Exeter City v Northampton Town
Saturday, January 21st 1928.

EXETER CITY (Vaughan) 1 NORTHAMPTON TOWN (Wells) 1.

But for the enormous interest aroused locally by Exeter City's exploits in the National Cup competition, today's match with Northampton at St. James's Park for Football League points would rank as the outstanding event of the middle season period in this, the Grecians' most stirring and successful campaign. The two clubs are making a great stir in the wake of Millwall, who head the Southern Section, and of the three rivals at the top of the League table, only Exeter City remain directly interested in the Cup tournament. It was a quite remarkable coincidence that while the Grecians drew 3-3 at Rotherham last Saturday, Northampton drew 3-3 at Sunderland, but whereas on Wednesday the City won the replay, the Cobblers on Thursday were beaten 3-nil. St James's Park is in a water-logged and very heavy condition, with a wide belt of mud down the middle from goal to goal. The going for centre halves and centre forwards today called for exceptional stamina.

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

Northampton Town: Hammond; Watson and Jeffs; Wilson, Maloney, and Odell; Daly, Smith, Price, Shaw, and Wells.

Referee: Mr H.E.Gray, of London.

Exeter City today found it necessary to make their first team change since mid December, and their first forward alteration since mid September. Fred Dent, the centre-forward, strained a thigh muscle in the cup replay, and Phoenix was recalled to lead the attack.
Northampton have been faced with a centre-forward problem ever since Loasby broke his leg in the Cup match against Brighton on December 10th. Cowen and Frazer have been tried in that position since Cockle was also injured, but for today's match the Cobblers decided to make the experiment of playing Price, the former Norwich City inside left, at centre forward.

The Game.

A blustering wind, warm and wet, swept the ground from end to end, and this was going to be a big advantage to the team which faced the far end. There were nearly ten thousand spectators present to greet the teams, and it was noticeable that the referee moved about very gingerly in the centre circle, where the mud was deepest. Northampton won the toss, and had the advantage of the wind in the opening half.

The game opened quietly, but inside two minutes Purcell, receiving the ball from Phoenix, outpaced Odell and centred low to the goalmouth, Hammond just managing to fist clear as Phoenix came storming in. Exeter were quicker than their opponents, and Purcell's clever two-footed play was a big factor in helping the City to maintain steady pressure. When the Cobblers eventually made ground Wells shot weakly behind. Smart combination by Exeter roused the enthusiasm of the crowd, but all at once the Cobblers improved, and by means of clever position play they were able to mount one or two attacks on their own account. Pollard handled a centre from Daly on the edge of the Exeter penalty area, and the free kick, by Daly, was headed into the net by Wells for the first goal, in thirteen minutes. Five minutes before the interval Smith had an easy scoring chance, but failed to beat Holland. When Phoenix was racing to take a pass from Compton he was
charged off the ball by Jeffs inside the penalty area, but Exeter's appeal for a penalty kick was ignored.

Half-time: City 0 Northampton 1.

Second Half.

For some time after the change of ends the Grecians fully extended their oppo nents' defence in a persistent series of raids, but Watson and Jeffs stood very firm, and Hammond was in the mood to let nothing pass him. Presently Northampton got away on the right, and Daly's accurate centre left Price with an open goal. The mud beat him, however, and Holland was able to save a sticky shot. Exeter attacked again and Hammond was lucky to save a stinging low shot from Purcell, with Phoenix and Vaughan closing in. In further exciting play Jeffs gave away a corner and Purcell shot into the side net from the flag kick. "Hands" by a Town player close to the penalty area led to Mason from the free kick trying a direct shot, but the ball struck an opponent and was diverted from the goal. Exeter alleged that Northampton had handled, and when the referee awarded a corner he was fairly "mobbed" by the Grecians, but would not alter his decision. He was hooted and booed by the crowd. Twenty-five minutes of the second half had elapsed when Vaughan equalised. He received the ball in the penalty area from McDevitt, checked the pass on his chest and went on to guide the ball past the advancing goalkeeper in classy and thrilling style. In further play a header from Vaughan hit the crossbar and a swerving cross shot from McDevitt rebounded with force from the goalpost.

Notes on the Game.

It was a splendid game, albeit somewhat rowdy towards the end. The teams were exceptionally clever for this class of football, and well matched. Northampton's delightful combination was very successful in the first period, and Holland deserves special credit for keeping the score down. Later Exeter were right on top, and in massed attacks made sterling efforts to break down the Cobblers' resistance. Watson and Jeffs were an untiring and resolute pair of backs. Hammond in this half performed prodigies in defence of his goal, and was ably supported in his work by almost every member of the team. Desperate were the Grecians' attacks, and equally desperate was the Cobblers' defence. Mason's strength was a big factor in Exeter's favour. Conspicuously successful in the centre of the field, he held up the Northampton Town attack time and again, and the experiment of trying Price at centre forward failed largely because of Mason. The energy and dash of Pollard was aided effectively by the cool and clever play of Miller on the opposite defensive flank. Vaughan scored a splendid and richly deserved equalising goal with 20 minutes to capture both points. Apart from those mentioned, Gee, Purcell and Vaughan were outstanding players in the Exeter side. of the match still to go, and Exeter were unlucky, on the run of the play, not

WESTERN LEAGUE
WEYMOUTH 1
EXETER CITY RESERVES 1.

Exeter City Reserves had Chambers at right half for Phoenix in their Western League match at Weymouth today. Bad feeling was shown early in the game, and the referee had to speak to some of the players. It was obvious that Exeter had sent a strong team, and it was not long before Harper was in action, but Weymouth scored an unexpected goal after 20 minutes. Shortly before the interval Weymouth were awarded a penalty kick, and Harper left his goal to come up and take it, but his shot was saved by Wainwright with the greatest of ease. Andrews netted for Exeter at close range in the second half, the pass leading to the goal being supplied by McDade.
Weymouth:- Harper; Allen, Brown; Huddy, Pillinger, Bown; Swindles, Pitman, Wilson, Haywood, and Toms.

City Reserves:- Wainwright; Lowton, Charlton; Jenkins, McDade, Andrews, Parkin, and Kirk. Chambers, Pool, Warren;