EXETER CITY 2 CRYSTAL PALACE 2.
STILL WITHOUT A WIN

Wednesday, September 7th 1927.
Exeter City's Poor Display Against the Palace

Exeter City, at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening in a Football League match, set up a lead of two goals in the first half, but later had the advantage wrested from them and in the end were fortunate to escape defeat. The Grecians gave their worst display over a very long period, the poor form and shortcomings of several players being glaringly demonstrated. It was a beautifully fine evening, the ground was in excellent condition and there were nearly 7,000 spectators.

Exeter City. Wainwright; Lowton and Charlton; Ditchburn, Pool, and Gee;
Purcell, Phoenix, Lievesley, McDevitt, and Kirk.

Crystal Palace. Kelly; Orr and Cross; Gallagher, Hamilton, and Hilley; Flood, Turner, Williamson, Tonner, and Clarke.

The City captain, Stan Charlton, secured an initial advantage for his team by winning the toss and setting the Palace to face the St. James's Road end and the dazzling sunshine in the first half. It was a very stiff handicap to the visitors, and they found it impossible to settle down. Kirk's clever footwork soon enabled him to beat Gallagher and Orr, and he crossed the ball perfectly. Purcell received and shot against the top corner of the goal framework. The Palace retaliated, but the centre, from Turner, was headed clear by Lowton, and in ensuing play the powerful right back was often conspicuous, his frequent big clearances with head and feet keeping play at the Palace end.

Kelly Blinded by the Sun.

The Exeter attack, however, was lacking in leadership, skill and cohesion, and unable to carry its approach work through convincingly. After twelve minutes the Grecians nevertheless took the lead. Kirk forced a corner, and when the left-winger's flag kick was beaten away by the Palace defence a strong swerving shot was sent in by Pool. The ball travelled just above the heads of the players and entered the goal. Kelly, who was deputising for Callender between the sticks, was momentarily blinded by the sun, and could not sight the ball as it flashed high into the net. Continuing on the offensive, rather because of the weak play of the Palace than by any special effectiveness of their own, the Grecians found Cross, the visiting captain, a great stumbling block, his resourceful and determined defence being quite a feature of the play. Gradually, the form of the Exeter half backs deteriorated, both Pool and Ditchburn losing pace in getting to and disposing of the ball, while Ditchburn's transfers were sometimes too weak to reach the right man.

Crystal Palace's Change of Tactics.

The Palace were getting the ball more often now. Hamilton came more into the picture, and the team decided upon a change of tactics. Their left wing was unable to make ground, so Hamilton and Williamson both seized every possible chance of swinging the ball strongly out to Flood. The outside right was given too much room for Exeter's good, and some of his sparkling runs and clever centres had the City defence in serious difficulty. Following one of these attacks by the visitors Exeter broke away smartly, and although Purcell dallied with the ball unnecessarily Kelly had to make a brilliant double save from Lievesley, the second one from point blank range whilst on the ground, before the danger was cleared. It was the most thrilling moment of the game so far.

The Grecians' Second Goal.

Exeter's half-backs continued to be disappointingly slow, but the forwards made ground quickly at times, and in 34 minutes following a corner by Kirk and another by Purcell the ball was booted high up the centre by Pool, and Phoenix ran in underneath it as it travelled goalwards. Kelly hesitated, and the leather dropped on Phoenix's shoulder and bounced into the net for a second goal to the Grecians. Flood and Turner were prominent in speedy attacks after this, and Wainwright did some valuable work for the City. Just on half-time Exeter won another corner, and when Purcell's came across Kelly, challenged by Phoenix, failed to clear. The goalkeeper was tempted out of position, and when the leather dropped at the feet of Lievesley the whole goal was open to him. At five yards' range he drove over the empty net with a terrific shot, and there by wasted a golden opportunity.

Half-time: City 2 Palace 0.

Crystal Palace Took Command.

When play was resumed the Palace wing halves showed in a more favourable light, and after ten minutes of scrappy football, in which the Grecians kicked so badly as to give the impression that they were strangers to one another, to the ground, and to the ball, Crystal Palace took command. Williamson and Clarke took the ball through the Exeter defence from the half-way line by neat inter-passing on the smooth turf, neither man being tackled, and Williamson wound up the movement with a cross-shot which gave Wainwright not the slightest chance. It was the best goal so far seen at St James's Park this season. Only two minutes more were played before the Palace levelled the scores. Flood sent over an excellent corner-kick, and Hilley, emulating Alex Pool, essayed a long shot of considerable power and height. Wainwright was in a position to meet the ball, but it was deflected out of his reach and into the net by Lowton's head. The visitors played delightful football after this, their half-backs and forwards all showing both pace and polish, and the Grecians had the utmost difficulty in keeping their opponents out. Indeed, the City goal escaped very luckily when the second half was eighteen minutes old, when Flood, in receiving a strong pass from the other side of the field, shook off a weak challenge by Charlton and ran on to send the ball flashing past the foot of the far upright with Wainwright hopelessly beaten.

Struggle for the Deciding Goal.

This proved to be the last big incident of the game, although, of course, both teams struggled eagerly for the deciding goal. One thing is clear, and that is that the City will have to show vast a improvement in form if they are to hold their own in the competition this season. Kirk was clever with the ball but Compton's dash was missed. Lievesley and Phoenix were both poor. McDevitt was made to appear slow and cumbersome, and Purcell could have speeded up his centres with advantage. Exeter were astonishingly weak at half-back. Lowton was brilliant in the first half, but at a loss when the Palace forwards began to hold the ball. Charlton, for once, was well below form.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
BRISTOL CITY RESERVES 3
EXETER CITY RESERVES 1.

Exeter Reserves opened their Southern League programme with a visit to the Bristol City ground on Wednesday evening. They were unfortunate not to come away with a point at least, for although the Babes won 3-1 they were not all that much superior. In the first half the two teams were evenly matched, with the two defences holding the game to midfield. Hughes was in brilliant form for Bristol at left-back, and he proved the undoing of many forceful attacks by Exeter. Bristol took the lead after seven minutes, Paul netting with a fierce shot after being put in possession by Callaghan.

In later play Holland's fine goalkeeping was much in evidence, though the game was not one-sided, and Curtis, in the Bristol goal, was continually being called upon. When the second half started Exeter monopolised the play. Compton initiated a good attack, and though he eventually lost the ball it ran loose to Dent, who made no mistake with a fast ground shot into the back of the net. This was easily the best goal of the match. The home side proved the stronger afterwards, and further goals were scored by Paul and Geddes. The Exeter team excelled in defence, Miller, Pollard, and Holland combining well and playing a steady game. The forwards on occasions lacked finishing power, and several scoring chances were lost.