GILLINGHAM (Rivers)1 v 
EXETER CITY (Death 3) 3

Saturday, October 20th 1928.


Referee:- Mr J.H.Collins, of Birmingham.

Gillingham:- Hebden; Robertson and Tyler; Forsyth, Williams, and Ellis; Dominy, Rivers, Wilcox, Taylor, and Poxton.

Exeter City:- Holland; Lowton and Miller; Pollard, Pool, and Clarke; Purcell, Streets, Wade, Doncaster, and Death.

Sam Mason, who was picked to play centre-half for the City and who travelled to Gillingham with the rest of the team, was taken seriously ill last night, and, in consequence, was unable to play this afternoon. The exact nature of the illness has not been ascertained, but it was of so critical a nature as to necessitate the player being brought back to Exeter this morning after receiving medical attention. His place was taken by Alec Pool, who only arrived on the ground a few minutes before the kick-off time, having journeyed from London by motor-car. Rain fell in torrents this morning but ceased shortly before the start. There was only a small attendance when the teams appeared, about five thousand.

Brilliant Play by Death.

Gillingham scored a goal in the fourth minute, through Rivers, but that was about all that was seen of them as an attacking force, so well did the City play afterwards. In fifteen minutes Purcell beat Ellis and centred. The ball came across at a nice pace and Death hooked it into the net to equalise. With the game in mid field, and with twenty minutes gone by, Gillingham were penalised and a free kick awarded the City. The distance was fully 45 yards from the home goal but Death found the net unerringly with a wonderful drive. Four minutes before the interval Purcell, who was doing much better than in any previous game this season, got away and beat Tyler and Ellis in turn and centred for Death to score another splendid goal and complete the hat-trick. Nothing was scored in the second half. Purcell and Death played brilliantly, and the Sunderland man proved himself a real opportunist.

Southern League
CITY RESERVES 1 (Bastin)
BARRY 2 (H.Davies 2).

Exeter City Reserves had to make several changes today for their Southern League match with Barry at St James's Park. In response to a telegram from the manager in London this morning, Pool was sent along to join the Chiefs. Taylor had been given leave of absence and Brown, the assistant trainer, was brought in at left-back. After 20 minutes Bastin dribbled through to score a lovely solo goal, and the City led by this score at half-time. Campbell made three brilliant saves from Condon, H.Davies, and G. Thomas, the last one "bringing down the house." After the interval Barry attacked frequently, and even Campbell could not keep the home goal intact, H.Davies scoring twice within five minutes midway through the half.
The City team was:- Campbell; Noble, Brown; Heeps, Christie, Gee; Turl, Phoenix, Bastin, Houghton, and Sheffield.