Bristolians and men with Bristol connections, Pullan, Crompton, Matthews, Kirk, and Compton, must have felt. In the match on Monday evening Kirk stood out among the forwards as the man best adapting himself to the conditions. Kirk's brainy play in the exacting last quarter of the game was an inspiration to the rest of the team. Matthews also excelled. The City were superior at half-back, with Crompt on the hero, while Pollard and Hawkins were uncompromising backs. Pollard, distinctly, was the best defender on the field. Bailey opened uncertainly, but after two early slips, due to the spin on the light new ball, he shaped with every confidence. Bristol Rovers Disappointed.
Matthews's penalty kick was a shot to be remembered. The ball just grazed the upright as it flew into the net, and Whatley was well beaten. This was the first shot to have got past Whatley so far this season, and naturally, to the Rovers the result was a very particular disappointment after their surprise victory at the Charlton Athletic ground.
Wilcox, the sharpshooter who led the Rovers' attack, had only one shooting chance, he was so well covered by Crompton. His one shot was driven outside the posts. Holcroft was Bristol's best forward. Wilson and Bowers were good, while Whatley, Armitage, and Haydon came out of the game with credit. There was no offside decision in all the game.

• The F. A. Charity Shield Match. The teams for the F. A. Charity Shield match, Amateurs versus Pro dessionals, at Tottenham on October 5th will be chosen by the F.A. International Selection Committee at Sheffield on September 21st. The Professionals' XI will be picked from the players who have just returned from Australia, and on the evening of the match the players and officials who took part in the Australian tour will be entertained to dinner in London.