Third Round of the Cup 
STANLEY MARCH ON ACCRINGTON UNISON THWARTS EXETER'S METHODS

The linking together of Exeter City and Accrington Stanley in the F. A. Cup competition invested the third round tie at St James's Park with a special inter sectional interest, even though the Lancashire club occupies a lowly position in the Northern Section table just now. Accrington travelled through to Teignmouth yesterday to refresh themselves, in the sea breezes of the South Devon resort. They reported that they were at full strength, and that the men were all fit, all keen, and all optimistic. Exeter City have had thirteen players at Sidmouth since Wednesday. The City directors did not select their side until just before the match. The Grecians journeyed in by road from Sidmouth this morning. They had a great "send off" from the townspeople, amongst whom they have spent the last few days, and got to St James's Park to find the playing pitch in capital trim and on the soft side. The weather was dull and mild. Mr Fred Maven, the City manager, expressed the hope that the better team (he being very confident that Exeter would be the better team) would win. He stated that no-one would be more surprised or disappointed than he if the City were not in the hat for the next draw. A director of the Accrington Stanley club asked half an hour before the game to check the eleven as named in the programme, certified the names as correct, and exclaimed with a jovial laugh: "Yes, that is the winning team." He declared that if the distance had been only half as great the Stanley would have brought along a big following. The railway excursions brought in big crowds to Exeter for the match, and at two o'clock the attendance numbered seven thousand. The crowd, however, did not participate in the community singing until about ten past two, when they began to warm up to some old-time ballads by the Exeter City Military Band.

EXETER CITY.
Bailey; Pollard, and Charlton; Pullan, Pool, and Good; Purcell, McDevitt, Phoenix, Walker, and Parkin.

ACCRINGTON.
Hayes; Bell, and Whittaker; Wilson, Rooks, and Hughes; Wyper, Gee, Clarkson, Powell, and Martin.

REFEREE: Mr C.F.Moon, of Bristol.
LINESMEN: Messrs P.Harris (St Austell) and P.C. Warner (Launceston).

The City colours were more freely sported by the spectators than in the two previous cup games this season, and Tom Swift, of London, the football "walking mascot," was a conspicuous figure on the playing field. Accrington Stanley were first out, at 2.25 p.m., their colours being royal blue jerseys, instead of the usual red, and white knickers. Twelve thousand people greeted the Grecians when Charlton led his men out. The referee and captains posed for a photograph, and the preliminaries were concluded with Charlton winning the toss. The City took up their positions at the St James's Road end of the ground, and Clarkson set the ball in motion. Accrington's opening burst was repelled, and the Grecians proceeded to take play to the visitors' half, and keep it there. Parkin failed to gather looked fast ball from Phoenix, however, and it was some time before Exeter anything like the team that beat Swindon last Saturday. Then, in checking Parkin on the edge of the penalty area, Whittaker booted the ball against Bell, and Hayes had to dash out and clear. Parkin was fouled by al ca Wilson, and the free kick was lobbed in by Good to Phoenix, who headed over. The Stanley broke away on the right in spectacular style, but Martin headed outside when Wyper swept the ball strongly across the field, and play returned to the Accrington half. The game continued on cautious rather than on exciting lines, the Grecians, who were clearly the cleverer team, being inclined to take the measure of their opponents before risking anything. Gee forced Good to give a corner, but this was easily dealt with. Walker's Skill Was a Big Asset. Accrington packed their goal well whenever danger threatened, and now Exeter forced a corner which caused some excitement, but McDevitt pushed an opponent over as the ball was coming across, and the referee gave the visitors a free kick. In the next Exeter move Purcell closed in and shot, the ball rebounding off the far upright. Walker cleverly cut out another City opening, but Parkin's final pass to Phoenix was badly directed, and the best Exeter could do was to force another corner, from which Good shot along the ground, but wide. Charlton splendidly overtook and pulled up Martin when the winger was making ground, but Accrington swarmed to the attack again in the next moment. Bailey, however, was harassed by several of the opposing forwards but managed to kick the ball into touch. The football was not particularly good, or venturesome, but Walker's skill was a big asset to Exeter, and he gave Parkin some well judged passes which were mostly wasted. Phoenix got through but drove the ball over the crossbar. Phoenix went clean through again but was neatly robbed by Whittaker, when it looked odds on a goal. Then Gee netted at the other end only to have the point. disallowed for offside. Exeter pressed again and Phoenix headed into the hands of the waiting Hayes, and the game began to liven up with both teams striving to gain a goal before the interval. Hayes cleared from Walker, and Exeter continued to have the balance of play, but the spectators were plainly disappointed at the City's very moderate work in the forward line, the combination being frequently faulty. At half time the scoreboard was still blank..

