Plymouth Argyle 1-1 ECFC
Scorers: Compton
Attendance: 15000

Christmas Day, at Home Park.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1 EXETER CITY 1.

Scorers: Batten and Compton.

Argyle: Craig; Cosgrove and Price; Logan, Preston, and Rowe; Corcoran, Sloan, Batten, Leslie, and Black.

City: Bailey; Pollard and Charlton; Pullan, Crompton, and Jones; Matthews, Kirk, Davis, Lievesley, and Compton.

Attendance 15,000.

Last season's result: Argyle 4 City 0.

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY MATCHES
The holiday fixtures between the two Devon professional soccer teams, Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City, unlike last season, has this Christmas ended in favour of Exeter, who, after two keenly contested games, secured three Third League points.
At Home Park, Plymouth, on Christmas morning, the score was one goal each, while Exeter City deservedly on their own ground, on Boxing Day afternoon, won by three clear goals. On both occasions Exeter City adopted a different style of play to that of Plymouth, swinging the ball about energetically, whereas the Argyle adopted short passing tactics, the effect of which was to a large degree nullified by the heavy state of the ground.

A LARGE CROWD AT PLYMOUTH.
The usual large crowd was attracted to Home Park on Christmas morning, but the Argyle supporters were chagrined to find that at the end of the game the visitors from Exeter could claim a point. Sparkling football was displayed during the first half by Plymouth Argyle, who appeared to be distinctly the cleverer side, but they could not beat Bailey, who played his customary excellent game in the Exeter goal. Batten strove hard to give his side the lead, but it was not until a few minutes after the interval that with a perfect header he sent a centre from Corcoran into the net. Just after Craig had made a wonderful save from a penalty kick taken by Matthews, but after Lievesley had missed a good opening, Compton raced through on the left and shot the ball into the Argyle net with a beautiful low oblique drive. Incidentally, it was the first time Matthews has failed to score from the penalty spot. 
MISSED CHANCES.
After the two goals had been scored the game can be described best as one of missed chances. All the Argyle forwards endeavoured to get the ball past Bailey, but either hesitancy in shooting, bad marksmanship, or else the prowess of the City's goalkeeper denied them a score. Exeter played up to their wings, and were very much quicker in setting up attacks, but there was not the accuracy of touch among their forwards, although they gave Cosgrove and Price some anxious moments, and in the last minute of play Matthews got through and gave Lievesley the easiest of opportunities, but with only Craig to beat the tall inside left shot wide, and by doing so frittered away the glorious possibility of an Exeter victory. The City triumphed by three clear goals in the return match, at St James's Park, on Boxing Day afternoon, before the biggest crowd of the season, the estimated attendance being about 14,000, which included a strong following from Plymouth. The Grecians won because of their sterling defence and because they played the style of football more likely to be successful in the conditions which existed, namely a heavy ground and ball. The playing field was sodden, and while Plymouth went in for close order tactics the City did the reverse. Their game was long, swinging passes, and it so obviously paid that the wonder was that the Pilgrims did not adopt similar methods.
THE THREE GOALS.
Much of the Argyle's midfield work was admirable, but as often as not it failed to get anywhere. There could not have been the slightest doubt about any of the three goals. The first came after seventeen minutes. Lievesley sent out to Compton, who beat Logan and placed a perfect centre for Kirk to direct the ball into the net with his head, well out of Craig's reach. About fifteen minutes after the resumption came the second of Exeter's goals. Matthews raced along the touch-line and while at full speed passed inwards to Davis, who, beating Price, fired the
ball against the crossbar. Compton secured from the rebound, and netted from close quarters. Number three was not long in coming. A corner was placed right into the goalmouth by Matthews. Everybody jumped for the ball, and Davis headed it on to the crossbar, and Potter then rose above the crowded to head the rebound into the net.

PLYMOUTH NOT AT THEIR BEST.
The Argyle's fate was sealed when the City scored their second goal. Up to that point Plymouth had had the better of the second half, and seemed likely to equalise, but they never looked like winning afterwards, although Corcoran and Black did their best to reduce the arrears. Corcoran put across several nice centres, from one of which Cherrett shot strongly but straight at Bailey, and Black ended a tricky run by shooting wide. At no period of the game, however, were the Argyle seen at their best. Leslie and Sloan, for whom Cherrett and Walker deputised, on account of slight injuries, were missed from the attack, and Price was nothing like up to the standard of Moses Russell. Batten was not conspicuous, and was penalised frequently for offside and once or twice for unnecessary fouls. Preston was the pick of the half backs, while Craig could not be blamed for the defeat. The City played one of their best games of the season, and, in view of the recent gruelling F.A.Cup-ties particularly, their form entitled them to high praise. There was no suggestion of weakness in any department. Pollard and Charlton maintained their excellent reputation, as did Bailey, the half backs were sound and the attack has seldom played better. the

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
THE RESERVES.
EXETER CITY v PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 

In a fast and interesting game at St James's Park on Christmas Day, the City Reserves were defeated by Plymouth Argyle Reserves by the only goal scored. On the run of the play the Grecians at least deserved to draw. Fishwick scored for the Argyle. Good football was displayed by both Exeter and Argyle Reserves in the return match at Home Park, Plymouth, on Boxing Day, but the heavy state of the ground gave the respective defences an advantage over the forwards, so that it was not surprising that no goals were scored. R.Maddever partnered Miller at full-back for the Argyle, and his display was a revelation. Fishwick was the best of the forward line and had it not been for the exceptional skill of Pavey some of his shots must have found the net. Flynn was outstanding in the Exeter rearguard, and Shelton and Lendon the best forwards.