Brighton v Exeter City 

WADE GIVES GRECIANS AN EARLY LEAD
But Brighton Recover Their Form and Score Three Goals,
October 6th 1928.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (Cook 2 Hopkins) 3 
EXETER CITY (Wade 2) 2 
Referee:- Mr J.V.Pennington, of Reading.
Brighton: Williams; Jenkins and Osborne; Edmonds, Wilkinson, and Little; Turnbull, Kirkwood, Cook, Hopkins, and Wilson.
Exeter City:- Campbell; Lowton and Miller; Streets, Pool, and Clarke; Purcell, McDevitt, Wade, Houghton, and Death.

Neither Brighton nor Exeter City have made so successful a start this season as was anticipated, but both sides are likely to improve as time goes on. In the circumstances of both teams badly needing points, a tense struggle was to be expected at the Goldstone Ground this afternoon.
The game opened sensationally, Exeter taking the lead within two minutes of
the start. A crowd of about eight thousand had seen the Albion force a corner, which availed them nothing, and then there came about a remarkable transformat ion. Exeter, by means of brilliant combination play, swept down the centre, and Wade showed himself to be a real opportunist when he worked his way in close to goal and left Williams helpless with a fine shot that rattled the rigging. This early success was an inspiration to the City, and for some time they kept up severe pressure on the home defence. Death was again a big source of danger, and at length he gave Houghton a chance of increasing the lead. Unfortunately the old Evertonian did not reveal his customary nimbleness, and slowness on his part allowed the Brighton goal to escape.

Brighton Getting More of the Game.
Attacks now began to develop at the Exeter end, but Clarke nipped in smartly to rob Kirkwood. Then a nice bit of passing between Hopkins and Cook carried the Seasiders clean through, but Kirkwood missed badly by shooting yards wide. The home side were now getting more of the game and trying hard to equalise, but Campbell and his backs were equal to all demands. Wilson, however, made a very bad miss, shooting wide with an open goal before him. Eventually the Brighton pressure told, and Cook snapped up a pass from Edmonds down the middle, and drove the ball hard past Campbell for an equalising goal. Just on the interval Hopkins with a magnificent drive placed Brighton in the lead. When the second half started Brighton were early on the advance, and in the first minute Campbell fisted out a stinging shot from Kirkwood. Then Cook increased Brighton's advantage with a neat header which hit the inside of the upright and rebounded into play. The referee signalled a goal, and despite a vigorous appeal by Holland that the ball had not gone in, adhered to his decision. Death made rapid headway towards the Brighton end, but received no support and was eventually crowded out. The Exeter half backs were unable to withstand the strong onslaughts made by the opposition, and weakness in this department was costing the side dearly. Indeed, had it not been for the sterling defensive qualities of Lowton and Miller, and the expert goalkeeping of Campbell, it would have been a sorry affair. Brighton continued to do most of the attacking, and Lowton cleared in spectacular style from Wilkinson. The ball went to the other end, where Wade fastened on to it and beat Williams for a fine goal to the City. Campbell in the last minute saved a goal-bound shot from Turnbull from 20 yards.

Comments.
The game was level, for a considerable portion of the first half, but after the opening Brighton goal had been scored Exeter fell away badly. From then on it was rather one-sided, and considerable work fell on the shoulders of Lowton, Miller, and Campbell, all of whom performed brilliantly. The half backs were only moderate, while after the first half hour there was very little "punch" in the forward line apart from occasional bursts by Death and Wade.

EXETER CITY RESERVES v EAST DEVON LEAGUE XI.
6th October 1928 

The collapse of Aberdare left Exeter City Reserves without a fixture today, and a friendly was arranged with a selected team from the East Devon League, which was played at St James's Park. The match was notable for the first appearance of Harry Gee since his injury at Bristol last season. Teams:
Exeter City Reserves. Holland; Pollard; Noble; Heeps; Mason; Gee; Turl; Phoenix; Taylor; Doncaster; Martin.

East Devon League. Wensley (Exminster) ; Tozer (Friernhay); Hill (Friernhay); Johnson (Friernhay);
Ditchburn (Exeter Loco); Crocker (Frierhay); Langabeer (Thorverton); Bryant (Exminster); Morrish (Exminster); Tabert (St Luke's College); Cazer (Friernhay).

The Reserves took the lead in the first minute through Doncaster, who scored with a well placed cross-shot from 25 yards. An error by Martin in the 25th minute when he passed direct to Ditchburn led to the equalising goal, scored by Tabert. Another goal by Doncaster in the second half and three by Taylor took Exeter's tally to five, and right on time Morrish scored for the League.

EXETER CITY REPRESENTED AT TIVERTON CARNIVAL.

Simultaneously with the first performance of the circus at Tiverton Carnival a football match was played between an Exeter City eleven and Tiverton. The game was arranged by the officials of the Tiverton Football Club. It was played under favourable conditions regarding ground and weather, and much good play was seen. The result was a draw, 2-2.

Exeter City sent up a strong team, as follows:- Holland, goal; Pollard (captain) and Noble, backs; Heeps, Mason, and Christie, half-backs; Redler, Phoenix, Taylor, Doncaster, and Sheffield, forwards.