THE F.A.CUP:
EXETER CITY v SWANSEA TOWN

Saturday, November 28th 1925.

Swansea Town's visit to St James's Park today as the opponents of Exeter City in the First Round of the F.A.Cup Competition had been looked forward to as one of the biggest and brightest attractions on the "Soccer" field seen locally since football was resumed after the War.
The Swans' brilliant performances in this, their first season Division II of the English League, stamp them as being one in of the best sides in the country, and no student of Soccer needs to be told that in the matter of forward play Swansea have a big tradition to maintain. With the exception that Nicholas was re-introduced on the left wing, on account of the ineligibility of Edwards, who has already played for Mid-Rhondda in the Cup Competition this season, Swansea brought along the team which defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, when 3,700 supporters of the All Whites made the trip to London to cheer for the Swans.
Exeter City, worried by lack of success in recent League games, had Matthews and Pullan the team after a spell on the injured list, while Myers returned at inside left.
Exeter City.
Pavey
Pollard Charlton
Exeter City.Pullan McDevitt Potter
Matthews Kirk Blackmore Myers Compton

Referee: Mr E.E.Small, of Bristol.
Linesmen: Messrs F.H.Wheaton and P.C.Warner.
Captains:- Charlton and Sykes.

Nicholas Thompson Fowler Deacon Hole
McPherson Sykes Collins
Milne Langford
Denoon
Swansea Town.

Gates were opened at 12.45 o'clock, and the excursionists from Wales were early on the scene. Ample seating accommodation was available. for those who desired it, but there were no seats under cover. The relics of the old grandstand and the tents placed on the site for the use of the players and officials at the interval were objects of special interest. Swansea's dressing room accommodation was at the premises of Messrs Neal's, across St James's Road from the higher entrance to the ground, while Exeter City's was at the Red Lion in Sidwell Street. The snowstorm which threatened to spoil sport cleared before one o' clock, and the spectators assembled in brilliant sunshine. Several members of the East Devon Area Committee, Devon County Football Association, assisted as honorary stewards. The ground was frozen during most of the week, but this afternoon it had thawed out, and was quite soft. At two o'clock the attendance numbered 6,000, and people were then pouring in fast.

• Two Minutes' Silence.

It was five minutes past two when the Swans reached the ground, and took to their tent. The Grecians were on the field first, running out to a loud and prolonged ovation. They wore black armlets as a sign of mourning for the late Queen Alexandra. Swansea's appearance on the field, also with black armlets, roused the Welsh section of the crowd to high enthusiasm. The "gate" had passed the 10,000 mark when the captains settled the preliminaries, but there was an interval of several minutes before this took place, the teams having to wait for the match officials, who did not reach the ground till twenty past two. Mr Small then called together both teams and the two linesmen, and these, with the Chairmen of both clubs, and the members of the Band, observed a two minutes' silence in the centre of the field, with the spectators joining reverently in the impressive observance. The Band then played a verse of the National Anthem.

