FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CUP:
FOURTH ROUND 

Exeter City Blackburn Rovers at James Park

ANOTHER WET DAY: AND A DRAWN MATCH

Saturday, January 28th, 1928.
EXETER CITY
(Gee penalty, Mason) 2
BLACKBURN ROVERS
(Roscamp, Rigby) 2

All the season bad weather has dogged the Exeter City club on its really big match days, and although yesterday was beautifully crisp and clear, the wind veered round to the South-West, in the course of the night, and brought on a rainstorm which lasted several hours this morning. St James's Park, therefore, became an absolute swamp by the time the first spectators lined up outside the gates to await admission to the eagerly anticipated F. A. Cup Fourth Round match between Exeter City and Blackburn Rovers. This was disappointing from the point of view of the crowd, especially as big numbers of people were expected in the city from all parts of Devon, besides the contingent of about two hundred spectators of the Rovers who came down during the night from Blackburn. On the other hand, when prominent officials of the rival clubs met at the ground this morning they all wore the winning smile; they all agreed that a watery pitch tended to the production of better football, because one effect was to ensure almost that the ball was kept low, and they all stated that in the viewpoint of the styles of the respective teams the rain was a blessing.

A Sure Sign.

Spectators began to queue up in the rain outside the ground entrances, both in St. James's Road and Well Street as early as 10.30 o'clock, and more club colours of the Exeter red and white and the Blackburn blue and white were in evidence in the streets during the morning than at any time in the history of the local club; a sure sign this that the Grecians have absolutely captured the fancy of their crowd.
Mr A.Barritt, the Blackburn Rovers F.C. secretary, was an early visitor this morning to St James's Park, and was interviewed by the "Express and Echo." Asked as to how the wet weather was likely to affect the Rovers' football, Mr Barritt said: "I think it will be a sufficient indication if I say I was praying for this sort of weather last night." He added that the team had a very comfortable journey down yesterday, even though it was too far to be entirely pleasurable. The party of directors and players left home at 10.47 o'clock in the morning and reached St David's at 8.30 p.m. "We came down with the Liverpool team," said Mr Barritt. "They were on their way to Cardiff and they left us at Pontypool Road."
Mr Barritt said that the club had arranged for the players and officials to go to London this evening after the match, but the Rovers were so charmed with what they saw of Exeter last night and this morning, they thought it would be better to stop here instead. Mr Barritt remarked that the players are visiting the Cathedral and other places of interest this morning, and that they will not come up to the Park till it is time to get ready for the match.

Roscamp Chosen as Centre Forward.

Thirteen players made the journey from Blackburn. Jones, the International back, who had been displaced by Roxburgh, and Holland, the centre forward who played last Saturday at the Sheffield Wednesday ground, accompanying the team as reserves. As had been previously announced, the Rovers were unable to carry out the original intention of fielding the eleven which beat Newcastle United 4-one in the last Cup round, Mitchell, centre forward, being unfit. Roscamp, signed on as a half-back, and previously a regular inside right, was chosen for the position, instead. Exeter City were at full strength, Dent having recovered from the strain he received in the Cup replay with Rotherham United, therefore the home side was the one which had played eight matches since mid-December without experiencing a defeat. The Rovers secretary, although seeing St James's Park at its worst, in the morning's rain, complimented the Exeter City club on the excellence of its
ground, and declared that in his experience it compared very favourably with Third Division grounds anywhere.

Exeter City: Red and white. Holland
Pollard Miller Ditchburn Mason Gee Purcell McDeviitt Dent Vaughan Compton

Referee: Mr H.E.Gray, of London.
Linesmen: Messrs T.Kirby and C.F.Minnitt.

Blackburn Rovers: Blue and white. Crawford Hutton Roxburgh Healless Rankine Campbell Thornewell Puddefoot Roscamp McLean Rigby

Among the many telegrams of good wishes received by the City club today was one from Mr Robert Jack, the secretary-manager of Plymouth Argyle. It read as follows: "Up Devon and the Third Division. Best wishes for success today from the directors and players of Plymouth Argyle." The Ilford Athletic and Rotherham United clubs which were ousted from the Cup Competition by Exeter City in the earlier rounds also telegraphed their good wishes, and there was another from Mrs Mavin, wife of the former Exeter City manager, now with the Crystal Palace F.C. The ground at St James's Park filled rapidly as the time came round to two o'clock, and the megaphone men had a great chance of taking an active part in the preliminary proceedings, urging the spectators to move along to make room for later arrivals. The Blackburn players put in an appearance at 1.45 o'clock, and had a look at the playing pitch before entering their dressing room.

Dick Pym's Opinion.

