Fulham v Exeter PLAYERS BADLY INJURED

Serious Collision Between City Winger and Fulham Goalkeeper

Saturday, November 3rd 1928.
Referee:- Mr G.Franklin, of Portsmouth .

Fulham: Beecham; Barrett and Rosier; Oliver, McNab, and Lawson; Temple, Haley, Avey, Price, and Penn.

Exeter City 
Holland; Lowton and Miller, Pollard, Pool, and Clarke;Purcell, McDevitt, Cameron, Doncaster, and Death.

The Exeter City team, making their first visit to Craven Cottage, Fulham, arrived on the ground in good time, and strengthened by the return to the side of McDe vitt were confident of putting up a good game. Except for a slight mist the weather was ideal for football. Fulham won the toss but Exeter started in promising fashion, Lowton kicking beautifully to Purcell, who beat Rosier with a smart turn of speed and sent the ball across the goalmouth. Death hooked it back to Doncaster, whose shot on the first bounce narrowly missed the goal. Purcell was again prominent in a lively dribble up the touchline, and again Rosier was beaten for speed and skill. This time his centre just failed to reach Doncaster, Barrett intervening to clear with a long kick.

Fulham's Skill Versus Exeter's Dash.
Holland in a spell of aggressiveness by Fulham was twice given an opportunity of showing his agility, first saving at point-blank range from Temple, then smothering a shot from Price which came across at an acute angle. Next, when the City were penalised, Oliver placed the free kick strongly into the goal mouth and Lowton cleared with a flying kick. Clever play between Death and Doncaster won applause, but the final shot from Death travelled across the goal and out of play. The game continued to be entertaining and lively, and while Fulham generally controlled the ball much better and were certainly more skilful, the City were faster and keener. As the game wore on the Grecians took their share in attacking, and McDevitt, from 25 yards, skimmed the Fulham crossbar with a real "pile-driver." Death made a thrilling dash down the left wing, beating Oliver and Barrett by pushing the ball between them and racing through after it. His ensuing centre was perfectly placed, and players of both sides jumped for the ball in the goalmouth, Beecham eventually catching and clearing upfield. Temple was the most dangerous forward in the Fulham ranks, and Holland had to be at his best to clear a cunningly lobbed cross-shot from the outside right, who had coaxed the ball past nearly all the City halves and backs. It was a remarkably fast game, and in view of all the fine attacking moves on both sides it was a wonder that not a goal had been scored. Both teams quickly warmed up to their work when the game was resumed in the second half, and at the Exeter end Miller saved one dangerous situation by tapping the ball back to Holland. McNab wasted a good chance by slicing the ball wildly over the crossbar, and at the other end Beecham saved from Death and Doncaster.

Goalkeeper Carried Off the Field.
With fifteen minutes remaining Fulham piled on the pressure, and Holland in the space of about three minutes cleared at least half a dozen good scoring shots. In the closing stages Death broke away for Exeter, and his shot, taken on the run, was held by Beecham. The City left winger followed up at great speed and ran headlong into the goalkeeper, both men being knocked out by the force of the impact. They lay prone on the turf, Death being lifted on to the running track behind the goal by Eddie Jones and an Exeter player, and Beecham being carried off on a stretcher borne by the St John's Ambulance men. Two minutes only were left for play, in which time Beecham went in goal for Fulham.

Comments.
This was one of the best games seen this season despite the absence of goals. The eighteen thousand spectators were worked up to a high pitch of genuine excitement, and from beginning to end the football was keen and fast, with the Londoners the more skilful and the Grecians the more dashing. Roughness or fouling never entered into the game, and it was just a question of two very good teams striving for the mastery. Lowton, whose kicking today was wonderful, was the best back on the field, while all the half-backs, and especially Pool, played their parts well. The forwards were quite good, with Death and Purcell a pair of speedy and tricky wingers, and Doncaster very effective as Death's partner. Holland was at all times reliable, and made some marvellous saves after the interval. The game was marred in the final minute by the violent collision of Beecham and Death, both players having to be carried off the field. Barrett donned the goalkeeper's jersey, but did not have to make a save.

WESTERN LEAGUE 
EXETER CITY RESERVES 4
TORQUAY UNITED RESERVES 1.

In typical November weather and on a wet ground Exeter City Reserves were at home this afternoon to Torquay United Reserves in a Western League match. The spectators at the start numbered 1,500. 

Christie captained the Exeter team, which included a newcomer in Mark Purcell, the left-back, who is a brother of George Purcell, the City winger. Price beat off the first two Exeter attacks, and Millsom next gathered from Streets, the ball coming in without much force behind it. Sheffield put the Grecians on the attack very cleverly, and the next shots that came the way of Millsom carried more "powder," and the goalkeeper was more severely tested. Further attacks were mounted by the Grecians, and Millsom fisted away shots from Sheffield and Christie. Torquay applied mild pressure, and the home defence was somewhat ragged, but the only real scoring chance fell to Thomas, who sent behind. In thirteen minutes Exeter went ahead, Turl centre ing nicely for Houghton to try a shot. The ball cannoned against Brown, but Houghton quickly gathered it again and passed to Wade, who scored. Five minutes later Houghton got Exeter's second goal with a slow shot which Millsom ought to have stopped.

Exeter Make It Three.
With half an hour of the game gone by Exeter's total of goals was increased to three. Sheffield sent a useful pass down the middle, and Houghton seized the ball and dribbled right through between the backs, lured Millsom out of his goal and coolly walked the leather into the empty net. Eight minutes from half-time Thomas netted for Torquay with a long shot that went in close to the upright. Interval score:
City Reserves 3
Torquay United Reserves 1.

Second Half.

Noble and Mark Purcell were playing excellently in the defence of the Exeter goal, as was Campbell, and Torquay presented little danger. Exeter's fourth goal, after fifteen minutes, was in a curious manner. Turl obtained a pass from Erridge outside the penalty area and instantly let fly with his right foot. The ball was travelling well wide of the goal when it struck Brown, changed direction and whistled into the net with Millsom in an impossible situation as he had positioned himself for the original shot.
Teams.
City Reserves:- Campbell; P.Noble and M.Purcell; Sheffield, Phoenix, and Christie; L.Turl, Streets, Wade, Houghton, and R.Erridge.
Torquay Reserves:- Millsom; Brown and J.W.Price; Chamberlain, Davis, and Mellon; Budd, Thomas, Gardner, Smeaton, and Edmunds.

Other News
Aberdare match cancelled.

Exeter City Reserves' match with Aberdare last week was cancelled, the Welsh club having been wound up.

New Signings
On Thursday last Exeter City signed up two more new players, Kenneth Wallis, inside-left, of Bishopsteignton, and John Bluck, outside-left, of Kenton, on amateur forms. Bluck, who is the son of a former West Bromwich professional, last year played for the Shropshire County XI.
James Taylor, who joined the Grecians in the summer from Droylsden, has now severed his connection with the club and returned home.

• Playing for a Devon County XI against the Royal Navy and Marine at Home Park, Plymouth, on Wednesday afternoon, Clifford Bastin distinguished himself with a brilliant display of football at inside-left, and scored the County's third and sixth goals in a 6-2 victory.