Northampton v Exeter City Exeter Not Five Goals Worse Than the Cobblers 

But Three In Ten Minutes Seal City's Fate

The visit of the Grecians attracted a good "gate" to the County Ground. Exeter made five changes and the Cobblers three, and the spectators were treated to a lively start, with the Northampton forwards passing well from the time of the ball being first set in motion, but throwing away several chances through poor shooting.

Cobblers:- Hammond; Brett and Jeffs; Allon, Maloney, and Wilson; Daly, Smith, Loasby, Hoten, and Wells.

City: Wainwright; Lowton and Charlton; Ditchburn, Mason, and Gee; Purcell, Phoenix, Andrews, Dent, and Kirk.

Referee: Mr E. Bray, of London.

Lowton rendered yeoman service to the City on the occasion soon after the kick off when Wainwright had been enticed from goal, by rushing back and kicking out. Andrews and Phoenix, taking up a long pass from Mason, turned the tide in the Grecians' favour, but the Northampton defence easily held them.

Kirk and Purcell then combined well in a swift run, resulting in Dent narrowly missing the posts with a long shot. After eight minutes a free-kick led to the downfall of Exeter's goal, Wilson taking the kick and beating Wainwright, who fumbled a bouncing ball.

Ditchburn Played a Sound and Cool Game.

Wells and Hoten were dangerous, being too fast for Lowton, and Maloney saw to it that plenty of passes were directed their way, but with Ditchburn playing a very sound and cool game the threat was lessened, and once when Hoten thrust his way through from Wells's pass Wainwright cleared in great style. Wells failed twice when nicely placed in front of goal. Exeter's defence though pressed was doing quite well against Northampton's militant forwards, and Kirk in breakaways was a dangerous raider who presented Dent and Andrews with good opportunities that were not turned to account. Mason was playing a splendid game, and he and Phoenix distinguished themselves with much elever play. Exeter held their own for 29 minutes, but were generally eclipsed by Hammond and the backs. Then in the last ten minutes of this half Northampton, combining well and playing brilliant football, scored thrice in quick succession. First of all Loasby dribbled towards goal after receiving the ball from Smith, and placed it wide of Wainwright into the net as the goalkeeper took his courage in both hands and came out as a last resort; Hoten followed with another when he headed through from Daly's centre; while Smith then got right through own and flashed a great shot into the top corner of the net. At half-time Northampton led by four goals to nil. on his

Daly Scored the Fifth Goal.

Northampton began the second half with a series of attacks, and were it not for the brilliant work of Wainwright and Lowton, who was the best back of the four, they would have scored. But for ten minutes they were kept at bay. Then the Cobblers got their fifth goal, and it was scored by Daly, whose cross shot from Wells's pass had Wainwright easily beaten. The City, however, did not give up, and Purcell, Kirk and Phoenix each tried a shot deserving of a score. Dent then placed the ball outside with Hammond out of his goal, and the Exeter forwards were so persistent that it seemed that a goal must come, but Hammond, in his best form, saved from Andrews, Purcell and Dent. Then it was Exeter's turn to defend, and Wainwright received generous applause for saving from Hoten and Smith.

EXETER CITY RESERVES 4 BARRY 1

Barry were the visitors to St James's Park today in a Southern League match. A cool breeze made the afternoon ideal for football, although the ground was soft after a heavy rainstorm.

City Reserves: Holland; Pollard, Miller; Warren, Pool, Vaughan; Parkin, Lievesley, Chambers, Selley, and Compton.

Barry: Pritchard; Woodward, Davies; Evans, Blondell, Gardner; Price, Dempsey, Ward, Collier, and Warmington.

Referee: Mr W.J.Lambshead.

Pollard won the toss, and the Grecians had the first advantage of the wind. In nine minutes the visitors made ground cleverly through Price and Dempsey, and when the ball was middled it crossed the City goalmouth to Warmington, who lost no time in promptly banging it into the net. Chambers headed through from Parkin's centre but was given offside, and in the next Exeter move Lievesley headed against the post with Pritchard beaten. Then Chambers twice headed centres from Compton over the bar, but Compton's third centre was headed home by Lievesley. Pollard took a throw-in and thereby left the defence unguarded. Dempsey secured the ball and ran it into the net, but was adjudged to be offside. From another of Lievesley's notable headers, which bounced off the crossbar, Chambers drove the ball into the net to give Exeter the lead. A drizzle of rain now came on, and the teams crossed over at half-time without leaving the field. Chambers and Selley scored Exeter's third and fourth goals in the second half, in which the City were much the better side.

Wednesday, September 14th 1927.
EXETER CITY RESERVES' BRIGHT PLAY

Thrilling Southern League Match at Exeter

EXETER CITY RESERVES 1
BRISTOL CITY RESERVES 2.

Heavy and continuous rain, failing light, and a thoroughly sodden playing pitch made the conditions difficult for Wednesday evening's Southern League game, at St James's Park, but the one thousand spectators were treated to a fine match, played at top speed from start to finish, and crammed full of exciting moments. Great determination was shown by both teams, and also considerable skill. Exeter were responsible for much bright play, and the Bristol Reserves would be the first to admit that on the run of the game they were lucky to escape defeat.

City Reserves: Holland; Pollard, Miller; Phoenix, Mason, Warren; Purcell, Andrews, Chambers, Vaughan, and Compton.

Bristol City Reserves: Newlands ; Childs, Hughes; Searle, Murray, Geddes; Foster, Paul, Cherrett, Garland, and Callaghan.

All the scoring took place in a vivid four-minute spell early in the second half. Exeter took the lead eight minutes after the change of ends, Andrews with a wonderful header beating Newlands all ends up from Purcell's centre. Bristol equalised less than a minute afterwards, and barely two minutes later they won the match with their second and deciding goal, both being netted by Garland.

Comments.

Unfortunately the light was so bad in the second half that it was impossible to follow the ball's flight all the time. Yet it was clear that Exeter were piling on the pressure in a great attempt to regain the lead, and that in this hearty team-work every man in the team was playing his part well. Bristol City, being rather lucky, held out successfully. There was vim and vigour in the Exeter forward line, the only defects being the occasional faulty centreing of Purcell in the first half, and some awkwardness on the part of Chambers in front of the Bristol goal. Vaughan and Andrews both came out of the game with distinction, their scheming and shooting being very well done. Mason was a strong centre-half, and both Warren and Phoenix enthusiastic and clever intermediates. The defence of Miller, Pollard and Holland was brilliant.

• Popular Exeter City Winger's Injury. Tom Jenkins, the small but clever outside right who joined Exeter from Merthyr, is not experiencing the same good luck in the matter of immunity from injuries as he enjoyed when with the Martyrs last season. After getting over a kick on the ankle when playing against Crystal Palace, he fell heavily on his shoulder last Wednesday in the reserve match against Bristol City, and though no bones are broken his shoulder is badly bruised.