Merthyr Town 3-1 ECFC Scorer: Myers 

Attendance: 8,000

MERTHYR TOWN.
Brookes; Pickering, Ferrans; Woodward, Hodnett, Clarke; Cruickshank, McGovern, Rumney, Arblaster, Abrahams.

EXETER CITY.
Bailey; Pollard, Lowton; Pullan, Mc Devitt, Shelton; Matthews, Kirk, Casson, Myers, Compton.

DESCRIPTION
After their fine mid-week victory over Queen's Park Rangers, the Grecians travelled to Merthyr in the best of spirits. The weather was cold and fine.
Mc Devitt won the toss and took advantage of the high wind. Lowton got in the way of a centre from Abrahams, and aided by the wind Exeter attacked down the left. Compton put across a fine centre which was missed by all three inside men. A corner to the City produced a scramble in the home goalmouth, but Pickering cleared. Bailey saved a hot shot from Arblaster, cleverly turning the ball round the post, and the corner was wasted by Abrahams sending behind. The play was interesting, both sides being well matched, and the spectators were given plenty of thrills in midfield. A free kick to Exeter looked promising, but Matthews failed to accept a neat pass from Shelton, and at the other end Cruickshank, receiving from Arblaster, out paced both Shelton and Lowton but lost control of the ball at the vital moment. Ten minutes before the interval McGovern rushed the ball into the Exeter net following a combined move by Arblaster and Abrahams. At the Merthyr end Myers shot high over the bar, and Hodnett got the better of Compton in the penalty area. Exeter were now doing most of the pressing, but they failed to penetrate the Merthyr defence, in which Pickering played the leading role. Aided by the strong wind in the second half Merthyr assumed the aggressive, and Cruickshank carried play to the Exeter end, but lacked support. In the next move Cruickshank was again dangerous, but Arblaster kicked his centre high over the bar. A moment later McGovern sent in a low shot, which Bailey fumbled. The Merthyr players claimed the ball had crossed the line but the referee ruled otherwise. Midway through this half Merthyr attacked on the left, and Rumney beat Bailey with a strong low shot from Arblaster's pass, and in another ten minutes the lead was increased further by Cruickshank with a long shot which cannoned against the foot of the post and thence to the net. Exeter rallied in the closing stages, and Mc Devitt fed Matthews, whose centre was driven home by Myers to the bottom corner of the Merthyr goal.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CITY RESERVES V TORQUAY UNITED

Strong teams were fielded by both Exeter City Reserves and Torquay United in this afternoon's Southern League match at Exeter. In the recent match at Plainmoor the City Reserves won by a goal to nil, and at the moment the Grecians head the competition. In the hope of seeing the Magpies turn the tables on the City a very large number of United supporters made the journey to Exeter, eighteen char-a banc being required to transport the party. This was a very healthy spirit from the Torquay United standpoint. The sides were:

Exeter: Pavey; Charlton, Hawkins; Crawshaw, Crompton, Flynn; Newman, Bolam, Blackmore, Chapman, Lievesley.

Torquay:- Bayes; Rice, Mackrill; Mortimer, Garratt, Leslie; Beer, Hughes, Appleyard, Marlow, Pither.

Referee:- Mr T.F.Dunstan, of Newton Abbot.

In the first Exeter breakaway Chapman and Rice collided heavily, and the local amateur had to go off for a few minutes. The United showed keenness and smart combination, and the home goal was under pressure until Pavey saved from Pither and cleared the ball. Then Exeter pressed, and Bayes saved from Blackmore and Bolam in turn. The City took the lead after twelve minutes, a high centre from Lievesley dropping into the net behind Bayes. Mackrill was in the goalmouth covering the 'keeper, and managed to hook the ball out, but the referee had already signalled a goal. Pavey saved from Appleyard, the ex-Grecian, but Exeter controlled most of the play, and Bayes had to be smart to punch away a hefty drive from the left foot of Blackmore. Torquay recovered, and on two occasions Charlton averted danger by neat interceptions, but after a tussle in the penalty area Marlow gained possession and equalised with a very good shot. Moreover, they took the lead two minutes later, the game at that stage twenty-two minutes old. Garratt fed Appleyard, who turned the ball inside to Hughes, and before the City defenders could challenge the inside-right the ball was in the net. The Torquay contingent among the three thousand spectators were delighted at this turn of events. The football was fast and good, despite the boisterous cross wind, and when on the move Torquay made the most of the greater freedom allowed them under the new offside law. Charlton put in some sterling defensive work when Torquay pressed again, and at the other end Blackmore tested Bayes with a strong shot from fifteen yards. Just before the interval Mortimer and Pither skimmed the bar with exhilarating shots. At half time the score was:
City Reserves 1 Torquay United 2.

