BRENTFORD 6 EXETER CITY 1.

Played at Griffin Park, Brentford,
on Saturday, February 26th, 1927.

Exeter City, who are now well in the top half of the League table, gained their seventh away point against Queen's Park Rangers on Thursday, and the team, in order to fulfil today's engagement, remained in the metropolis. Brentford called on Marshall, their new recruit from Gillingham, to occupy the right half-back position. Ferguson, the goalkeeper, was absent owing to a family bereavement, and Collins was called upon to fill the vacancy. At the last minute Craddock reported unfit and Allen was given his place. The sky was overcast when the teams took the field, and the attendance at time numbered seven thousand. The turnstiles were still clicking, however. that The City, who played in white shirts, lost the toss, and were set to face the wind.

Brentford:-
Collins; Donnelly, and Butler; Marshall, Rae, and Bellamy; Hendren, Lane, Watkins, Craddock, and Douglas.

Exeter City:-
Randall; Lowton, and Charlton; Pullan, Ditchburn, and Walker; Purcell, McDevitt, Blackmore, Lievesley, and Compton.

Referee: Mr W.H.Thomas.

Brentford in the end decided to play Craddock at inside left. Though the match provided a heavy score the football never reached a high standard. Brentford's superiority lay in their better suiting themselves to the conditions and the quicker realisation of their chances. In footwork, passing, and keeping the ball low, the City were, for the most part smarter than the "Bees." But pressure without luck never took them far. In the second half Exeter were over-played. The rain came on in a downpour just as the teams came out after the interval, and the ground soon resembled a swamp. In the last minute of the game a penalty was given against Lowton, but Randall saved Hendren's kick from the spot. Brentford's goals were all scored with good shots, right on the mark, and Randall could not be blamed. The City's strength was at full-back, but the halves were poor and the forwards clever but weak in the vicinity of goal. Brentford goals were scored by Watkins, Lane, and Watkins in the first half, and Lane, Craddock, and Douglas in the second. Compton scored for Exeter after the fourth Brentford goal had been registered.

Southern League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 10
TAUNTON UNITED 2.

Southern League match at St James's Park, Exeter.

St James's Park was a morass this afternoon, and rain was falling steadily when the City Reserves and Taunton stepped gingerly on to the turf. Garratt was ill in bed with influenza, and Powell came in at right back. The football from the first to the last was farcical, but the players moved the ball about smartly,
and although the drenching wet terraces were empty the spectators, under cover, enjoyed the fun. The Taunton goal had a couple of close shaves in the opening minutes, first Phoenix and then Dent getting clear of the backs. Goddard, as it happened, anticipated Phoenix's shot to a nicety, and Dent's went over the bar. Pools of water inches deep lay about on the playing pitch, the deluge continued relentlessly, and the ball played all sorts of tricks. Twice in brisk Exeter advances Parkin showed his speed, and Goddard punched out two dangerous centres from the left-winger. Exeter were very strong at half-back, and the Taunton goal escaped sensationally
from Phoenix before Parkin opened the score, after ten minutes' play, following a nice move by Dent and Potter. Crawshaw, the old "Grecian," paved the way for a Taunton raid, but Powell booted away from Wilcox at the expense of a corner, and then Bailey tipped around the post a sharp shot by McLean, and cleared the resultant corner kick, centred by Styles. Taunton were shaping better on the treacherous ground, and twice Miller had to send the ball back to Bailey to clear, but then Thompson broke away in midfield and splashed his way through with the ball at his toes, running on to score in the bottom corner of the net with a capital shot. Two minutes later Thompson scored again. This time he received from Parkin, and successfully resisted three tackles before forcing the ball over the line. Lee and Goddard now distinguished themselves in the defence of the Taunton goal, and a welcome respite from the rain induced the spectators to spread themselves out on the terracing in time to cheer Thompson's "hat-trick," which was completed in the twenty-eighth minute of the game, Exeter now being four goals ahead. Thompson later headed against the crossbar, and Dent had his usual hard luck with a lovely header which sailed the wrong side of the post, and Good beat several men in a praiseworthy attempt to carve his way through. Right on half time Phoenix scored Exeter's fifth goal.

Second Half.
Purchase scored for Taunton five minutes after the change of ends, Styles having crossed the ball very nicely from the left wing. Exeter got to business again, and Dent netted with a beautiful low drive from outside the penalty area, while just afterwards Phoenix increased the total to seven. Phoenix netted again with a thundering cross-shot which Goddard never saw, and then the second "hat-trick" of the match was completed by Phoenix with the best goal of the series. Wilcox then scored for Taunton, and Thompson again for Exeter.

City Reserves:-
Bailey; Powell, and Miller; Pool, Good, and Potter; Newman, Thompson, Phoenix, Dent, and Parkin.
Taunton United:- Goddard; Lee, and Davies; Crawshaw, Curtis, and McLean; Purchase, G.E.Clemett, Wilcox, Randall, and F.B.Styles.
Referee:- Mr. R. A. Bowden, of Newton Abbot.