Exeter City's Great Rally 
THREE GOALS SCORED IN SECOND HALF

Saturday, October 15th 1927.
EXETER CITY 3 LUTON TOWN 2.

St James's Park and the weather were in the pink of condition for the League match between Exeter City and Luton Town, and a hard game was anticipated in view of the recent improvement shown by both these sides. The Grecians, who have secured seven of the last eight points they have played for, had an opportunity today of equalling their post-war ground record, set up in season 1919-20, of a run of five home matches without defeat. Luton, on the other hand, came to Exeter flushed with a 6-1 victory last week against Crystal Palace, and eager to achieve their first away win.

Exeter City: Holland; Pollard and Miller; Phoenix, Pool, and Gee; Purcell, McDevitt, Dent, Vaughan, and Compton.

Luton Town: Muir; Kingham and Graham; Black, Fulton, and Fraser; Pointon, Yardley, Rennie, Harkins, and Nunn.

Referee:- Mr J.V.Pennington, of Reading.

Graham won the toss and Dent set the ball in motion towards the big bank end before 8,000 spectators. Combining cleverly from the very outset, the Exeter forwards fairly "made things hum" in the opening minutes, and the onlookers cheered to the echo when Dent and Vaughan, by neat inter-passing, tricked the Luton defence, and Dent tested Muir with a splendid swerving shot. Muir fisted the ball out sideways, and Compton instantly darted in and drove with great force a foot or so wide of the upright. Pool and Phoenix were prominent with strong half-back play, and Luton, though quite nippy themselves, were mostly forced back on defence during the first quarter of an hour.

Luton Improve and Take the Lead.

The visitors became dangerous when Yardley sent a long pass down the field to Rennie, and Pollard heading out, the ball was returned by Miller to Yardley, who shot splendidly for the top of the goal. Holland judged the ball expertly and tipped it over the bar. Pointon profited by hesitation by Gee and Millerand whipped over a dangerous centre, but Pollard headed clear. Nunn next got through with a sparkling piece of dribbling, and Pollard again rescued Exeter with an excellent tackle and clearance. Luton had improved considerably, and they took the lead after 22 minutes. A centre came over from Pointon on the right wing, and Holland, coming out of his goal, failed to gather the ball, and fell. Harkins touched the ball back to Yardley, who lost no time in stabbing it low into the empty net.

A Breakaway and Another Goal.

For a time the Grecians hammered away at the Luton defence without profit, and then in 27 minutes the visitors broke away sensationally from their own half, and scored number two. Yardley sent a long and strong pass to Rennie, who was standing on the half-way line. Rennie immediately placed another equally long pass down the field for Nunn to take up the ball in his stride, stave off a challenge by Phoenix (who made a gallant attempt to overtake the flying man on the ball), close in towards goal and beat Holland with a low cross-shot. The Exeter defence had lost its grip of the game completely for the time being, and only a slice of luck saved the City goal from falling again, Rennie just missing from Nunn's centre. Vaughan spoiled one Exeter attack by handling the ball, and Muir saved a good header from Compton. At half-time the score was Luton 2 Exeter City nil.

Second Half.

Luton Town were such a quick and capable team that it seemed as if Exeter, the "rally champions," had tempted fate once too often. Two minutes only of the second half had elapsed, however, when they reduced their deficit. Compton beat Kingham by his speed and centred right into the Luton goalmouth, and Muir caught the ball correctly, but Purcell dashed up and charged the goalkeeper, who fell and released the ball, which rolled into the net. This very welcome success thoroughly roused the crowd, and the Grecians redoubled their efforts. Black at the other end of the field sent in a stinging shot a minute after the scoring of Exeter's goal, but the ball flew just wide. Pool went off for some minutes to receive attention for a damaged ankle, and Nunn was also crippled.

The Initiative Passed to Exeter City.

Compton and Vaughan tried to force the pace but their movements lacked that finishing touch which counts. Dent and Graham collided in an exciting Exeter attack, both men lying prone on the turf for a long time before the ball went out of play, Mr Pennington apparently not feeling himself at liberty to stop the game. Dent recovered quickly, but it was some few minutes before Graham resumed. The City centre-forward was treated with scant ceremony by the Luton defenders whenever he threatened the visiting goal, and he was again bundled over roughly on receiving the ball from Purcell. By now the initiative had definitely passed to Exeter City, and the visiting goal was repeatedly in peril. At threequarter time precisely the City scored a second goal, and were level again. This time in a lively attack the ball was hooked over to the far side by Purcell, and Dent headed into the net. This was not all. The Grecians were far from satisfied with being on terms, and set up a sustained attack, forcing several corners. Then in a real bombardment of the Luton goal, in which Muir made two brilliant saves, Purcell finally rammed the leather into the net with a powerful rising shot, and the crowd simply went wild with enthusiasm. Such tremendous cheering is very seldom heard at St James's Park, for the Exonians are not the most demonstrative of football supporters. Once again, as in the matches against Southend and Bournemouth, the Grecians had rallied amazingly. The Luton defence was very sorely tried in the remaining play, and Muir saved his side when Compton sent in a real "pile-driver" from an acute angle. More Exeter attacks were carried through with zest and fire, and the Luton team had evidently shot its bolt in the first half.

Notes on the Game.

Today the Grecians showed what one frankly would have believed to have been the impossible. Luton Town seemed to have the match absolutely in their hands when the teams crossed over, and how the City pulled the game right round, as they did, is a mystery. Again, as in recent home matches, it was a case of "persistency pays," but the persistency this time was coupled with an all-round smartening up which was the means of transforming the side from a dull eleven into a team of tremendous triers and competent footballers. To Purcell belongs the credit of Exeter's first and third goals, and he, too, had a big share in the second. Luton, superior in the first half, were even more dismayed and disillusioned than were Southend United in similar circumstances a month ago. For the Grecians the result was a great triumph. Alec Pool's strong game, and sheer determination at centre-half had a lot to do with the eventual result.

PORTLAND UNITED v EXETER CITY RESERVES.

Exeter City Reserves played a "1,000 guarantee" match at Portland against the United, and drew, 1-1.In the first half Portland though facing a strong sun did the majority of the attacking, and Wainwright saved two excellent shots from Mills. At half-time neither side had scored. Fifteen minutes from the finish Parfitt saved from Portland, and six minutes from the final whistle McDade equalised with the best shot of the match. Exeter's display impressed the home supporters, who voted it the best match ever seen at the Portland ground.