ECFC 1-0 Newport County
FA Cup Q5 2R
Played at Bristol

NEWPORT COUNTY OUT OF THE CUP
Penalty Missed in Second Replay : Grecians' Lucky Win

Monday, December 8th,
at Ashton Gate, Bristol.
EXETER CITY 1 NEWPORT COUNTY 0.

For the third time in nine days Exeter City and Newport County got to grips again this afternoon in connection with the fifth qualifying round of the F. A. Cup. At Exeter, where the teams met first, the result was a draw of one goal each, and last Thursday at Newport six goals were shared, extra time failing to produce a decision. The interest shifted now to neutral territory, that of the Bristol City club. Exeter City arrived at Bristol in excellent time this morning, accompanied and followed by a large number of supporters.

Exeter City:
Bailey
Pollard Charlton
Pullan Crompton Potter
Matthews Blackmore Davis Lievesley Compton

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

Cook Lowes Charlton Conner Forward Carney Fred McKenzie Nairn
Dimmock Wetherby
Maidment
Newport County:

Jones was unfit, and his place was taken by Potter, Lievesley was preferred to Smelt at inside-left, while at the last moment it was found necessary to substitute Blackmore for Kirk at inside right, "Jazzo" having sustained an ankle injury in the Gillingham match on Saturday. Newport had W.G.Charlton at centre-forward, and with Frank McKenzie injured the right back position was entrusted to Wetherby.

The weather was delightful, and a feature of the lengthy period of waiting was the display of a red and white enthusiast, (it was not "Artful" Thomas) who paraded round the field in full rig-out. The colours of the respective sides were freely worn, and rousing cheers greeted the teams as they made their way out on to the soft ground.
Newport won the toss, and the City faced the win in the first half. Apart from the enthusiastic followers from Devon and Wales there was not a great deal of interest taken in the match as far as the Bristol folk were concerned, nevertheless, the attendance at the start was in the region of six thousand.
Exeter were aggressive right at the start, Davis swinging the ball about finely to his wingers, while the Newport attack had yet to be seen. Offside against Compton spoiled a promising move, and then Forward got away for the County, but was forced over the goal line by Potter. Lievesley was fouled when Exeter went to the other end, and from the free kick Potter rattled the crossbar. When the ball rebounded Matthews tried his luck with a shot, and missed the goal by about a yard.

EXETER'S LUCKY ESCAPE.
In further Exeter pressure the Newport backs frequently put the ball into touch. The spectators were very enthusiastic, any moves by the players being greeted with cheers and counter-cheers. Lievesley put Davis through nicely, but the Plymothian spoiled his chances by holding on to the ball too long, and was crowded out. In a hot Newport attack strong shots were essayed by Conner and Cook, both saved finely by Bailey. It was not long before they were at it again, however, and Naim was brought down heavily in the penalty area. There was a strong appeal by Newport for a spot-kick, which went unheeded. The Grecians took play to the other end while Nairn was still on the ground, but the Newport defence cleared. In fact, the City forwards were disjointed, only Matthews and Compton being in anything like normal form. Kirk was badly missed. Exeter had an extremely lucky escape after 17 minutes. Charlton (of Newport) was put through by a lovely pass from Carney, and the centre forward shot first-time against the crossbar, with Bailey beaten all the way. This served to wake Exeter up, and they showed great promise in approach work only to fail miserably in front of goal. Newport, on the other hand, combined very effectively, and repeated centres by Cook and Forward spelt danger every time.

STANLEY CHARLTON'S PLAY THE BEST FEATURE.
In comparison with their showing in the two previous matches the play of Exeter's forwards was decrepid. A brilliant Newport attack failed narrowly when Forward on the goal-line crossed the ball and  Cook shot, the ball cannoning off Potter's legs. Two corner kicks to the County followed, and both gave the City defence some trouble until Charlton cleared by the near post. Charlton's play was the best feature by far from an Exeter City standpoint, his powerful and well judged kicking being an object lesson to his colleagues. Several minutes passed with nothing but aimless and scrappy play to be seen, and there was little to excite the minds of spectators until Cook beat Pollard and transferred to Lowes, whose first-time shot at close range whistled narrowly past the posts.

