SOUND EXETER DEFENCE:
CAMPBELL'S VALUABLE SERVICE

Coventry v Exeter

Saturday, September 8th 1928.

COVENTRY CITY (Townsend) 1
EXETER CITY (Cameron) 1

The Grecians left Exeter yesterday afternoon to fulfil their fixtures with Coventry City in the Midlands, and despite their record of three defeats and a draw to date were hopeful of recording their first victory. The ground was bathed in blazing sunshine, and there was a crowd of 13,000 spectators present when the teams came out. Coventry included Townsend, the newly acquired forward from Aston Villa, and the City had Doncaster on the left wing for Kirk, who was unable to play for domestic reasons. Several other alterations were made, notably the return of McDevitt and Houghton to the forward line, the substitution of Pool for at centre-half, and of Lowton for Miller in the defence, Pollard crossing to left-back.

Coventry City: Allen; Brown and Plunkett; Higham, Dinsdale, and Bell;
Toseland, Kirton, Johnstone, Widdowson, and Townsend.

Exeter City: Campbell; Lowton and Pollard; Taylor, Pool, and Clarke; Purcell, McDevitt, Cameron, Houghton, and Doncaster.

McDevitt won the toss and set Coventry to face the sun in the opening half. Taylor was soon in action, and from his pass Pool put the forwards nicely in possession. Plunkett cleared after a sharp skirmish in the home penalty area, but Exeter persisted and Houghton put in a shot which carried no power. Then Campbell had to go down to a low drive by Johnstone, who had found his way between the Exeter backs. The ball was being swung about finely by both sides, with Coventry having slightly the better of the exchanges. A free kick was cleared by Clarke, but Townsend secured possession and made a fine run, but could not get round Lowton. McDevitt rounded off a strong combined attack with a good shot, which Allen saved, and from the goalkeeper's clearance the ball went right up the field to Townsend, who tricked Lowton and scored with a shot which went into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Exeter's Equalising Goal.

The equaliser soon came, Cameron running the ball between the backs at high speed and driving into the not as Allen came out. Towards the interval the home side rallied, and Widdowson teated Campbell. Clarke was prominent for Exeter at this stage, but Doncaster was weak in taking his passes. Cameron ultimately put in a good effort, and the ball came over to Purcell, who did not put sufficient power into his shot. Pool made a remarkable dribbling run but lost the ball on the touchline. Coventry returned and Campbell made two saves from Widdoween and one from Johnstone.

Half-time: Coventry 1 Exeter City 1.

Toseland shot wide, and Campbell made a brilliant save from Bell, and almost as good a one just afterwards from Townsend. Exeter were well served by their half-backs, particularly Clarke, but the forwards could not break through a very strong Coventry defence. Campbell was one of the Grecians' outstanding personalities, and a wonderful save from Higham was only another instance of the goalkeeper's value to the City in this game. Cameron came off second best in a collision with Brown, but resumed after treatment.

Notes on the Game.

The honours must go to the Exeter defence today, as it was this department which enabled the Grecians to pick up a point. An unbalanced forward line was unable to make much impression, and it was apparent that there will have to be an improvement in the attack if many matches are to be won. Campbell rendered valuable service in goal, and some of his saves bordered on the sensational.

Saturday, September 8th 1928.
An Exeter City Dilemma
UNEXPLAINED ABSENCE OF KIRK AT BIRMINGHAM

An extraordinary story lies behind the substitution of Doncaster for Kirk at outside-left in the Exeter City team to oppose Coventry City in the Midlands on Saturday, September 8th. Kirk, who had special consideration allowed to him at the beginning of the season in view of an anticipated interesting domestic event, left Exeter with the other players on Friday afternoon for Birmingham, where they were to stay overnight.

The Train to Glasgow.

At Birmingham, while his colleagues were at a theatrical entertainment, Kirk took a train for his home in Glasgow, and Mr "Dave" Wilson found himself with ten players instead of eleven, no reserve having been taken. In the emergency Mr Wilson telephoned to Exeter for Doncaster to travel up on the night train, and fortunately the ex-Bolton Wanderer arrived in good time to take part in the game.


