F.A.CUP TIE SECOND ROUND AT ST JAMES'S PARK CITY v ILFORD

Saturday, December 10th 1927.
Amateurs' Plucky Fight
EXETER CITY 5 ILFORD 3.

Though beaten at Exeter the amateurs put up a surprisingly good show, and a plucky fight, and gave the City plenty to think about. The football played by Ilford was typically amateur, relying on speed and cleverness rather than on robust tactics, but at the same time they were never averse to "tilting a lance" when the occasion demanded.
The first half yielded four goals to Exeter, Dent and Purcell each getting a brace, and one to Ilford, Drane scoring. In the second half McDevitt scored for the Grecians, and Holmes netted twice for the visitors, the second being one of the finest goals seen on the ground this season.

The position play of the Ilford backs today was not far below the professional standard of the average Third Division side. In Dellow they had an excellent centre-forward, and he was well supported by Holmes and Drane.

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

Ilford: H. Norman; P.S.Banks and R.T.Wade; V.F.Welsh, E. Gilderson, and A.K.Barrett; F.V.Dand, F.E.Holmes, R.C.Dellow, F.A.Drane, and G. Peploe.

Referee:- Mr C.E.Hold, of Somerset County Association.

Linesmen: Messrs A.H.Luke and S.S.Trenchard.

The afternoon was dull but dry, and with good visibility. A stiff breeze blew along the ground from the direction of the railway line, so that the winning of the toss was a matter of some importance. From two o'clock onwards the spectators came along in droves, and the turnstiles worked busily until the kick-off, when the attendance was 8,000. The Grecians were first out and Ilford followed immediately. They were a tall, well set-up team in their blue and white hooped jerseys. Welsh won the toss, and Exeter had to face the breeze for the first half. In the first minute the City were awarded a free kick close to the visitors' penalty area, but the danger ended when Dent was adjudged offside. Purcell in the next minute forced a corner, but his flag kick was short and presented no difficulty to the tall defenders. Charlton dealt effectively with the first Ilford advance, and at the other end Banks headed behind the goal a shot by Purcell. When the corner kick came over Compton was penalised for handling. Another corner to Exeter was gained by the left wing pair, from which Gee tried a shot, but the ball travelled well past the posts. Exeter continued to apply pressure, the ball being too much in the air, and when Compton swung it into the goalmouth Norman fisted out. Norman then saved a shot from Vaughan, and in the twelfth minute Dent scored for the City. Vaughan passed to Compton, whose strong centre appeared to be going behind until Purcell jumped high and headed the ball back to the middle for Dent to hook it into the net. Dent scored again six minutes later, his header from Compton's centre going into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Close Shaves and a Goal by Purcell.

Again the Ilford defence was beaten, but Compton's shot jussed missed with only the goalkeeper to beat. McDevitt cleverly beat Barrett and fed Compton with a lovely pass. From the return centre "Mac" headed strongly against the crossbar, and from the rebound Dent headed just over. The Exeter full backs, Charlton especially, were a tremendous obstacle to the Ilford forwards, and the Grecians dominated the play. They had bad luck with further shots, both Vaughan and Purcell hitting the framework of the goal and there were close shaves in abundance for Norman and his backs. A throw-in by Phoenix put Vaughan in possession, and another shot whistled narrowly over the Ilford bar. Then a free-kick to Exeter in mid-field, taken by Gee, saw the ball swung out to Compton, who brushed aside the attempted challenge by Banks and centred to Purcell, and the right-winger side-footed the ball low into the net for Exeter's third goal.
Dent next missed badly after clever play by Phoenix and Purcell, then from a corner on the right McDevitt headed forcefully against the upright. A smart attack by Vaughan, Dent, and Compton had the Ilford defence all at sea, but Compton's eventual shot flew over the crossbar.

Ilford Overdo the Passing.

Dellow and his colleagues at inside forward made the mistake whenever they got within range of the Exeter goal, which was not very often, of overdoing the passing, and more than one shooting chance was wasted in this fashion. McDevitt's shrewd tactics and clever passing was altogether too much for the Ilford defence, and from one of his moves Purcell notched another goal for the Grecians, six minutes before the interval. Almost on the stroke of half time Drane scored for Ilford, the goal being warmly applauded. The state of the game at the interval was Exeter City 4 Ilford 1.

Great Fight-back by Ilford.

Ilford started the second half with commendable dash, but their play was too wild to succeed, and the City forwards were soon busy as the other end. Two splendid saves were made by Norman from Compton and Purcell. Gee's skilful play led to further aggression by the City forwards, and a nice pass from Dent was captured by Purcell, who rounded Wade and dribbled close, but his point-blank shot was saved by Norman. Play became keener than at any previous period, and Ilford in this half were certainly staging a great fight-back. Exeter gradually wore their opponents down again, and from McDevitt's pass Dent fired the ball over the bar. Then Charlton advanced to the attack, dribbling past man after man, but ended by slicing the ball several yards wide of the goal. Pool was covering Dellow so well that the amateur international rarely got in touch with the ball. On the other hand the Ilford defence had brightened up considerably, and with Norman now at his best the City forwards could not make much impression. Twenty-seven minutes of the second half had gone by when Ilford scored again, Welsh driving the ball strongly across the face of the Exeter goal from ten yards outside the penalty area for Holmes to head a brilliantly spectacular goal. It was the best one of the match, and the spectators were generous in their applause. But the most popular goal of the afternoon was still to come. From a corner kick taken by Purcell the ball went straight to McDevitt, and the resultant drive by the City skipper nearly shattered the net with Norman motionless. Less than a minute remained when Holmes scored Ilford's third goal with a lovely cross-shot.

The official attendance was 8,501, and the receipts £521. 2s.Od.

The Ilford club's president, the Rev.Herbert Dunnico, M.P., stated after the game that he thought the match had been played in a very sportsmanlike fashion, that it had been a very good game. Exeter deserved to win, and Ilford were perfectly satisfied with the result. They were delighted with the reception they had received from the Exeter City club and its spectators, and wished Exeter the very best of luck in subsequent cup-ties.


SOUTHERN LEAGUE
NEWPORT COUNTY RESERVES 3 EXETER CITY RESERVES 3.

Exeter City Reserves were at Somerton Park, Newport, this afternoon, meeting
the Reserves of Newport County in a Southern League match. Newport gave trials to two amateurs, Pritchard and Hardy, both forwards. In the first Exeter attack McDade shot hard and Blakemore saved at the second attempt, then Mason skimmed the crossbar with a terrific drive. Jenkins rounded McGuire and passed to Lowton, who scored. The second goal was scored by Andrews, also from Jenkins's pass. Wainwright stopped a penalty, taken by Pick, but the ball rebounded to Pick, who ran it into the net. At half time the City Reserved led by 2-1. In the second half Pick equalised for Newport, Mason pu Exeter ahead again, and in a brilliant finish Taylor levelled the scores at three-all.

• EXETER CITY TO PLAY AT ROTHERHAM. The draw for the third round of the Cup, announced on Monday, December 12th, is: Rotherham United v Exeter City, at Rotherham, to be played on Saturday, January 14th 1928, kick-off 2.15 p.m. Among the messages received by the Exeter City club on the eve of the second round cup-tie v Ilford was a wire to the players, wishing good luck to them, from Frank Thompson, who last season was on the club's books, as a centre forward. Thompson, who is now with Workington, was married during the past week.