SUCCESSFUL EXCHANGE OF POSITIONS.
Exeter's inside forwards were playing crudely, badly directed passes being general, and easily intercepted. Six minutes before half-time the County had a good chance of taking the lead, but at the crucial moment Forward shot wide. Shortly before the interval the City rearranged their attack, Blackmore going centre-forward with Lievesley on his right. It worked like magic. Davis fed Blackmore with a long and low forward pass, and the Silvertonian barged his way through and put in a weak shot which glanced off Wetherby and found the net, with Maidment unable to reach the ball. Newport 's Charlton nearly equalised a minute later, but his shot took the wrong turning.
Half-time score:
EXETER CITY 1 NEWPORT COUNTY 0

Nothing about the match was quite as sensational as the score at half-time. All the good work in attack had been done by the County, who should have been leading by a couple of goals, and only faulty shooting, bad luck, and to some extent Stanley Charlton, had kept the Ironsides from establishing a winning lead. The only Exeter players, apart from Charlton, to have displayed anything like good. form were Pollard and Potter. Pullan had never got properly into his stride, and the wing forwards had been severely handicapped by the sheer ineptitude of the inside trio.

SECOND HALF.
The second half opened sensationally. Conner was making his way goalwards when he was tripped up by Blackmore in the penalty area, and Mr Farrow promptly pointed to the spot. Wetherby took the kick, but shot straight at Bailey, who saved by kicking the ball away. It was lobbed back by Nairn, Bailey again clearing. Exeter were now thoroughly roused, and Blackmore initiated an attack which produced a corner. Maidment fisted out the centre from Matthews, and a lively scramble took place in the County goalmouth.  A miskick by Wetherby let Compton through, and Maidment saved well, punching the ball over the bar. The comer was taken by Matthews, and the ball flashed across the Newport goalmouth too quickly for any advantage to be taken. Exeter had now greatly improved their attacking ideas, and Blackmore defeated the opposition by holding the ball and taking it through on his own, but lacked support. Exeter were again dangerous on the left, and Wetherby was spoken to by the referee for a glaring foul on Compton. Maidment brought off a magnificent save from Blackmore, and the second half play was desperate and hard. Matthews then got through, but was fouled by Dimmock on the edge of the penalty area. The free kick came to nothing. At three-quarter time the City were still a goal to the good and playing better than at any time previously. In a Newport breakaway Bailey saved from Nairn, and another from W.Charlton shortly afterwards. At the other end a header by Potter just cleared the crossbar. Newport in the last quarter of an hour were taking the situation badly, and Matthews was twice badly fouled by Dimmock. With eight minutes left Blackmore could have put the issue beyond all doubt, but from Compton's centre unaccountably turned the ball over the bar from three yards out, and right in front of the posts.

NOTES ON THE GAME.
Loud cheering broke out from the Exeter City following from all parts of the ground when the final whistle sounded, but Exeter will never have a luckier win. The forward play in the opening half was the worst by the club in any match this season. Maidment should have saved Blackmore's scoring shot, though the fact that the ball hit Wetherby may have distracted him. In the end Newport, who missed a penalty as well as numerous scoring chances, were unlucky not to have won, because Blackmore's goal was a fluke, and yet he missed the easiest scoring chance of the whole match in the closing stages, and Newport cannot grumble about that.

BLACKMORE PLAYED IN BORROWED BOOTS.
A most amusing fact about Exeter City's Cup victory at Bristol is that Harold Blackmore, of Silverton, who scored the goal which won the game, travelled from home entirely on his own initiative and at his own expense, joining the train at Taunton. Smelt went with the team as travelling reserve.

Blackmore was called upon to play almost at a moment's notice, for it was not until the players were on the train that Kirk began to have doubts about his injured ankle. The boots which Blackmore played in were lent to him by the Bristol City club.