THE F. A. CUP
(FIRST ROUND)
Exeter City v Aberdare Athletic

It was a little before eleven o'clock this morning when two men of the Royal Navy walked the length of Exeter's main thoroughfare from the bridge upwards sporting yard long ribbons of red and white. Trust the Navy to give a lead! Later, big contingents of "soccer" enthusiasts from all parts of Devon entered the city, and the Grecians' colours were to be seen everywhere. Their F.A. Cup first round tie with Aberdare had roused the whole countryside as only a match in the biggest competition of the football year can.

Saturday, November 27th 1926.

EXETER CITY 3-0 ABERDARE ATHLETIC
At St James's Park, Exeter.

The City and Aberdare had never met before in the knock-out competition, but in the autumn of 1923 the Darians came to Devon in a fourth qualifying round match with Torquay United. No goal was scored at Plainmoor, and when the clubs met at Ynys Park in the replay Aberdare won by four goals to nil.
Having been ousted from the Cup Competition by Swansea Town this time last year the City were desperately keen on reporting progress today, as they did in 1923 and 1924, and on paper their prospects could hardly have been better. For Exeter overplayed Aberdare at St James's Park in a League match only three weeks ago, although winning by the very narrowest of margins, Charlton scoring from a free kick in the last few seconds of play. Aberdare came to Exeter today with an experimental team, and with the poorest record of any club in the Southern Section. Exeter, on the other hand, have done very well on their own ground, and were stronger today than on November 6th due to the inclusion of Mc Devitt and Dent at inside forward. It is interesting to note that the referee today, Mr Wheaton, of Chard, was one of the linesmen in the City v Swansea cup-tie of last season. Among the early spectators was Alf Matthews, who played in the Swansea cup-tie, and who was being rested today by Plymouth Argyle. Aberdare arrived in Exeter last evening, and both teams attended the second house of the Hippodrome. Aber dare announced a late change, Brophy being unfit through an injury received last Saturday. He was replaced by Edwards. Teams :
EXETER CITY. Bailey; Pollard, Charlton; Pullan, Pool, Potter; Purcell, McDevitt, Blackmore, Dent, and Compton.
ABERDARE ATHLETIC. Leahy; Walsh, Harwood; H. Brown, Beevor, Edwards; James, Davies, Jones, Evans, and Callaghan.

The afternoon was beautifully fine, and there was no wind. Eight thousand were present when Aberdare came out, and there was a long queue outside the gates. The Grecians received a welcoming cheer when they followed their rivals on to the playing pitch. Charlton won the toss, and Aberdare were called upon to line up in front of the "Duke Bank" end in the first half. Jones fed James right away, and Charlton, running in, missed the ball. Given an unexpected opening James took the ball well down and passed to Callaghan, whose sharp shot was cleared by Bailey. The goalkeeper completed his clearance well, but the Darians came again, and once more Jones fed James with a wide pass. On this occasion James tried a shot and the ball travelled wide of the goal.

Visitors Playing Their Hardest.

Exeter retaliated but Compton sent behind. In another City forward move, however, Purcell forced a corner. This was cleared by Beevor, but the Grecians came back again with Mc Devitt at the forefront. Compton spoiled the move by holding on to the ball instead of centreing, and he was robbed by Walsh. The visitors were playing their hardest in a great attempt to secure an early lead, and so sprightly were their attacks that the City goal was in peril when James put the ball across. The danger was cleared, however, through the clever play of Charlton, whose confidence and steadiness was an inspiration to the whole side. When the City struggled free of the Aberdare pressure, they found the 'Darians marking them very closely. Blackmore, however, served out some lovely passes to his wings, and from one of these Purcell nearly got through. Then the City were awarded a free kick for a foul on Potter. Leahy held the centre, and was charged by McDevitt, a corner resulting. Leahy had to receive attention from the trainer before he could resume. Another free kick was awarded the Grecians just outside the Aberdare penalty area for a foul on Blackmore, but Pullan, who took the kick, lobbed the ball onto the top of the net. The attendance now stood at quite nine thousand.

Exeter Take the Lead.

