Reading 1-1 ECFC
Scorer: Lievesley
Attendance: 10,000

Reading V City

Holiday railway arrangements compelled Exeter City to leave home last evening to fulfil today's return match with Reading, at Elm Park, so the Grecians stayed at the George Hotel, Bristol, for the night, and went on to Reading by a convenient morning train. The conditions for today's match were as vile as they could be. Heavy rain had been falling for hours, and the ground was badly waterlogged. In addition a half-gale was sweeping from end to end, driving the rain before it in gusts. The attendance was adversely affected, but the Reading ground is well furnished with covered accommodation, and the spectators swarmed under the roofs. Despite the effort of the Band, who played "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More," it came down harder than ever.

Yesterday's match between Reading and Swindon Town was attended by 16,000, a record crowd for Elm Park.

Saturday, December 27th.

READING 1 EXETER CITY 1.

Last season: Reading 1 City 0.

Reading:
Duckworth Eggo McConnell Wilson Messer Evans Smith Young Fergusson Braithwaite Springell

Referee: Mr A.L.Grinstead, of London.

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

The City turned out in red shirts with "V" shaped white bands. Eggo won the toss and Exeter had to face the storm. Progress was made on the Exeter left wing, and Duckworth had to dive across his goal and into a sheet of water to turn round the post a fierce shot from Lievesley. The corner led to a hot scramble, and Matthews put the ball over the bar. The rain continued to come down in torrents, and aided by the wind Reading kept play in midfield. The Grecians were showing good combination, but could not keep their feet, and passes were often going short in these conditions, with pools of water everywhere. The persistence of Springell in going through from the half way line won hearty applause, even though his finishing shot was well wide of the goal. The City took the lead brilliantly after twenty minutes' play. Kirk gathered a loose ball in front of the grand stand and by clever footwork beat three men in succession, winding up with a perfect low centre to Lievesley, who rammed the ball into the net with un-erring aim. Pollard and Charlton were in grand form for Exeter, and fifteen minutes went by without a shot on the City goal. Then Reading were awarded a penalty for hands against Charlton, but to the dismay of the crowd Evans, who took the kick, drove the ball against the foot of the goalpost and Lievesley cleared. At half-time the City still led by one goal to nil.

ANOTHER PENALTY.
Considering the conditions, and also that both teams were taking part in their third match in three days, play was surprisingly fast in the second half. Play was largely in midfield, but Exeter looked. the more dangerous side when the forwards broke away. There was no further scoring until the very last minute of the game when Reading were awarded another penalty for hands, the award being hotly disputed by Exeter. The referee adhered to his decision, however, and Messer netted. The kick had to be taken a second time on account of an infringement and Messer again beat Bailey.

Southern League 
CITY RESERVES v BATH CITY.

Bath City, today's visitors in the Southern League match at St James's Park, were captained by Eddie Bell, formerly of Exeter City. It was another wet afternoon, and the ground looked more like a ploughed field than anything else, nevertheless the attendance was about two thousand.

City Reserves:- Pavey; Coleburne and Flynn; Appleyard, Lowton, and Crawshaw; Newman, Smelt, Blackmore, Shelton, and Lendon.

Bath City: Adams; Burns, and Bell; Hawkins, Howes, and Nuth; Raymond, Finney, Smith, and Clark. (Lawson was absent).

With only ten men Bath City were no match for the City Reserves, who were four goals up at half-time. The first goal was volleyed by Shelton into the net from Blackmore's centre after twenty minutes, and five minutes later Shelton scored again, from Newman's centre. Blackmore added the third goal from Smelt's pass, and the fourth was
netted by Shelton from a penalty kick for a foul on himself. Flynn inadverdently scored for Bath, kicking the ball back for Pavey to clear, but the goalkeeper completely missed it. Further goals for Exeter were scored by Blackmore and Shelton, the result being:
City Reserves 6 Bath City 1.