Among the spectators in the grandstand was Dick Pym, the old City goalkeeper and captain, who is out of action, having broken his wrist recently whilst playing for Bolton Wanderers against Leicester City. He declared that since seeing the Grecians playing the "close" game in the Rotherham and Northampton matches, he had revised his opinion of their chance of success against the Rovers; that the City would win if they swung the ball about. The police and club arrangements in connection with the match worked smoothly and efficiently, thanks to the cordial co-operation of the public. By 2. 15 o'clock it was clear that almost the entire mass of the spectators had taken up their position inside the ground, and the turnstiles were slack. The crowd was a very orderly one, the people being content for the most part to reserve the use of their lungs and their vocal organs for the match itself, and steam silently in the warm rain during the period of waiting. It was not found necessary to close the gates, for although the ground seemed very full there was no crushing. In the few minutes before the players came out "Artful Thomas, a very well known local character, entered the playing 11 field equipped with a megaphone and led the crowd in some very successful community singing. Then a great roar of cheering arose from the packed grandstand and terraces when the red and white of Exeter City was glimpsed in the tunnel, McDevitt leading, and this was renewed in honour of Blackburn Rovers, a powerful and hefty looking side in their light blue and white quartered jerseys and white knickers and blue and white stockings, led by Harry Healless, the celebrated English International half-back. McDevitt won the toss and Exeter lined up for the kick-off facing the "Duke" bank.

The Game.

Roscamp kicked off, tapping the ball to Pudde foot, and the Rovers began with a series of swinging long passes that had the City defence nonplussed, until Miller made a sliced clearance to touch. Rigby crossed to Thornewell, who was pulled up by Miller with a sliding tackle, and then Exeter made ground on the left. Compton centred wildly and Campbell gathered the ball and sent Rigby away, but Ditchburn overhauled the winger and fed McDevitt with a pass. In the Exeter raid which followed Roxburgh miskicked, but Vaughan and Dent were beaten by the mud in the penalty area and Dent, trying to feed Purcell, sent the ball into touch instead. Pollard saved the Grecians when he stalled off Roscamp in businesslike style, and the next move of note was a nippy advance by Purcell. From Dent's return pass Purcell was caught offside. The pace on the slippery ground was very fast, and the way in which the City were standing up to their illustrious opponents was most heartening. Hutton and Roxburgh were none too sure in their kicking, and a free kick to Exeter on the half-way line was placed well down the field by Pollard. The ball was headed on by McDevitt to Vaughan, who was foiled by "Jock" Hutton, a corner resulting. This was booted clear by Roxburgh amid great excitement. The City forced another, and from Purcell's kick Dent headed across to Compton, whose shot carried plenty of force but cannoned off Rankine's body.

Persistent Rovers Forwards.

Midfield play followed, and Miller and Puddefoot came into violent collision as Miller dashed in to clear. Both men were knocked out, but resumed after a brief visit from their trainers, and Exeter were awarded a free kick. From this, Gee tried a shot, and it was as well for the Rovers that Crawford made no mistake, for Dent charged in as the goalkeeper gathered the ball. McLean now sent Rigby away with a beautiful pass, and the outside left closed in dangerously but finished by shooting outside the goal. The Rovers forwards were very persistent in their attacking, and the quality of their combination and their ability to find one another with sweeping long passes without apparently looking up, was appreciated by the crowd. The City defenders were being rushed into hurried clearances, for the men in blue and white moved about so smoothly and quickly that they appeared to be all over the field at the same time.

Blackburn Take the Lead.

There was no question of the superiority of Blackburn Rovers, and in eighteen minutes they took the lead. From a throw-in right in front of the grandstand Puddefoot kicked the ball across the home penalty area. Ditchburn, in trying to stop it, had the misfortune to place the leather directly to the feet of Roscamp, who was unmarked, and who promptly netted with a strong low shot. Exeter secured a corner just afterwards, but it came to nothing, and in the next few minutes Holland made meritorious saves from Pudde foot and Roscamp. The Rovers were still showing their superiority in midfield play, and McLean missed with an absolute "sitter" in front of the posts. Then a fierce drive by Thornewell, aimed for the bottom corner, was saved by Holland.

Exeter's Bad Luck.

