SOUTHEND UNITED v EXETER CITY

Saturday, November 7th 1925.

The City, who have not won a match since the first week in October, made changes in their forward line for today's visit to the Kursaal, Southend. As Matthews's injured ankle has not yielded to treatment Newman was given a rare chance at outside right, whilst Anderson and Lievesley were preferred to Kirk and Myers in the inside positions. Rain fell in torrents during the morning, but fortunately it cleared off before the match. The ground was as a consequence greasy on the surface, and treacherous.

SOUTHEND UNITED 3 EXETER CITY 1.

Scorers:
Shaw (2) and Hick for Southend;
Blackmore for Exeter.
Captains: Sayles and Charlton.
Referee: Mr J.C.O'Neill, of Barking.

Southend United. Moore French Sayles
Jewhurst O'Rawe Andrews Morris Bissett Hick Shaw Smith
Exeter City.
Pavey Charlton Pollard Shelton McDevitt Pullan Compton Lievesley Blackmore Anderson Newman

Kicking off before a stiff breeze the City made the first dangerous move, Lievesley dribbling cleverly and passing to Newman, whose shot was charged down by Andrews. McDevitt sent the ball forward to Blackmore, who just missed the goal with an excellent long shot, and at the Exeter end Charlton diverted the ball for a corner to prevent Smith getting through. Play in the first half, though, somewhat vigorous, was well contested, and there was little to choose between the teams. There was a sensational beginning to the second half, for within a minute Southend had scored. There was an advance on the right, and Bissett gave to Shaw. Pavey lost no time in getting out of his goal, but Shaw coolly lofted the ball over him and into the net. The early goal acted like a tonic to the home team, who during the next five minutes literally bombarded the City, Pavey saving brilliantly from Hick and catching a drive from Bissett in excellent style. When at last the City did succeed in getting out of their own half they should have equalised. Blackmore made a run half the length of the field. Forced away from the goal by Sayles, he made a through pass to Newman, who cut in but shot wide when faced with an open goal. After twelve minutes Smith forced a corner, and from the flag kick Hick scored a second goal for Southend. Pollard fed a long pass to Newman, from whose centre Lievesley struck the crossbar with a shot that Moore could not have saved. It seemed that Exeter were quite out of luck, but after 31 minutes Blackmore dribbled through, and from thirty yards flashed the ball home, just inside the upright. It was a glorious goal, and Moore was beaten all ends up. Four minutes later Charlton was injured in tackling Shaw, and with the City captain lying on the ground the home inside left went on to beat Pavey with a swift low shot from eight yards' range.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CITY RESERVES v YEOVIL.

At St James's Park this afternoon Potter played his first football match after a long spell on the injured list, whilst Yeovil gave a first chance at centre forward to Radford, formerly of Friernhay. The weather was gloomy, and the ground wet after heavy rain.
City Reserves:- Bailey; Lowton, Flynn; Crawshaw, Crompton, Potter; Bolam, Kirk, Casson, Myers, Way.
Yeovil:- Vallis; Day, May; Abbott, Gallon, Gregory; Pidgeon, Edwards, Radford, Hayward, Haywood.

The Grecians had much the better of the early play, and Bolam gave Vallis a hard shot to save. Shots by Casson and Myers went over the bar. Kirk spoiled Exeter's chances by trying to do too much himself, but following a melee in front of the Yeovil goal netted the ball with a shot that Vallis never even saw. Exeter attacked persistently, and Way and Casson scored within minute of each other.
Half-time: City Reserves 3 Yeovil nil. Radford was Yeovil's best forward in the second half. He forced a corner off Potter, and followed up with a good shot which Bailey cleared. Bolam scored Exeter's fourth goal, a beautiful low pass from Way provided the easiest of opportunities, and with Yeovil being completely outplayed further goals were added for Exeter by Kirk and Casson.

Final: City Reserves 6 Yeovil nil.

Wednesday, November 11th 1925.
EXETER CITY v. DEVON COUNTY

Exeter City were at home at St James's Park this afternoon to Devon County, the match having been arranged for the benefit of the county funds. Bleak weather prevailed, and the attendance was only small. The City XI included five of the team which played at Southend last Saturday, while the County were strongly represented.

EXETER CITY
Bailey Hawkins Flynn Potter McDevitt Shelton Bolam Budd Blackmore Lievesley Compton

DEVON COUNTY
Bayes (Torquay United) Burdon (Friernhay) Williams (Royal Naval Barracks) Arscott (Heavitree United) Pope (Royal Naval Barracks) Hutchings (Friernhay) Berry (Bideford) Merrifield (Looe) Newberry (Friernhay) Hocking (Exeter Co-op) Richards (Royal Naval Barracks)

Referee: Mr H.F.Ford, of Exeter.

Play opened briskly, and after Bayes had saved from Blackmore, the County made ground on their right and forced a corner, but Berry was unable to get the ball across. Then the Grecians swept down the middle, aided by the wind, and from a nice pass by Bolam the ball was turned into the net by Budd. Then McDevitt fed Blackmore, who registered the second goal with a lovely shot into the bottom corner of the County net. From Shelton's pass Blackmore again cracked the ball past Bayes with a strong left foot shot from twenty-five yards, and at the interval the City were leading by three goals to nil.
Within five minutes of the restart two more goals were scored. First Blackmore completed his "hat-trick," then Merrifield shot through smartly for the County. Swinging the ball about energetically, the County had an equal share of the game, but the Exeter forwards were more accurate near goal, and Budd scored the sixth goal, converting a centre by Compton Pope and Hocking scored for Devon, the match ending in a win for the City by six goals to three.