Exeter City v Queens Park Rangers 

Saturday, March 24th 1928.
EXETER CITY 4
QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS 0.

The playing pitch at St James's Park was awash with water in some places, and the groundsman and some voluntary helpers were busy with forks this morning and again shortly before the start of this afternoon's match between Exeter City and the Rangers, from Shepherd's Bush, London. The Grecians were without Gee, McDevitt, Miller, and Compton, Gee being in a Bristol hospital with a broken leg, while McDevitt and Miller were victims of
injuries sustained at Newport on Thursday, and Compton has developed a very bad cold.

Clarke, who made a very promising first appearance at Newport, continued in place of Gee, Charlton came in at left back and was reappointed captain, and in the forward line Purcell played inside right with Jenkins outside to him and Parkin deputised for Compton. The Rangers were happy to have George Goddard, their regular centre forward, available again today.

City: Wainwright; Pollard and Charlton; Phoenix, Pool, and Clarke; Jenkins, Purcell, Dent, Vaughan, and Parkin.

Rangers: Woodward; Pierce and Young; Neil, Eggleton, and Turner;
Stephenson, J.C. Burns, Goddard, Rounce, and Lofthouse.

Referee: Mr G.S.Osell, of Taunton.

Charlton won the toss, and in the opening minute a quick centre from Clarke was met by Dent, but Woodward managed to clear. The Rangers retaliated and Goddard misfired, the ball sailing high over the goal and the fences, and landing in St James's Road.

Eggleton was prominent in the early play, and when the Exeter defence had been drawn to the middle a nice ground pass was swung out to Stephenson. Clarke, a bundle of energy, darted back at top speed and spoiled the manoeuvre with a strong tackle.

Dent Gives Exeter the Lead.

Purcell raised the hopes of the spectators with a touchline dribble followed by a centre to Vaughan, who won applause for a great shot that was just over the bar, and in a later City move Pierce unnecessarily fired the ball over the line, giving Exeter a corner they never expected. This led to some lively play round the Rangers' goal, and Purcell brought the ball up cleverly for another tussle, but Vaughan's shot was diverted over the line by Pierce for another corner, which was cleared by Woodward. Purcell was conspicuous for tricky play in his new position, and yet another corner was forced, by Jenkins. When the ball came across Vaughan flicked it on to Dent with his head, and the centre forward obliged with a neat shot to the top of the net, Exeter thereby taking the lead in seven minutes. Further spells of enterprising play by Dent and Purcell followed, and Vaughan broke clear of the opposing backs with the ball at his toes, his eventual low shot being saved by Woodward, though with apparent difficulty. Wainwright cut out a centre from Lofthouse, but the play of Stanley Charlton and Pollard was so effective that little was seen of the Rangers' attack. Dent was twice given offside, and in subsequent play made a good attempt to break through in receipt of a lovely ground pass from Clarke. He was bowled over unceremoniously by Young, and had to leave the field with an injury to his knee. Clarke from a throw-in gave to Parkin, who centred, and Purcell, standing just inside the angle of the penalty area, touched the ball aside to avoid the onrush of Young, and then coolly beat Woodward with a beautifully driven right-footed shot into the roof of the net. The second goal, one of the best ever seen on the ground, came after the game had been in progress for 22 minutes.

Supporters in a Happy Mood.

The City's "youngsters" were playing remarkably well, and with Dent returning to the field the six thousand spectators were in a happy mood. A free kick to the Rangers for "hands" by Clarke caused a dangerous situation for Exeter, but Charlton, as reliable as ever, cleared the danger in decisive fashion.

Second Half.

Exeter continued to have the most of the game, but could make nothing of the territorial advantage. And at the other end Goddard, the Queen's Park "crack" goalscorer, was given no rope by the alert and capable Charlton. Vaughan from a corner taken by Jenkins headed against the bar. Woodward made a hash of his attempt to save, and as the ball fell Dent landed it fairly and squarely in the net.

Phoenix, who like Clarke was a glutton for work, put in some valuable defence when Rounce threatened to get through, and there were ironical cheers when the referee reprimanded the diminutive Jenkins for barging into and bowling over the hefty Young. A miskick by Phoenix gave Lofthouse a chance, but Wainwright came out and captured the ball. Fifteen minutes from the end Charlton put the City forwards on the offensive again, and Parkin, rounding two defenders at full speed, crossed accurately for Vaughan to net Exeter's fourth goal at point-blank range with a drive of such force that it nearly uprooted the goal-net. In the final move of the game Wainwright saved from Goddard.

Comments.

When it became known that Compton, as well as three others of the Exeter City regulars, could not play today, the Exeter supporters became very anxious as to how the Grecians would fare against Queen's Park Rangers, who are regarded as something of a "bogey team." 

The newcomers, however, settled down to their task so confidently and so well that the Exeter team made an excellent start and never looked back. In the forward line Purcell and Vaughan were greatly prominent, and no player of the twenty-two on the field showed quite the skill of the ex Swindon man, whose neat work and powerful shooting brought him one brilliant goal, and proved very helpful all round. The Grecians in attack were not content with purely orthodox methods, and the many tricks of Dent, Purcell, Jenkins and Parkin, and the bustle of Vaughan had the Rangers running round in circles. The Rangers, who have the best "away" record in the Third Division, never got going at all, and Exeter won a more than ordinarily pleasing victory in the best possible style.



SOUTHERN LEAGUE
BATH CITY 1
EXETER CITY RESERVES 6.

Played at Twerton Park, Bath, for Southern League points. The City Reserves, who are making a bold bid for the championship of the League, overwhelmed the home side on a muddy and saturated ground. Goals by Kirk (23 minutes), Andrews (24) and Andrews again (30) ensured them of a winning lead at the interval. Early in the second half Kirk obtained the fourth goal with a rattling good drive from fifteen yards' range, and after one from Lievesley had struck the framework with the goalkeeper beaten another couple of goals were scored by Andrews. Near the end Bath City rallied, and Alsop scored from a pass by Graydon.

• BLACKBURN ROVERS TO PLAY AT WEMBLEY.
  At the Leicester City F.C. ground this afternoon Blackburn Rovers beat the Arsenal by one goal, scored by Roscamp, to nil, in the semi final round of the English Cup competition. There was an attendance of 30,000. The Arsenal piled on the pressure in the second half, but were frustrated by a superb display of goalkeeping on the part of Crawford. Blackburn Rovers, who have won the Cup several times in the past, will play in the final tie against the winners of the Sheffield United v Huddersfield match, and will thus appear at the famous Empire Stadium, Wembley, for the first time in the club's history.