With better luck Exeter would have equalised when McDevitt got the ball neatly out to Compton with the Rovers' defence spreadeagled. Compton, studying his centre carefully, placed the ball to Purcell, who headed across the Rovers' goal. Roxburgh just managed to turn it away from Vaughan, and so prevent the City inside left from netting, he being in a perfect position to score. Dent was fouled by Rankine when Exeter were making further headway, and as dangerous as Blackburn were in their own clever advances, their backs were glad to kick to touch to hold up the eager Grecians' attacks. Purcell raised the hopes of the crowd by cleverly beating Roxburgh, but his centre was too strong and went behind. Other lively work by the City forwards followed, however, and the Rovers' single goal lead at this stage looked none too healthy for them. McDevitt gave Purcell possession, and the winger again dribbled past Roxburgh before parting with the ball, but the centre was just as badly placed as the last one. Yet another centre from Purcell was of much better quality, but Roxburgh was too strong for Dent in the air. A long pass from Campbell got Rigby away at last, and the ball was flashed across to Thornewell, whose shot was capably saved by Holland. In the City's next attack Dent was held down on the ground by Roxburgh, whose methods were not at all to the liking of the spectators. A corner to Blackburn was splendidly punched out by Holland, and then there were one or two thrills at the other end. Dent must have scored from a lob by Gee, but for Thornewell's prompt intervention, while a moment later a scoring shot by Gee was kicked off the goal-line by Roxburgh with Crawford beaten. In thirty-eight minutes a miskick by Miller let the Rovers through, and the attack was wound up by Rigby with a deadly low shot to which Holland failed to fall quickly enough. Rigby continued to torment the Exeter defence, and from his pass Thornewell missed a good scoring chance. At the other end Exeter forced two corners.

Exeter Score From the Penalty Spot.

Thornewell was badly hurt in a collision with Mason, and was led off by the Blackburn trainer. Next Hutton fouled Compton and from Gee's free kick the ball was sent across to Purcell who returned it close to the post when it was mysteriously sent out again. Exeter appealed to the referee, who suspended judgment till he had consulted the linesman under the popular bank. Then he awarded a penalty to Exeter, and with the ground in a tumult of noise, Gee calmly took the kick and scored with a smart shot out of Crawford's reach.

Half-time score:
EXETER CITY 1
BLACKBURN ROVERS 2

Second Half.

Exeter went at their opponents "hammer and tongs" from the restart, and Dent on one occasion got clean through with the ball at his toes, but he made the mistake of being too careful, and in dribbling close was overhauled by Hutton and robbed. Up came Ditchburn at speed, and his shot was punched away by the goalkeeper, and in the ensuing scrimmage in the goalmouth Purcell had a good shooting chance but scooped the ball over the angle of the goal. The home defence fought its way successfully through a menacing Rovers raid, and there followed some more desperate work at the Blackburn end, where the partnership of Compton and Vaughan was particularly lively. Compton was fouled by Hutton, and the free kick by Gee led to another melee round the Blackburn goal, but Crawford thrust the ball out when it was headed goalwards and Vaughan just failed to capture it.

Tipped Over the Bar by Crawford.

The Grecians were making a really fine effort to level the scores, but were getting no luck at all near goal. Thornewell had not come out for the second half, and it was feared that he was badly injured. Compton was fouled again, this time by Healless, and Gee's free kick, aimed towards the top right hand corner of the goal, was tipped over the bar by Crawford. The Grecians, inspired by McDevitt in both his brainy captaincy and his clever play, swarmed to the attack repeatedly, and the Rovers had to do some very desperate defending. Hutton and Roxburgh appeared none too steady under pressure; morever they did not hesitate to bring a man down or to kick to touch at the first signs of danger to their goal. In a bombardment types of shots by the home forwards the Blackburn backs headed out the ball again and again, and Crawford dealt finely with a corner kick from Compton. Three quarter time arrived and still the Rovers led by the odd goal. Thornewell, who had retired just before half-time with an injury, was still absent from the Blackburn ranks, and the Rovers were concentrating all their principal efforts on maintaining their single goal advantage. Try as they might, the City forwards could not find a loophole in the Rovers' defence, their halves and backs covering each other wonderfully well. At the other end of the field Miller and Pollard were playing great football in dealing with Blackburn's occasional forward moves. Holland, too, dealt with everything that came his way in the most capable and confident manner.

Exeter Score at Last to Earn a Draw.

Crawford with another splendid clearance got the Rovers out of an awkward situation, and then Dent tried to dribble his way through, but dallied with the ball in the mud and lost it. The closing ten minutes were in the nature of a fierce scramble, and some of the Rovers' players were showing very bad feelings. Hutton and Roxburgh, in particular, earned the displeasure of the crowd for their cavalier treatment of the Exeter wingers, and Roxburgh was subjected to an outburst of hooting and barracking whenever he played the ball. Or an Exeter player! Another foul brought Exeter a free-kick, which Ditchburn cleverly placed in the goalmouth, and Mason moved forward to fairly crash the ball into the net amid the wildest scenes of bedlam and excitement ever seen at the "Park." Holland saved from McLean. Exeter forced the last of their many corners, and pressed the Rovers almost continuously during the remaining seven minutes to the end of the match.

