SECOND ROUND OF THE CUP

City v Northampton

"We fear no foe- at St James's Park." This is Exeter City's F.A.Cup slogan, as expressed in the club programme on the occasion of Aberdare Athletic's visit a fortnight ago. Today the Grecians had another opportunity of proving it well founded, Northampton Town's challenge in the second round being the "big noise" in Soccer west of Bristol this afternoon. Just as in Round One, the Exeter club encountered new Cup opposition in the Aberdarians, so today's clash with the Cobblers was the first between the clubs in the Cup competition. And the objective of both clubs, of course, was to two win through to the Third Round, when the crack teams of the country, exempt till that stage, will enter the arena.

Saturday, December 11th 1926,
at St James's Park.

EXETER CITY 1 NORTHAMPTON 0. 

Arriving at Exeter about ten o'clock last night, the Cobblers went straight to their hotel, but this morning their principals took the opportunity to visit the scene of the match to spy out the land. St James's Park was in excellent trim, and the weather was calm and dull, so that for once the luck of the toss could not count for much.

EXETER CITY:- Bailey Pollard Charlton Pullan Pool Garratt Purcell McDevitt Blackmore Dent Compton

Referee:- Mr C.F.Moon, of Bristol. Linesmen: Messrs R.C. Warner and F.McRill.

NORTHAMPTON:-Hammond Watson Jeffs Adey Brett Hoten Walden Tresadern Cockle Robinson Gunnell

There were fully six thousand spectators present at two o'clock, and excursion trains from all parts of Devon had brought large numbers of people into Exeter. When Stanley Charlton led out the Grecians at eleven minutes past two, all the empty spaces had filled up, and the crowd had increased to about nine thousand. The Cobblers looked very smart in "all white," the Swansea colours, and the big crowd settled down to witness the great game, and doubtless to voice their various opinions on the play and players. Charlton won the toss, and the City played from the St James's Road end in the opening half. The early exchanges were fought out in midfield. Then a free kick to Northampton was placed dangerously near to the Exeter goal by Watson, the visiting skipper, but an infringement by Robinson brought instant relief, and the Grecians took the ball into the enemy territory only to be sent back again without delay. The Cobblers' marking was very close, and now McDevitt and Pullan were fouled in turn, and the ball, from free kicks, hovered dangerously near the Town goal. Adey brought relief, and Tresadern, running nicely into position from a throw in, made the first shot, and sent high over.

Free Kicks for Minor Infringements.

Exeter made splendid headway on their right, and in a hard tussle in the penalty area Hammond gathered from Compton. A free kick to Exeter for "hands" by Brett led to an exciting passage in the Northampton goal front, and for two or three minutes the City pressure roused the spectators greatly. Hammond, however, was equal to all calls. The play was scrappy, being badly cut up at this stage by free kicks for minor infringements, but Exeter advanced again, and Jeffs booted away a bumping shot from Blackmore, while the home centre forward just afterwards drove over the bar from a splendid attempt. A foul on Tresadern near the home penalty area gave Adey an opportunity of trying a shot, and Bailey saved just under the bar, and completed his clearance well. Brett conceded a corner to avoid worse trouble, and Watson another. When the Cobblers cleared their lines Tresadern tried to give Walden the right pass, but Charlton was covering the winger carefully. The crowd waited patiently for the City to show some sign of developing their attacks, but so far the Cobblers had been playing very methodically, and it required some sterling work by Charlton and Pollard to keep play well away from the home goal.
A Sensational Breakaway.

Following a long spell of midfield play the Grecians forged ahead through Dent, and another corner was secured. Blackmore got his head to Compton's centre, but Jeffs saw the ball off the premises. Yet another corner was won by Exeter, and this time Pullan's eventual shot cannoned against Hoten, and when Garratt put the ball cleverly across Dent just missed in attempting to side-tap it into the net. A sensational breakaway by Cockle saw Pollard come to the rescue of Exeter, the full-back sending behind for a corner. From this, Robinson shot over. Very clever work by Walden deceived Charlton, and a corner to the Cobblers kept the excitement at high pitch. Bailey fisted away the flag kick. Dent had been limping badly for some time, and he finally had to go off for attention. During his temporary absence the Grecians kept pegging away, but Northampton defended so efficiently that there was never the chance of a telling shot. Dent had now returned to the field, and forgetting his injury he barged his way through and forced a corner, but Garratt's shot sailed over the bar. Pollard had the better of some sharp tussles with Gunnell, but was injured in one of them, and was receiving the trainer's attention with the interval arrived with nothing on the score-board. It was proving a grim struggle, with both sides stronger in defence than attack. The Grecians got little respite during the opening stages of the second half, but eventually transferred play by crossfield passing from McDevitt to Garratt and back again. The ball finally went out to Purcell, whose centre was booted away from the goalmouth by Adey. Exeter's best shot so far was made by Dent, and Hammond dived across his goal to tip the ball round the post. The City forwards were very persistent, and a goal seemed more likely than at any previous time so far. But the Cobblers' defence again forced the City back, and there was danger at the other end when Gunnell got away and crossed the ball. Bailey, however, was charged in possession, and the referee gave Exeter a free kick.

