Crystal Palace v Exeter City: 
Attendance: 12,000

Monday, August 29th 1927.

CRYSTAL PALACE 2 EXETER CITY 0.

Though Crystal Palace defeated them in London on Monday evening by two goals to nil the Exeter City players can take encouragement from the fact that of two excellent teams the City played the more skilful game. What really happened was that the Palace obtained both their goals before the City's reorganised forward line (Jenkins and Phoenix at outside right and centre forward for Purcell and Lievesley) settled down. After this Exeter got well together, and practically throughout the second half they called the tune without, however, being able to score.

Palace: Callender; Orr and Cross;
Gallagher, Hamilton, and Hilley; Flood, Turner, Hallam, Tonner, and Clarke.

Exeter City: Wainwright; Lowton and Charlton; Ditchburn, Pool, and Gee; Jenkins, McDevitt, Phoenix, Vaughan, and Kirk.

Getting down to the main facts of the game, the Palace were two goals up within 22 minutes of the start. Seven minutes had elapsed when Tonner made the running for the first. The old Clapton Orient forward forged his way to the right, and when he was expected to pass, centred for Hallam to head a neat goal. The City defence here was lacking in resource. Hallam in turn did the manoeuvring for the second goal fifteen minutes later, and from his final pass Clarke beat Wainwright with a well aimed shot. The real thrills of the game were in its remarkable pace. Both teams are obviously well trained even at this early stage. The City began badly, and for half an hour McDevitt and Vaughan were in the vice-like grip of the Palace wing halves, of whom Gallagher, late of Bradford City, played finely, whilst Phoenix was similarly controlled by the robust Hamilton.

Second Half.

Changing ends, however, the City's inside men let the ball loose, and when this was done Jenkins and Kirk were not long in revealing some of their ability. Kirk, who took his passes cleanly, made ground rapidly and centred with precision. He was, next to Clarke of the Palace, easily the best forward on the field. Jenkins, too, displayed speed as well as his natural cleverness in ball control, but the Exeter inside men should cut the finesse and go straight ahead for goal. Wainwright was sound enough in the Grecians' goal, while there was very little amiss with the tackling and positional play of Lowton and Charlton. However, not until he got the pace of the ground did Charlton achieve the mastery of the Palace right wing. Lowton indulged in a lot of big kicking which might have brought better results if the ball had been followed up more smartly. Nothing but praise can be given to the City halves, and the best of these was Ditchburn, who kept the ball low and made his passes with admirable precision, especially to Jenkins. Pool's display was uneven, by comparison, but Gee, in the team for the first time in place of Warren, did very well once he had settled down. A bad start was retrieved by some grand football in the closing twenty minutes, when the City monopolised the attack.

Torquay Overwhelmed.

Fresh from their drawn game against Exeter City on Saturday, Torquay, at the Den, with the same side, were overwhelmed, and retired beaten by nine goals to one. It was the first visit of the United to the Metropolis in the Football League 3rd Division, and with what disastrous results. They were out paced, outpointed, and outmanoeuvred. Millwall were too clever for Torquay in all phases of the game and the South Devon side were made to look amateurish and most ordinary, so easily did the Millwall forwards go through the defence. At the interval Millwall led by four goals without reply. In the early stages of the second half the United put more backbone into their play, but it was only a flash in the pan. Millwall registered another five goals, while Thomson got a solitary one for Torquay.

Wednesday, August 31st 1927.
CITY RESERVES 1
TORQUAY UNITED RESERVES 1.
Western League match
at St. James's Park.

Having beaten Bristol Rovers Reserves by three clear goals in a Western League match at St. James's Park on Saturday, Exeter City Reserves were expected to win again on Wednesday evening, when they were at home to the Reserves of Torquay United in the same competition. The game resulted in a draw, however, and with the Magpies stronger at half-back and very quick in attack, Exeter owed their retention of a point mainly to the brilliant and capable goalkeeping of Holland, and the consistently cool and clever play of Miller at left back. Two goals were scored, the first being obtained by the Grecians in the opening minutes, and the other by the visitors immediately before the half time interval. There was a big element of luck about both goals. The City's could have been prevented by either Millsom or Price, who both watched a tame shot from Mason pass by them under the impression that the ball was
going outside. To their great surprise the leather entered the net. Torquay's equaliser came about in equally unorthodox fashion. Pollard attempted to clear with a powerful overhead kick, but the ball dropped in front of the Exeter crossbar, and Griffiths seized the opportunity of being on the spot when the leather fell. Holland was embarrassed by Griffiths's attentions and instead of punching the ball he attempted to gather it. The leather slipped out of his hands and rolled into the goal. The match was played in a depressing mist, and the light became very bad, but the players of both teams showed commendable enthusiasm, and the play was very fast all through. Exeter were the more successful side in the early stages, but Torquay presently adopted the first-time passing method, and played the game so cleverly that their goal was richly deserved. In the second half the Grecians were generally in the Torquay territory, but so stoutly did the Magpies' defence play, and so quick were the half backs to capture the ball and their forwards to snap up opportunities for attack that the home goal was often in serious danger. Throughout both teams were decidedly bent on getting the ball into the net, and their eagerness in this respect led to very many exciting bits of play in the vicinity of both goals. Millsom, who was beaten nine times at Millwall on Monday, now gave an excellent display, while Holland was both brilliant and daring. Holland had some exceedingly shots and headers to save, and his agile and confident display won the warm admiration of all. Exeter would probably have won the match if their half-backs had shown more decision in tackling and had been quicker in turning the ball to good account. Pollard, the captain, was a doughty defender in the first half, but afterwards lacked steadiness, and the honours of the day, as far as the full-backs were concerned, went to Miller, who was as cool as he was skilful and sure.

City Reserves.
Holland; Pollard and Miller; Warren, Mason, and Vaughan; Parkin, Andrews, Chambers, Selley, and Compton.

Torquay Reserves.
Millsom; Rice and Price; Goucher, Davis, and Daniel; Pattison, Blackler, Griffiths, Thomas, and Pearcey.

There were distinct possibilities about Chambers, the City leader. With adequate support he should soon make his mark. Parkin was in this match the most successful City forward, however, his nimbleness and clever control of the ball being delightful to watch. Compton played strongly, but erratic finishing spoiled his work, some very astute passes being sandwiched between aimless centres which were useless. Selley, the young Exonian, showed speed and grit, and much of his work was exceptionally bright, but his shooting was poor. Andrews was not prominent until late in the game, when he and Parkin collaborated very successfully, and the former Torquay forward was also responsible for two or three rousing shots at goal.