FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CUP: EXETER CITY AND ROTHERHAM REPLAY
At St. James's Park

Wednesday, January 18th 1928.

The sole surviving South-Western club in the Football Association Challenge Cup competition, Exeter City, were out today to uphold the honour of the Southern Section in their third round replay with Rotherham United, and to make Blackburn Rovers travel to Exeter in the fourth round of the competition. Not for many years have the Grecians been engaged in a match of such compelling interest, the inter-section clash at Rotherham last Saturday having been of so stirring a character that the second meeting between the clubs at St James's Park aroused the greatest possible enthusiasm. Exeter, naturally very hopeful of success today, having been beaten once only on their own ground this season, were in the happy position of placing in the field intact the team which did duty so well last Saturday, and which has been unbeaten in a run of seven League and Cup matches, five of which they have won. The Rotherham party travelled to Exeter yesterday and it included seven of the United's directors and thirteen players, besides a number of friends. A further party of supporters was expected by a train leaving Sheffield about midnight. In addition to the team of last week-end, Higginbotham and Hall made the journey. Hall is a strong, bustling type of centre forward, and it is a fact that in his first match for Rotherham, on November 5th, which was also his opening game in big football, he scored four goals against Wigan Borough. Hall formerly played for Peterborough and Fletton United.

Footballers at the Pantomime.

The Bude Hotel was the Rotherham team's headquarters overnight, and the party spent the evening at the pantomime at the Theatre Royal, where a complimentary reference by "Widow Twankey" in the course of the performance was very highly appreciated.

This morning the visiting players, trainer, and directors paid a brief visit of inspection to St. James's Park. The weather was warm and a steady drizzle was falling. The turf was soft and clinging, and the conditions promised a very heavy afternoon's work for both teams. The Rotherham Club officials were warmly enthusiastic over the fine match at Millmoor on Saturday, and declared that it was the cleanest and cleverest cup tie ever seen there, and that the Exeter City team and supporters were some of the best sportsmen that had ever visited their ground. The Rotherham Chairman was unable to accompany the team on this long trip. He is over seventy years of age and did not feel quite equal to the journey.

The Optimism of Mr Heald.

Asked if Rotherham United expected to win today, Mr W.Heald, their secretary manager, exclaimed: "By gum we do, lad!" In the course of the morning the Rotherham directors decided to play Hall at centre forward to the exclusion of Hemingway, this being the only change from last Saturday in either team.

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

Rotherham United:- Atter; Jackson and Turner; Snee, Reed, Sellars, Clayton, Hall, Lievesley, and Scott.

Referee: Mr A.A. Archer, of Market Harborough. Linesmen: Messrs F.W.Reeve and P.Harris.

An appeal by the Exeter City Chairman, Mr M.J.McGahey, through the columns of the Express and Echo to employers of labour to release those of their men who wished the attend the match was very sportingly received locally. Messrs Willey and Company Limited, the largest works in the city, arranged to close for the afternoon. Club colours were freely worn by the soccer enthusiasts who poured into the "Ever Faithful" from all parts of Devon this morning, and of course the Grecians' red and white predominated.  All reserved seats in the grand-stand were booked up before noon, and among the early arrivals at the ground was the midnight train party of Rotherham supporters, sporting their "Black and Amber" favours. The spectators came in and Bailey; early in a great stream, and by two o'clock there were fully 8,000 present, and the turnstiles were still clicking away as fast as they could go. The weather, unfortunately, was very gloomy, a drizzling mist enveloping the ground. There was a great volume of cheering when McDevitt appeared at the head of the Grecians, and this was renewed in honour of the Millmoor brigade. The referee led the two team captains away from the muddy centre spot to toss up, but the coin, even so, stuck in the mud at the first attempt. At the second attempt McDevitt was successful in naming correctly, and Exeter City occupied the St James's Road end.

The Game.

Vaughan quickly placed Exeter on the attack, and by means of a succession of clever moves the pressure was maintained, the crowd being kept in a state of high excitement. At length Bailey got the ball out to Scott, but the winger's centre was gathered by Holland, who cleared. Mason headed out a free kick by Turner, but Rotherham regained possession, and Scott passed to Lievesley, who shot over the bar. Miller repelled another businesslike Rotherham advance, but the visitors were keeping things lively, and now forced a corner. Sellars's flag kick was headed out by Miller, and Dent raced Turner for a long pass from McDevitt down the middle. Turner won, and another Rotherham attack ended with Holland falling to save from Scott. A free kick was given to Exeter for a foul on Holland.

Goal Disallowed for Offside.

The City forwards now had a look-in, but Jackson and Turner defended so well that the attackers did not get a shooting chance till McDevitt fed Compton, who quickly gave Vaughan a pass which he could take in his stride. Vaughan's shot was weak and wide of the goal. Exeter returned to the attack immediately, and Turner came across and checked Compton. The ball went speedily to the other end and Holland saved a likely looking centre from Sellars. A free kick to Rotherham for hands was safely cleared by Pollard. Play was even and very keen, and so far neither side had gained any obvious advantage. Gee tested Atter with a long range shot just under the bar, and the goalkeeper saved capably. The attendance had increased to about 11,000. Hall netted for Rotherham with
a strong cross-shot, but the whistle had already gone for offside. Scott and Lievesley between them beat Pollard, and Holland had to concede a corner in saving from Scott. From the centre Hall headed over and across the City goal. In the best Exeter attack so far Purcell appeared to have the goal completely
at his mercy. His shot was both forceful and accurate, but Atter jumped and touched the ball over the bar in magnificent fashion. The corner was cleared. There was a big thrill when Hall galloped away down the centre with the ball at his feet. Miller was guarding him, but Hall tried a shot and failed to hit the ball properly. Lievesley dashed in, however, and Holland had all his work cut out to prevent a goal.