Second Half.
Hardly had the second half started when Crompton had the bad luck to twist his knee, and had to go to the dressing room. The City continued with Lievesley at centre forward, Blackmore at inside left, and Hawkins at centre half. The Torquay goal was danger, Bayes tipping over a rousing shot from Hawkins. soon in When Torquay made another advance Pavey made a wonderful save, one handed, from Appleyard. Crompton returned after ten minutes' massage and the excitement ran high as the teams fought for goals. Charlton's strong play was a big feature, while Leslie for Torquay was a tower of strength. With twenty minutes remaining Exeter equalised. Blackmore gained possession and successfully resisted a tackle by Rice, and taking the ball forward a couple of yards scored with a beautiful cross shot which had Bayes well beaten for pace. The fight for the points was desperately keen to the very end, and in the last half minute Pavey saved from Pither at the expense of a corner.

Result:
City Reserves 2 Torquay United 2.

Wednesday, September 30th 1925.
CITY RESERVES v SWINDON TOWN RESERVES 

Exeter City Reserves lost their ground record to the Reserves of Swindon Town on Wednesday evening in a Western League match, played before two thousand spectators at St James's Park. The success of the visitors by three goals to two is all the more creditable, for at the end of thirty minutes' play the Grecians were two goals in front. From first to last, however, the team from Wiltshire had the better of the game, and the result was appropriate. Lowton opened the scoring after twenty-four minutes from a penalty for "hands," and a clean hook shot by Shelton just afterwards met with equal success. Swindon, however, continued to play steady and promising football, and in five minutes, following a capital burst by Ruddlesdin through the middle, Purcell beat Bailey from an acute angle. The equalising goal was scored by Adey close on half-time. From a corner on the Swindon left Petrie had made a good attempt to force the ball home, but just missed it. Purcell obtained possession and shot hard. Bailey managed to intercept the ball but did not clear his lines, and Adey promptly netted.

THE SECOND HALF.
Petrie, the ex-Sheffield Wednesday forward, scored what proved to be the winning goal when the second half was twenty minutes old. Flynn, in meeting a ball from the Swindon extreme left, happened to pass by mistake to Petrie, who instantly shot past Bailey. Shelton, who was Exeter's most brainy forward, was injured when he collided with Rogers soon after this, and the Grecians' best late attempt at a goal came when Blackmore accepted a nice ground pass, and hit the upright with a rousing shot. Bolam ran in to meet the rebound, but Randall made a quick recovery and saved. The City Reserves were below form, their chief weakness being in the half back line. At forward, Blackmore compared unfavourably with the thrustful and lively Ruddlesdin, who neglected no opportunity of hustling up the Exeter backs. At the same time the Swindon leader received better support from behind than did Blackmore, who rarely got a good pass on the ground. Waite captured the high balls without difficulty. Flynn was in business-like mood and played effective football, but Hawkins failed to hold the nimble ex-Taunton winger, Skuse.

City Reserves: Bailey Hawkins Flynn
Arscott Lowton Crawshaw Newman Bolam Blackmore Shelton Lievesley

Referee:- Mr R.A. Bowden, of Newton Abbot.

Swindon Reserves: Randall O'Neill Price Adey Waite Roger Skuse Petrie Ruddlesdin Harris Purcell