Six Goals Shared at St James's Park
WATFORD'S GREAT SECOND HALF RALLY
Saturday, October 22nd 1927.

EXETER CITY 3 WATFORD 3.

Last night's downpour made the going heavy for today's Football League match at St James's Park between Exeter City and Watford, but the weather cleared up in good time for the game, and there were six thousand spectators present when play commenced.

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

Watford: Yates; Prior and Kirkpatrick; Smith, Woodward, and Morris; Hills, Warner, Foster, Sheppard, and Daniels.

Referee: Mr W.Evans, of Barry.

It was noticed that Holland had discarded his usual green jersey for one of a brilliant scarlet. McDevitt won the toss, and Exeter occupied the St. James's Road end in the opening half. The Grecians were very lively in the first few minutes of play, and only three of these had elapsed when Yates turned a shot from McDevitt round the post, and from Compton's flag-kick Purcell headed very neatly across to the far corner of the net for a sensational opening goal.

A Goal That Was Doubly Appreciated.

Although the Grecians have scored thirteen goals in their last five games, it was the first they had netted in the opening half of any match since Crystal Palace came here on September 7th, so that this goal was doubly appreciated by all except the visiting team. Play quietened down for a time after the scoring of the goal, a strong slanting sun giving trouble to both sets of players. Exeter were better together so far than their opponents, and Phoenix, Pool, and Gee put in such effective work that Watford were rarely seen in attack, but a short back pass from Miller to Holland with Hills in close attendance looked very risky, and in fact Holland had to throw himself full length on the ball and turn it over to Miller again for the young back to clear it.

Defensive Misunderstandings.

Another defensive misunderstanding in which Holland and Miller were once more both concerned caused considerable anxiety, the goalkeeper, who had advanced from his charge, letting the ball run past him. Luckily for Exeter, he was in time to retrieve the position. Very smart work by Compton at the other end at high speed was much to the liking of the spectators, but on the opposite wing Purcell was slow and inclined to dwell on the ball, and there were shouts of "Get on with it." Watford made ground with long and hefty passing, and Foster fed Hills in this style. The ball was returned swiftly to the centre, and Holland had to save at point-blank range from Foster. Foster then attempted a breakaway but was robbed in a dour tackle by Pollard, and straight away Exeter scored again through Purcell, who headed Dent's pass past Yates and into the empty goal. The game was then 25 minutes old. Three minutes later Yates fell in attempting to hold a hot shot from Compton, and the ball rolled loose in the goalmouth. Compton coolly rammed it into the net, catching hold of the upright post as he shot. Five minutes from the interval Warner headed a goal for Watford from Daniels's centre.

Half-time: City 3 Watford 1.
Second Half.

The City forwards re-opened as brightly as ever, and Vaughan twice came near to scoring, the second time heading just wide from Dent's centre. Daniels threatened danger to Exeter in ensuing play, and it was clear that the visitors regarded him as the "trump card" in their attack. Holland saved from Warner, and Watford's game was improving in this half. Twenty minutes after half time Pollard was penalised for a foul on Foster in the home penalty area. Sheppard gave Holland no chance with his fast drive to the top of the net from the penalty mark. Yates made great saves from Vaughan and McDevitt in turn, and Dent rattled the framework of the goal with a tremendous drive on the volley. But with but five minutes remaining Phoenix slipped and let Daniels get away. The winger tried a direct shot and the ball passed through Holland's hands and into the home goal for the equaliser. It was a disappointing finish to the game.

Notes on the Game.

When the Grecians broke out early in the matter of scoring, getting three in the first half hour, the optimists were led to expect a real glut of goals. It was heightened by the obvious weaknesses in the Watford defence. Watford's great second half rally supplied the sensation today, and by way of a change the spectators saw the Grecians fighting desperately not to get back on terms, but to hold something of the lead already in hand. Exeter's unbeaten ground record survives, but today's game finished in a very disappointing manner after the three goals of the first half. Holland might have saved the visitors' first and third goals, and his display was not up to the usual standard.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
MERTHYR TOWN RESERVES 1
CITY RESERVES 0

Southern League match, played in heavy rain on a waterlogged ground, in front of 1,500 spectators at Penydarren Park. Exeter opened strongly, and Kirk sent over a model centre from which Lievesley almost scored. Merthyr took the lead in 30 minutes following a free-kick against Mason, for "hands." The ball was netted by Astley with a low drive to the corner of the net, giving Wainwright no chance. Lievesley was a splendid leader for Exeter, who also possessed two clever wingers in Jenkins and Kirk.