Notes on the Game.

Two mistakes by City defenders at critical moments. Two goals to Blackburn! Thus Exeter City found their plight somewhat desperate before the match was half-way through. But how the City fought their way back to equality will long remain a grand and inspiring memory to the great crowd that watched the game. Sam Mason was nearly suffocated by his jubilant colleagues after he had nearly "broke the net" with that equaliser, eight minutes from the end. And the businesslike, cool and calm way in which Harold Gee netted from the penalty spot must have been an object lesson to a team which simply cannot score penalty goals in League matches. There was superior polish and craftmanship about the Blackburn side in the first half, and while at full strength they were a formidable team. Lacking Thornewell, however, they tried to hang on to their slender lead, and were not too particular in their methods. Hutton, the Scottish International back, and his partner, Roxburgh, used every trick (mostly illegal) known to them to stop Compton and Purcell, whilst Rankine subdued Dent by force rather than by skill. The Grecians had great difficulty in getting back on level terms, but their equaliser after the magnificent second half fight they put up, was the just reward of their work, and fully deserved. It transpired that Thornewell, who was injured in a collision with Mason shortly before half time, has broken his collar bone. He was removed by ambulance to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.
The attendance was officially reported to have been 17,330, and the receipts from tickets and cash £1,781. It will surely go down as the greatest day in Exeter City's history, and the replay has been arranged for Thursday, February 2nd.

City v Blackburn,
as Seen by the Athletic News.
Monday, January 30th 1928.

EXETER NEARLY SEIZE CHANCE TO WIN

Fighting Recovery After Mishap to Blackburn Forward: By Devonian

Blackburn Rovers fielded their strongest side for this game, except at centre forward, where Mitchell, the "sharp-shooter," was unable to play, he having broken down in training during the week. His place was taken by Roscamp, who led the front line particularly well, and he had the satisfaction of opening the Rovers' score 15 minutes from the start. The goal was really the result of a bad blunder by Ditchburn. Thornewell then fastened on to the ball and crossed accurately for Roscamp to run in and beat Holland with a first-time shot. This seemed to upset Exeter for a time, and the Rovers had a big advantage in attack. About half-way through the half Blackburn's efforts were rewarded by Rigby, who worked his way in from the left wing and beat Holland with a low,
sharp drive.

Thornewell Badly Injured.

Shortly before the interval the visitors had a piece of misfortune, losing Thornewell with a broken collar-bone. Thornewell, who had been doing grand work on the right wing, fell heavily in a charge and was led off the field. This was a great handicap to the Rovers, but they played admirably, Roscamp and Pudde foot excelling in much clever work. Exeter, who were struggling gallantly against a two-goals deficit, were given a penalty for handling, and Gee beat Crawford with a shot which the goalkeeper probably never saw.

The Ten Rovers Refused to Capitulate.

The second half was nearly all in favour of Exeter, but the Rovers' defence generally withstood persistent attacks in a manner which won high praise for Crawford, Hutton, and Roxburgh. The ten Rovers refused to capitulate, and it looked as if Exeter were doomed to defeat, but eight minutes from the finish the Rovers were penalised for a foul, and Pollard, putting the ball well into the goalmouth, saw Roxburgh clear it to Mason, who seized his chance, and with a first-time drive crashed the ball past Crawford, to the accompaniment of a scene of wild enthusiasm. A few minutes only remained in which Puddefoot nearly gave his side victory, but Holland fell just in time to a shot which would have beaten all but the" most alert of goalkeepers. The game, in view of the weather and condition of the ground, was well worth watching, but at times a little temper crept in, and especially in the second half there were too many fouls. Exeter played very finely in the closing stages, and attack after attack was near to succeeding, but the Rovers packed their goal repeatedly, and did not seem to care how they got the ball out of danger, so long as it was cleared.

Pollard Outstanding at Full-Back.

Exeter City played a typical cup-tie game. Much of their footwork was very clever, but there was a hesitancy in front of goal which gave the Blackburn defence time to recover. The Exeter defence to a man played finely. Pollard was outstanding at full back, and he was brilliantly supported by Miller, while Holland never made a mistake. The half-backs were sound and frequently clever, Mason best. His goal was a beauty. Except for one mistake Ditchburn did well. being the The home forwards formed a particularly lively line, Purcell and Compton in particular giving the Rovers' defence considerable anxiety, especially in the closing stages. The Rovers must regard themselves as somewhat fortunate to draw, but it must be remembered that they had to play under the big handicap of having ten men for the greater part of the game.