The Winning Goal.

Then there was a shock for the home supporters as Walden rounded Charlton, the little winger having lost none of his speed over the years, and whipped the ball into the goalmouth, so that but for a very timely flick by Bailey, Robinson must have scored. The Grecians rallied, and Compton skimmed the bar with a flashing drive, from a centre by Purcell, who had been put through by Blackmore. End to end play then followed, and the next incident of note was a shot by Tresadern which was wide. Threequarter time was at hand when Purcell ran in and shot magnificently, for Hammond to make a great save close to the upright. In the next minute the Grecians' persistence and enterprise were rewarded, with what proved to be the winning goal. The crowd rose to cheer to the echo the long awaited goal, scored by McDevitt, who had reserved his first for Exeter chiefs this season till this timely moment. The tall Irishman received an admirable centre from Purcell, and he steered the ball through a veritable host of City and Northampton players, low down into the net. Hammond was probably unsighted. Exeter, greatly encouraged, fought like Trojans to increase their advantage, and in some rousing play in which Purcell was often conspicuous for coolness and skill Blackmore accepted a nice pass with alactricity, and eluding Brett, shot neatly across the goal, but hit the post. Hammond then saved from Compton and Dent in turn. Exeter finished the game the stronger of the sides, with Charlton in marvellous form and Purcell the "star" of the attack.
Notes on the Game.

It was only after one of the keenest cup-ties ever seen at St James's Park that Exeter City entered the third round. Northampton's excellent form came as a revelation to the crowd, who had anticipated a rather easy victory, whereas the Cobblers contributed to the enjoyment of a game which bordered at times on the brilliant. In Watson, Brett, Tresadern, and Walden the Cobblers had four very experienced and wise players, and these veterans were knit together in a most determined and stubborn combination. When McDevitt's goal did come, however, it was richly deserved, Exeter having set about their task with great zest after the interval and thoroughly meriting their lead. The better team won, but lowly Northampton surprised everybody by their fine showing.

The attendance was 11,314, and the gate receipts totalled £728.

• THIRD ROUND OF THE CUP.
  The draw for the third round of the Association Cup, made on Monday afternoon, December 13th, as far as South-western clubs are concerned, is:
• Bournemouth and Boscombe v Liverpool, at Boscombe.
• Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth, at Bristol.
• EXETER CITY V ACCRINGTON STANLEY, AT ST JAMES'S PARK.
• Cardiff City v Aston Villa, at Cardiff.
  South Shields v Plymouth Argyle, at South Shields.
• Swansea Town v Bury, at Swansea.
• Everton v Poole, at Everton.
  
  Ties to be played on Saturday, January 7th, 1927.
  
  
  

ACCRINGTON STANLEY.
Exeter City's Opponents in the Next Round.

Here follows a list of the principal men of Accrington Stanley, who will appear at St James's Park in the next round of the Cup. Many old "Grecians" have been associated with the "Stanley," notably Arthur Chadwick, Jimmy Rigby, Jimmy Makin, and Billy Crawshaw.

William Hayes, goalkeeper, ex Preston, Brighton, and Southend. Age 31.
Albert Bell, right back, ex West Stanley and Leeds United. Age 28.
Thomas Whittaker, left back, ex Skelmersdale and Darwen. Age 25. Norman Henry Wilson, right half, ex Blyth Spartans, Dundee, and Bury. William Rooks, centre half, ex Sunderland Rovers and Blackpool, Age 34.
Leonard Chester Hughes, left half, ex Gnome Athletic, Leyton, and Burnley.
Joseph Kasher, centre half, ex Sunderland, Aberdare Athletic, Norwich, Grimsby Town, and Carlisle United, age 32.
Harry Wyper, outside right, ex Burscough Rangers and Southport, age 24.
Richard Clarkson, inside right, ex Lytham, age 29.
John Jepson, centre forward, ex New Mills (Manchester) and Atherton, age 27.
James Gee, inside left, ex Blackburn Rovers, age 22.
John Martin, outside left, ex Darlington and Leeds United, age 23.
Edgar Powell, inside forward, ex Denaby United, Huddersfield and Stoke, age 27.

Accrington's Cup results this season.

First round, v Rochdale, home, won
4 - 3.
Second round, v Chilton Colliery Welfare, away, won 3 - 0.