Vaughan raised the hopes of the crowd by feeding Purcell and Compton in turn with excellent passes, and from one of these Compton forced a corner. Exeter kept up the pressure in great style, and the visiting defence was more fully extended than at any time previously. The Rotherham goal had a very narrow escape when Purcell middled to Compton close to the post. Then at last came the goal the crowd had been waiting for. Atter pushed the ball over the line to give a corner, and from Purcell's flag-kick a scramble ensued, in which Vaughan pounced on the leather and drove it low to the net with a glorious shot. The game was exactly half an hour old, and the enthusiasm of the crowd was immense. Rotherham made great efforts to get back on terms, but the Exeter defence was solid, and no weakness could be found. Turner performed wonders in Rotherham's defence when Exeter attacked, and in the last minute of this half Sellars got away with a clear field and shot fiercely, Holland making a splendid save. At the interval the score was:
Exeter City 1 Rotherham United nil.

Second Half.

When the second half opened Pollard sent well down the field to Vaughan, who headed into Atter's waiting hands. Rotherham made ground quickly to the other end and Miller and Sellars had a rare tussle. Sellars captured a rebound, and centred to Scott, who tried to stab the ball into the net as he had done in the first match, but to the relief of the spectators the shot travelled wide. The game continued very tense and exciting, and it was clear that the City could not afford to slacken their efforts.

Purcell, who was Exeter's most dangerous forward, was sending in a stream of beautifully judged centres which were not being put to the best use, but at length he beat Turner in a tussle for possession and crossed the ball again. Dent and Atter made for the ball and both missed. Vaughan, however, was just in the right position to connect, and he headed into the net at express speed to score his second goal of the match. This goal came after seven minutes of the second half had been played, and the cheering must have been heard many hundreds of yards from the ground.

Exeter Playing With Confidence.

Stubbornness on the part of both teams was the feature of ensuing play, and every yard of ground was sternly contested. The City, however, were playing now with the confidence of a winning team, and were the superior side. After seventeen minutes of the second half had ticked away the City scored a spectacular third goal. Compton got away at full speed from the centre line and fed Dent, who gave Purcell a lovely ground pass. Purcell gathered up the ball in his stride, dodged his way round Turner, and rattled the net with a thundering cross-shot; a really brilliant goal. This, of course, was enough to settle the issue, and by now Rotherham United must have come to the conclusion that it was not going to be their day. The Grecians were very strong and half-back and back, and Holland had done brilliantly in goal. The whole team in fact had contributed to this very useful lead. They were now attacking almost continuously, and the forwards appeared to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. Compton shot over the bar and Atter saved brilliantly from Dent.

The City's combination all through the team enabled them to keep Rotherham at full stretch, while they themselves were now able to take things comparatively easy. Atter averted another certain score when he intercepted a centre from Compton almost on the toes of the waiting Dent. Rotherham were by now a well beaten side, and their hopeful followers were having a thin time of it. The defence was squarely beaten again when a shot from Compton cannoned against the foot of a goalpost, and Atter made another excellent save, this time from McDevitt. The goalkeeper then saved from Purcell. Seven minutes before the finish, and after a long spell of defending, Scott, breaking away from midfield, scored for Rotherham with a beautiful oblique drive from eighteen yards, the ball flying into the net well out of Holland's reach. Exeter replied with two or three excellent combined moves, but nothing else was scored, the result being:
Exeter City 3 Rotherham United 1.

Notes on the Game.

Now it really is Exeter City v Blackburn Rovers at St James's Park in the next
round of the Cup, on Saturday week!

Rotherham counted themselves to be unlucky to be in arrears this afternoon at the interval. They had for the first half been a dangerous and hard working team, and would have scored once at least if they had made the most of their chances. Exeter were steady in all departments once they had the lead, and throughout the second half gave a fine display of football. In fact there could not be any question at all about the Grecians' superiority after the interval. They won in a canter. Vaughan paved the way with two lovely goals, and the effort which Purcell in the second half wound up with his spectacular scoring shot was one of the best combined movements ever seen on the ground.

Holland deserves a special mention on his brilliant goalkeeping during the most crucial stage of the game. Pollard and Miller gave him fine support as the match developed. Atter, Jackson, and Turner were splendid defenders in the visiting team, and deserve full credit for a sterling and courageous display. The goalkeeper is a master of his art. The substitution of Hall for Hemingway at centre-forward made very little, if any, difference to the Rotherham attack. Hall is more thrustful, and quicker, than Hemingway, but much less of a footballer.

Bookings for the Blackburn Match.

It was officially announced from St James's Park that all seats in the grand stand can now be booked at 58.9d. for the Blackburn Rovers v Exeter City game on application to the club headquarters, with cash and return postage. The rest of the prices for this match will be announced later. The attendance at today's match was officially returned at 11,805, with gate receipts of £777.