Southern League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 0
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE RESERVES 0.

Two thousand spectators assembled at St James's Park, in sultry weather, to see the return Southern League match between the City and Argyle Reserves. The City were without Doncaster, who had been called up at short notice to travel with the "Chiefs" to Coventry, and Sheffield moved up to the forward line to partner Bastin. Phoenix captained the Grecians.

City Reserves: Holland; P.Noble and Miller; Phoenix, Mason, and Christie; Redler, Streets, Wade, C.Bastin, and Sheffield.

Argyle Reserves: Stanbury; Cosgrove and Price; Fellowes, Pullen, and Deacon; Healy, Mackay, Richards, Voden, and Vidler.

Referee:- Mr L.S.Mardon.

There were no goals in this match, but plenty of incident. Exeter should have scored in the seventh minute, but Streets ballooned the ball over the bar from three yards' range. The Argyle played good football, but their short passing moves did not unduly bother the City defence, in which Miller's sound play on the left was a feature.

Pullen roused the crowd to great excitement with a long dribble, about half the length of the field, finishing with a capital centre to Voden, and it was as well for Exeter that Phoenix was on hand to intercept. All along Bastin was responsible for the cream of the Exeter forward play but he was so closely covered that he could not get a shooting chance himself. In contrast Redler was the weak spot in the City line, being practically out of the game, unable to beat either Deacon or Price, and failing with most of his corner kicks and centres. Wade nearly scored right on the final whistle, but his shot was punched over the bar by Stanbury.

Western League 
City Reserves Disappoint
HOW TAUNTON WON AT ST. JAMES'S PARK

Wednesday, September 12th 1928.

Exeter City Reserves gave another disappointing display at St. James's Park on Wednesday evening, when in their opening Western League match they lost to Taunton Town by a goal to nothing. Ordinarily the game would have been a goal-less draw, the defences being stronger than the attacks, but 20 minutes before the finish Miller had the misfortune to score against his own side.

City Reserves. Holland: P.Noble and Miller; Phoenix, Mason, and Sheffield;
L.Turl, Streets, Wade, C. Bastin, and Doncaster.

Taunton Town. Bristowe; McLean and Day; A.Ford, Hughes, and Clemett;  Pattison, Broad, L.G.Burrows, P.Newberry, and Ingram.

Miller was pressed by Pattison, and choosing the obvious way out, he lobbed the ball back for Holland to clear. Unfortunately Holland had advanced half way to meet him, and there was "no-one at home" when the ball passed over the goalkeeper's head, just out of reach, and bounced into the net. Up to this point the City's display was a shade better than in their previous match, but the adverse score unsettled the team badly, and Taunton had little difficulty in retaining their lucky lead. Miller throughout was the City's most polished and capable player, and it was mainly owing to his skilful defensive measures that the Grecians enjoyed the better of the play. Bristowe had much more to do than Holland, even although the Taunton attack compared favourably with that of Exeter City.

The Enterprise of Broad.

James Broad, the ex-Millwall and Everton centre-forward, now playing inside right, has lost none of his well remembered enterprise since dropping out of Football League circles. He and Percy Newberry, the Devon County inside left who has played for the City Reserves on many occasions, gave strong support to Burrows, who ought to have done better with the supply of thoughtful and well-directed passes he received. Broad was generally too well watched to do too much damage, but he managed to get in one slashing cross-shot reminiscent of his best League days, and this Holland did very well to save. Bristowe's best work was done at the expense of Bastin, who was Exeter's best forward. His exceptional skill more than compensated for his lack of weight and inches. Wade received a leg injury shortly after half-time and changed places with Bastin, who although receiving poor support was still the main hope of the Grecians, his supreme ball control and quick and accurate passes being always the best feature. Phoenix was a tremendous worker, as was the Exmouth back, P.Noble.