ABERDARE ATHLETIC v EXETER CITY

Saturday, November 21st 1925.

Much interest was taken in the match between Aberdare Athletic and Exeter City, owing to the fact that the Grecians are due to meet Swansea in the English Cup Competition. The ground was on the hard side owing to heavy frosts. The Aberdare club expressed sympathy for Exeter City at the loss sustained over the demolition of the grandstand at St James's Park, by fire. It is exactly two years ago that the Aberdare stand at Ynys Park was also destroyed by fire. Smith reappeared to lead the home attack, and there was an eleventh hour change in the home team, Miller replacing Martin, and Irving, formerly of the Arsenal, playing at right half.
Aberdare 
Brown
Walsh Brophy 
Irving Harwood Russell
James Miller Smith Burnham Taylor

Referee: Mr A.J.Bissex, of Midsomer Norton.

Compton Lievesley Blackmore Kirk Newman
Potter McDevitt Shelton
Charlton Pollard
Pavey
Exeter City.

Charlton won the toss and Smith kicked off for the Welshmen before five thousand spectators on the apcious Aberdare ground. Blackmore rounded off the first Exeter attack with a hard ground shot, which Brown saved on his knees. Aberdare forced two corners, and by means of clever half back play kept the game in the Exeter half of the field. Miller was presented with a glorious chance of opening Aberdare's account, but he shot wildly over the bar from six yards' range. Brown saved an oblique shot from Compton, and Kirk put the ball over the crossbar with a fine long shot, but after ten minutes Aberdare went ahead, Miller heading into the net from Taylor's centre. Pavey earned applause for heroic work in the City goal, and at half time the score was: Aberdare 1 Exeter City 0.

A bad mistake by Potter in the opening minute of the second half let James in, and the right winger was making tracks for goal when he was unceremoniously bowled over by Charlton in the penalty area. The referee refused to give a penalty, and this aroused the ire of the crowd. Compton was then penalised for a foul on Walsh, in which he was himself injured. In the next minute Pavey made a sensational save by taking the ball right off Smith's toes as the centre forward was about to shoot. There was no lack of incident, despite the fact that Exeter's play was of a mediocre character, to say the least. At last came the inevitable Aberdare goal, scored by Smith with a header after Taylor had tricked the defence with a fast dribble. Exeter were now set throughly on the defensive, and this seemed not to improve their tempers. Shelton committed a glaring foul on Smith, and two minutes later Aberdare scored their third goal, a long hard drive into the net by Taylor. Smith next scored from a penalty kick. Play became rough, and Smith was ordered off the field for striking Pollard in the face. Burnham scored Aberdare's fifth goal in the last minute of the game. Exeter were a badly beaten team, and in no department except goal they compare with Aberdare on the day's play.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CITY RESERVES v WEYMOUTH.

Weymouth, the first team to visit St James's Park since the fire on Tuesday afternoon, were accommodated, with the City players, at the Red Lion Hotel, Sidwell Street, before and after today's match. The spectators were very interested in the ruins of the grandstand, and the enclosure space in front of the remaining portion of the roof was roped off to prevent any possibility of accident. A few new seats were available for patrons near the flagstaff, where the red. and white flag was flown at half-mast in memory of the late Queen Alexandra.

City Reserves:- Bailey; Lowton, Flynn; Hawkins, Crompton, Crawshaw; Bolam, Budd, Casson, Myers, and Salter.
Weymouth:
Holland; Swindles, Gibbs; Huddy, Stallard, Brown; Broad, Bell, Hellier, Thompson, and Caswell.

After 25 minutes' play a low, square centre was missed by both the Exeter backs, and Hellier scored an easy goal for Weymouth. In the next minute Crompton was injured and had to retire. The teams changed over at half-time on the field, with only a very short interval, and Crompton did not resume. After Bailey had saved from Broad he was beaten by Caswell, the result of an interesting match being:
City Reserves 0 Weymouth 2.