Second Half
The play in the first half had been very flat indeed, and in marked contrast to what had been anticipated. The Accrington defence, apart from Hayes, was not at all impressive under pressure, but the City attack was equally moderate. In the opening minute of the second half there was a bitter pill for the crowd to swallow. Pool misfielded a ball down the centre and Clarkson gained possession, racing between the backs, and scoring with a smart cross shot which Bailey let run over his right arm and into the net. The visitors were tremendously elated at this big success. Exeter, shaken at last out of their legarthy, made eager efforts to get on terms again, and Phoenix from McDevitt's pass shot just wide. The Grecians swung the ball about energetically, but Martin led another lively Stanley excursion into Grecian territory and Bailey had to clear a fast drive from Wyper, then a free-kick from Hughes before the City could make ground. Even then the respite was only momentary, for Clarkson and Martin together baffled the home backs and only a remarkable double save by Bailey prevented a
further score. Accrington Stanley, now playing like a winning team, raced to the Exeter end again, and Bailey fisted out a rousing shot from Clarkson, but sent the ball to Wyper, who with the goal at his mercy drove into the side netting. Charlton brought relief at last with a good tackle and clearance, and Exeter had their opponents in a tangle at the other end, but Purcell shot wildly wide. The Grecians kept up the pressure, and another shot from Purcell skimmed the bar. Hayes made two brilliant saves from Phoenix. Good sent Parkin away with a nice pass, and a promising left wing movement ensued. Parkin swept the ball across the goalmouth, but too high for the inside men to reach it, and Purcell's attempt to middle the ball again only resulted in a corner, which was easily cleared.
There were stoppages for injuries to Pool, then Charlton, and the skipper had to leave the field for treatment. Whilst he was away the Accrington backs made some hefty clearances, and Hayes saved from Walker and Parkin. At the other end, with Charlton now back on the field, Clarkson tested Bailey with a lively shot, and then after the home goalkeeper had saved from Clarkson again Martin put the visitors ahead with an accurate low drive into the far corner. The remaining pla was fast and spirited, with Accrington the more dangerous team. With better and steadier finishing they would have gone even further ahead.

FINAL SCORE:
EXETER CITY 0
ACCRINGTON STANLEY 2

The defeat of Exeter City on their own ground was one of the big surprises of the third round of the F. A. Cup, but there can be no question but what victory went to the better side, taking the game all through. Exeter relied on the team which played such splendid football against Swindon, but the form of Exeter Cit today was fifty percent below that shown against Swindon. Exeter were never properly together; they lacked cohesion, and the need of a leader was most pronounced. The forwards were ragged, and they indulged far too much in the tip-tap game which did not pay against the uncompromising Accringto defence, which did not act on ceremony, but got through their whole work in a business-like manner with never a care as to how a clearance was effected. aExeter were in the end a well beaten side, and their display as a team was exasperatingly disappointing. The attack failed to display at times even the ma elementary knowledge of what was required, and not one member of the line was c his best form. Purcell did a few clever things, Walker faded out after a bright beginning, and Phoenix occasionally worried the Stanley backs with his bustle. Little was seen of McDevitt, and Parkin seemed overawed by the occasion. The half-backs were also a failure, Pool being frequently mastered by the Accrington inside men, and Good and Pullan failing to keep position. Charlton was the better of the full-backs, although Pollard worked hard, and was forced to do a lot of covering for Pullan. Bailey was at fault with the first goal and Pool with the second. The Stanley played as a team and not as individuals, and it was this one-and-all spirit which carried them to victory. The whole side are deserving of every credit for their clean-cut win. They played bright, clever, robust, and methodical football.

Played on Saturday, January 8th 1927.
Attendance 13,647, receipts £888.

OBSERVATIONS ON THE CUP TIE

The City were outpaced and outgeneralled, and the club made a sad mess of a great opportunity. Tipped as the club with the best chance in the West of Eng land of going through to the fourth round, the team selectors started badly by dropping Compton in favour of the comparative novice, Parkin, hoping he would provide a repetition of last Saturday's clever play. They looked for too much, and they have paid the penalty. Of all the Exeter forwards only Phoenix constituted a threat to the Stanley defence. The City attack hung fire extraordinarily in the first half against one of the weakest defences in the Football League. The fact was that there was no combination to speak of, and what little there was was very poor, and Compton's aggressive qualities were badly missed.

Accrington Stanley pulled off one of the biggest sensations of Round Three, and will have a very happy week-end at Teignmouth.