Exeter's Dogged Fight NORTHAMPTON BEATEN IN DESPERATE CONTEST

Wednesday, April 14th 1926.

EXETER CITY 1 NORTHAMPTON O.

The Grecians are to be warmly congratulated on the successful issue of their important Football League match, with Northampton Town, on Wednesday evening, at St James's Park. The Cobblers gave an amazing defensive display, and the only goal of the game, scored by Lievesley a quarter of an hour before the finish, was the hardest won point that can be remembered in matches on the St James's Park ground.

Exeter City:- Bailey Lowton Charlton Pullan Pollard Potter Newman Kirk Blackmore Lievesley Compton

Northampton:- Hammond Watson Yorke Tresadern Brett Williams Pease Robinson Cockle Hoten Shaw

Pease was the "star" forward of the Cobblers, and he required very careful watching on the part of Potter and Charlton in the opening stages. Exeter, however, were all out for the "big push," and Brett and the Town full backs were hard put to it to hold out against the eager City forwards. The Exeter pressure became increasingly insistent, and attack after attack was launched on the Northampton goal, which had several very narrow escapes in the first half. Quite early Kirk had hard luck with a swift shot which rattled the crossbar, and Hammond saved finely in the top corner from Compton. Lievesley skimmed the crossbar, Compton drove over from point-blank range, and Hammond tipped over a hefty left-footer from Blackmore. Hammond saved close to the post a splendid header from Lievesley and another header, from Compton, hit the face of the crossbar. From an attack instigated by Pollard and Compton the ball was driven inches over by Blackmore. In other words, there was a positive fusilade of shots and headers directed at the Cobblers' goal, but with almost I all their team packing the goal the ball was booted back as often as the Grecians sent it in. Relief was afforded when Pollard sent high over the bar and the hard pressed Northampton defence got a goal kick. So the game continued, with Exeter hustling the opposition for all they were worth, and Northampton defending their goal like heroes in the last ditch. At half-time there was no score, and the spectators were hardly able to believe it. If the net had been in front of the Town goal instead of at the back of it the Grecians could scarcely have had more of a tantalising time. In the second half Hammond made another brilliant save from the wily Kirk, whose quick and accurate touches were a real asset to Exeter. Things got a bit rough in the second half, and Robinson was twice admonished by the referee for reprehensible play, and the official also found occasion to caution a spectator, or spectators, behind the Town goal-line as to their conduct. At last, a quarter of an hour before the finish, Watson mis-kicked. In a flash Newman pounced on the ball and crossed it. Newman slung it back again to the goal front, and with Hammond trying to cover all his goal at once Lievesley put the ball into the net with a fine header at the point where the goalkeeper was not.

WESTERN LEAGUE
CITY RESERVES AT PLAINMOOR.

Exeter City Reserves were decisively beaten by three goals to one by Torquay United at Plainmoor on Wednesday evening in a Western League match. Exeter opened well, but the strong wind helped the Torquay defence greatly, and Appleyard, the "ex Grecian," performed the hat trick. Just before Appleyard obtained his third point Cowley scored for the City. Shelton and Cowley were a clever left wing pair, and Bolam, though not so well fed, was conspicuously successful at outside right. Myers tackled fearlessly and fed his forwards well, while Hawkins, at right-back, was the outstanding member of the Exeter team. The Torquay side played well, their combination and general ability to speed things up making for a very good victory.