Crystal Palace 3-2 ECFC

Attendance: 5,000

CRYSTAL PALACE v. EXETER CITY

Saturday, October 24th 1925.

Scorers:
Harry, Blakemore, and Clarke for Crystal Palace,
Shelton and Kirk for Exeter City.

Referee: Mr A.J.Attwood, of Newport.
Teams 
Palace: Harper; Blake and Cross; McCracken, Strang, and Greener; Harry, Hand, Cherrett, Blakemore, and Clarke.

City: Pavey; Pollard and Charlton; Pullan, McDevitt, and Shelton; Matthews, Kirk, Blackmore, Myers, and Compton.
A number of years have passed since Crystal Palace last met Exeter City in a League engagement, and this undoubtedly made for extra interest in the match at Selhurst Park this afternoon when the City made their initial appearance at the Palace's spacious new ground. Since they were relegated to the Third Division the Palace have had a lean period, and the first five matches at the beginning of the Beason were all lost. There was a change was Percy Cherrett, the Argyle centre forward, was recruited on September 22nd, for three consecutive victories were obtained over Bristol City, Watford, and Brentford. A further lapse followed, however, and the last three games have been lost, which suggested that the City had a capital
chance today of maintaining their excellent form away from home. Crystal Palace were strengthened by the return of McCracken, right half, and Harry, outside right, both these players having missed recent matches due to injuries. Exeter City, who have not so far been defeated in October, were able to command their strongest side.

Harry Scored for the Palace.
Heavy rain fell an hour before the match but the sun eventually came out, but in view of the uncertain weather there were not more than five thousand spectators. The capacity of the ground is probably ten times as many. Charlton won the toss, and the City were at once called upon to defend, and things looked dangerous when Harry beat Pollard, but his centre went over the bar. Exeter then took a hand in the game, and as each of the forwards got possession it seemed that they were all well marked, so that, with little progress being made, the ball was passed and re-passed from one to the other across the field until eventually a careless pass from Blackmore went astray, and this enabled the Palace to attack again. Their efforts were rewarded with a corner, which Shelton cleared. Reforming again, through the failure of Kirk to pick up a pass from McDevitt, Greener placed Clarke in possession, and although tackled by Pollard, the winger lifted the ball into the goalmouth and Pavey punched it out. The leather, however, fell at the feet of Harry, who at once whipped it into the net well out of Pavey's reach. At the scoring of the Palace's goal play had been in progress for eleven minutes.

Shelton Levelled the Scores.
Exeter were now playing clever football, and Blackmore indulged in a clever solo effort but failed to find an opening, and was finally dispossessed. Immediately afterwards he gave a further example of his skill by going clean through the Palace defence and firing in a ferocious drive which rattled the crossbar. At the end of thirty-two minutes Exeter equalised. A long kick up the field by Pollard was trapped by McDevitt and passed on to Kirk, who was brought down by Blakemore. A free kick was awarded the City, from which Shelton gained possession and beat Harper with a lovely twenty-yards' drive to level the scores. The City were well on top now, and Harper did well to save a hard drive from Compton. Another Exeter attack won a corner, which was well placed by Matthews, but Myers put his shot over the bar. A goal to each side was a fair reflex of the play in the first half, although the City, since their goal, had been much the smarter side. On resuming Exeter seemed to be maintaining this superiority, and their first attack came very near to being successful, Blackmore's shot just clearing the crossbar from Compton's pass.

Exeter's Brilliant Football.
At the other end of the field Harry lifted the ball over the bar following a free kick to the Palace. The pace was fast and furious, and the City attacked, Harper coming out to save and getting himself dispossessed by Compton, who returned the ball to the centre. Kirk then received the ball from Blackmore and drove it towards goal with several players in front of him, and Harper saved on his knees. Exeter were not to be denied, however, and Kirk made another swift advance. He kicked a little too far ahead, and both Harper and Cross tried to get the ball, but when it seemed as if all was lost Kirk made a last desperate effort to reach it before the two Palace men. Kirk's speed got him there first, and he sent the ball crashing into the net to give Exeter the lead, ten minutes after the resumption of play. The lead was thoroughly deserved, for Kirk's speed and initiative had won Exeter a glorious goal, and the whole side were at this stage playing brilliant football.

A Questionable Penalty.
After half an hour's play Hand was brought down, but it is somewhat questionable if the incident deserved the penalty which was awarded by Mr Attwood. Blakemore took the kick, and beat Pavey with a fast rising shot. With the scores level the Palace was now making great efforts. They pressed continuously, and exciting scenes occurred in the City goalmouth. Pavey twice punched out shots by Cherrett, but the third time he was unlucky, for the ball went straight to Clarke, who headed in from ten yards' range, after thirty three minutes. Yet another penalty was awarded the Palace, against Pollard for hands, but this time Blakemore's spot kick was saved by Pavey. Play was contested to the end on desperate lines, but Exéter failed to score again, and thus retired gallant losers against the Palace.

Notes on the Game.
This was a really keen and exciting game from beginning to end. The Grecians were the cleverer side, and Crystal Palace's reply was in sheer desperation. Pavey was Exeter City's hero, and Charlton the best of the four full backs on the field. McDevitt initiated many good moves, and Pullan and Shelton combined effectively with the forwards, some of the triangular moves being a treat to watch. Blackmore, apart from one great shot which gave the crossbar a good rattling, led the line well and distributed the ball nicely, while Kirk and Compton were the outstanding forwards in an attack which showed much skill, effort, and pace.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
CITY RESERVES v BRISTOL CITY RESERVES.

Exeter City Reserves, having been beaten 2-0 in a Southern League match with Bristol City Reserves at Ashton Gate last Saturday, to day at St James's Park received the Babes in a Western League game. Exeter had the assistance of Harold Arscott, now a Devon County XI player, at inside left.

Exeter City Reserves.
Bailey; Hawkins, Flynn; Crompton, Lowton, and Crawshaw; Newman, Bolam, Casson, Arscott, and Lievesley.

Bristol City Reserves.
Davis; Penn, Howson; McLean, Pool, Torrance; Kirby, Paul, Walsh, Dent, and Blackmore.

Referee: Mr H.F.Curtis.

Davis won the toss, and Bristol had the advantage of the breeze in the first half. Exeter, however, commenced with fine enthusiasm and dash, and Casson nearly succeeded in shooting past Davis a free kick taken by Crompton. Bolam and Crompton were conspicuous for excellent combined play, and Davis saved twice more from Casson. Flynn pulled up Walsh in a retaliatory Bristol raid, and Blackmore shot against the side netting. An Exeter attack having been beaten off, Dent sent Walsh away but he was again stopped by Flynn, and in a lively Exeter sortie Lievesley headed just over. Shortly before the interval Davis saved from Bolam, and the Bristol goal escaped very luckily when Crompton headed in from a corner kick taken by Lievesley, and as the ball was entering the goal Casson, in attempting to make doubly sure, headed it over the bar.

Second Half.

It was Exeter's turn to be lucky when Dent headed the ball across the face of the goal instead of into the net, and a goal by Kirby after twenty minutes was disallowed. Result, a draw, no score.