Aberdare had been quiet for some while, but they now forced a corner, by James, and Bailey punched the centre away from the face of the crossbar. The Grecians returned to the attack, and Walsh saved a certain goal by kicking behind for a corner. Exeter were very dangerous just now, and the spectators had their fill of excitement. The City took the lead after 25 minutes. Compton was the scorer. A mis-judgment on the left flank of the Welsh defence enabled Purcell to gain possession. He passed to Blackmore, who steadied himself before shooting strongly and low to Leahy's right. The goalkeeper dived full length but could only thrust the ball a few yards, and in a flash Compton had run in and netted. The goal was greeted by a great burst of cheering, and it was recalled that Compton had scored the City's goal in the Cup game last year. Purcell's speed and ingenuity were giving Harwood some anxious moments. A corner was forced off the back, but Purcell put his flag-kick behind. Ten minutes from the interval Charlton was hurt, but quickly resumed after treatment from the trainer's "magic sponge." Then Harwood crashed into Purcell and from the free kick for the foul Dent headed over. It was clear, now that the City had got into their stride, that their attack was the cleverer of the two, Aberdare only relying on "kick and rush" methods. Just before half-time Exeter went further ahead. McDevitt's enterprise got the Aberdare defence in difficulties, and when Dent prevented Leahy from clearing a centre from the right, Compton snapped up another close-up chance by banging the ball into the net past the two defenders who had dropped back in support of Leahy.
Half-time: Exeter City 2-0 Aberdare.

Immediately after the change of ends Exeter raced through the Aberdare half of the field, and Blackmore shot for goal. Leahy fumbled the ball again, Purcell running up and scoring in the far corner of the net. An Aberdare attack ended with Evans shooting just wide, but Exeter were having much the better of the play, and Leahy saved a pile-driver from Blackmore that would have gone in at the top corner. Callaghan was the liveliest forward in the Aberdare team, and he received some support from Edwards, but the inside men were on the whole too slow. A free kick was awarded to Aberdare for a foul by Pool on Callaghan, but the shot, from Edwards, was capably saved by Bailey. Bailey's promptitude foiled a rather more dangerous Aberdare move in the next minute, the goalkeeper dashing out and clearing from Jones with a flying kick. The visitors were playing their best football of the game in this half. Though the ball was rarely out of their territory they continued to fight hard, and evidently would not admit defeat until the last whistle had blown. Threequarter time arrived with the Grecians still leading by three clear goals, and at this juncture Potter and Davies crashed heads together in front of the Exeter goal. Both fell to the ground badly dazed, and first Davies, then Potter, had to go off for treatment. Both quickly returned. Closing play was all in Exeter's favour, and Leahy made several good saves. In the last minute a scoring shot from Evans was fielded by Bailey.

NOTES ON THE GAME.

Aberdare played much better football than on the occasion of their visit of a few weeks ago on League business, although again the attack was by no means their strongest department. On the play the Welshmen were unlucky to lose so heavily. They certainly would not have done so if Leahy had shown more strength. Leahy was in some respects to blame for all three goals, his half - clearances giving the Exeter opportunists their chances. Compton and Purcell are to be commended on making the most of these openings, and so placing the issue beyond reasonable doubt before the match was an hour old. The stubborness of the Aberdare halves and backs was a feature of the play in the second half. They held up the Exeter forwards remarkably well, so much so indeed, that the Grecians were rarely able to get within shooting distance till near the finish, when the visitors were tiring. Exeter City's best work was done by the backs, both Charlton and Pollard being brilliant throughout. Mc Devitt, too, was a rare schemer, and shared the honours in the attack with Purcell. Now everybody is looking forward to the Second Round draw on Monday afternoon, and wondering if the Grecians will be in luck again.

There were 10,265 spectators, and the gate receipts were £688.


Western League
BATH CITY 2
EXETER CITY RESERVES 4.

From leading by two goals to nil at one stage of the Western League game, and on their own ground, Bath City were eventually beaten by four goals to two by the City Reserves. Drayton and Britton scored their early goals, but Lievesley reduced the City's arrears before the interval. The Reserves had matters all their own way in the second period, Lievesley after five minutes, Phoenix after ten, and Phoenix again after thirty, all scoring. Bath City had a new goalkeeper, Eli Davis, formerly of Huddersfield, Blackburn Rovers, and Bristol City. He replaced Neale, who is on trial with the Argyle.

• ELLIS CROMPTON'S BENEFIT.
  The present Barnstaple Town player-coach and former Exeter City centre half and captain, Ellis Crompton, is endeavouring to get a well known First Division team to visit Exeter for the benefit match which the City directors have granted him, to take place on an evening in April. Crompton rendered splendid service to Exeter City both before and after the war, and it is to be hoped that his benefit will be well supported. He deserves it.

• Monday, November 29th 1926.
  DRAW FOR THE SECOND ROUND OF THE CUP
  Exeter City v Northampton Town, at St James's Park, Exeter. Kick-off 2.15 p.m. To be played on Saturday, December 11th.