The Game.
Swansea won the toss, and the game started, ten minutes late. The City kicked off against a dazzling sun, and an initial burst fell through when Matthews placed the ball over the Swansea goal line. Then the City had to give ground on their left flank, and Charlton conceded a corner in his attempt to stop Hole from centreing. The whistle blew for a free kick to Exeter while the ball was still in the air from Hole's corner kick. Pollard cleverly broke up a threatening Swansea approach, and the City made headway. Matthews swung the ball over to Compton, who put it over the bar from an oblique angle. Excellent and speedy work by the Grecians in the Swansea half of the field compelled Denoon to run out and clear, then Hole broke away and dodged round Charlton, but his ground pass to the left wing was missed by Nicholas. From a free kick taken by Potter the ball was flashed into the net by Myers. The referee signalled a goal, but almost all the Swansea team protested that Myers had handled the ball, whereupon Mr Small reversed his decision after consulting one of the linesmen. Denoon saved a shot from Compton, and Pullan put one over the bar, and in these early stages little had been seen of Swansea. McDevitt and Kirk combined to send Matthews away, and a corner was won, from which a header by Potter cleared the crossbar. Twenty minutes after the start a clasic centre from Hole was met by Fowler with his head, the ball travelling over the bar with Pavey helpless to save. A prolonged spell of midfield play ended with honours even, until Hole, who was the star player in the Swansea attack, got the better of Charlton and forced a corner. Pavey dealt very capably with the ball when it came across, and his clearance kick went to Matthews, but no one was up to utilise the winger's final pass.
Score Opened in Exeter's Favour.
At the end of thirty-eight minutes Kirk placed Exeter on the attack by means of a pretty dribble. His cross to Compton, however, fell behind the winger, who had to come back to retrieve the ball, but from thirty five yards' range Compton whipped in a shot instead of making the anticipated pass, and to the great joy of the crowd the ball entered the top corner of the goal, and the score was opened in Exeter's favour. Following the second of two free kicks to the Grecians the ball was netted by Pullan, but this point was disallowed for an infringement. Three minutes before the interval Pollard conceded a corner, and the flag kick, from Nicholas, caused some trouble until Pavey managed to get the ball away. Blackmore had a great shot just turned over the bar by the burly Denoon.
Half-time: City 1 Swansea nil.

Second Half.
In the tents to which the players retired at the interval there were oil stoves, and tea and minerals were provided. Electric light had also been laid on. When the game was resumed Compton ran the ball in close and shot, Denoon having some difficulty before he finally cleared. The City showed great liveliness in subsequent play without being able to get within shooting range, and at the other end Pavey, in saving from McPherson, was shouldered over the line by Fowler. The corner was fisted out by Pavey, but the ball went to the feet of Thompson, who coolly flicked it into the net for the equalising goal. Two minutes later Swansea took the lead. A persistent attack ended in Deacon driving the ball against Charlton's legs, whence it flew into the net well beyond the reach of Pavey. This double set-back stirred the Grecians to greater effort, but the Swansea backs had by now got the measure of Matthews and Compton, and despite having a territorial advantage Exeter were not dangerous. Deacon hit the foot of the post with a brisk shot, and Pavey saved from Collins and Nicholas. At the Swansea end a great shot at ten yards' range from Blackmore was saved on the line by Denoon. Twenty minutes from the end Swansea scored their third goal from a corner taken by Nicholas. The ball was swung right into the mouth of the gall and punched into the roof of the net by Pavey. In the last minute Kirk had a simple chance of reducing the lead, but failed in front of goal with only Denoon to beat.

Notes on the Game.
It was a very exhilarating match, decided by curiously simple goals, but with victory going unquestionably to the cleverer side. Exeter had more of the game than their opponents territorially, but there was not the same skill in finishing, and Swansea deserved to win. Fowler was well held by McDevitt, but Hole's brilliant play on the Swansea right wing was a big feature, even though he faded to some degree in the closing stages. One cannot but wish the Swans every success in the Cup. They played a very sporting game today, and in fact, both teams deserve credit in this respect. The official attendance was 9,500.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
TAUNTON V CITY RESERVES.
Salter, of Budleigh Salterton, was given a trial at inside left in the Grecians' reserve team at the Taunton ground this afternoon, vice Budd, who took Bolam's place at inside right. Within two minutes of the start Walter scored for Taunton, after a pretty dribble by Pearson had beaten the Exeter defence. Blewitt hit the foot of the post when a goal seemed certain, but Exeter defended stubbornly, and the United forwards, although they attacked persistently, never got an unobstructed view of the goal. After Newman had equalised early in the second half Taunton scored further goals through Walter, Blewitt, and Groves, to establish a lead of 4 to 1. Near the close Casson scored for the Reserves.
Result:
Taunton United 4 City Reserves 2.