THE F. A. CUP THIRD ROUND. SATURDAY, JANUARY 12TH 1929.

Exeter City V Leeds United

GRECIANS UNLUCKY AGAINST FIRST DIVISION OPPONENTS

Menzies's Goal Saves Leeds United

EXETER CITY 2 (Doncaster Purcell)
LEEDS UNITED 2 (Keetley Menzies)


Attendance 13,500, receipts £1,404.
EXETER CITY
Red and white stripes
Holland Lowton Miller Pollard Pool Dennington Purcell McDevitt Doncaster Houghton Cameron

Referee:- Mr H.E.Gray, of London.
Linesmen:- Messrs E.G.Grimes and E.Hughes.

LEEDS UNITED
Blue and white stripes
Potts Menzies Townsley Reed Hart Edwards Mitchell Wainscoat Keetley White Turnbull


St James's Park was frozen hard by the biting east wind, and it was certain that there would be little or no mud on the playing pitch for today's third round F. A. Cup-tie between Exeter City and Leeds United. Thirteen Leeds players made the journey to Exeter yesterday, namely the side which beat Leicester City a week ago plus Edwards and Jennings. It was announced officially that the visitors would make only one team change for this afternoon's match, Edwards, the captain, coming into the team in the right half-back position in place of Buck. Edwards, who captained England in the International match with Wales this season, has been out of the United team since December 1st through an attack of scarlet fever.

Leeds Players at the Exeter Hippodrome.

The Leeds United players and officials, after dining at the Rougemont Hotel, took a stroll through the principal streets of the city and attended the second performance at the Hippodrome. Mr Dick Ray, the Leeds United manager, declared that he fancied the United's chances, but smiled broadly as he was interviewed by the local press, saying significantly: "We are up against a hard task." Yesterday it was reported from the Exeter City camp that Clarke was unwell with a chill on the stomach, and the club included Leslie Dennington on the list of likely players, the final selection of the team being left till this morning, when at 11.30 the Grecians and the club officials lunched together at Deller's. A special railway excursion from Yorkshire brought along about a hundred and fifty Leeds supporters, who arrived at St David's Station at about 10.30 a.m. They were in high spirits, despite the long night journey, and were hopeful of seeing the United pull off their first away Cup victory.

Leeds United's List of F. A. Cup-ties.

It was possibly a point in Exeter's favour that the record of Leeds in the Cup competition was by no means a distinguished one. The club was only formed under its present name in 1920 following the expulsion from the League and the subsequent winding-up of the old Leeds City club in 1919, and the new club did not take part in the Cup competition until 1922, since when they have played fourteen matches in the competition, winning four, drawing three, and losing seven, as follows:

1921-22 Swindon Town away, lost 1-2.
1922-23: Portsmouth away, drew 0-0, replay home, won 3-1. Bolton Wanderers away, lost 1-3.
1923-24: Stoke home, won 1-0. West Ham United away, drew 1-1, replay home, won 1-0. Aston Villa, away, lost 0-3.
1924-25: Liverpool away, lost 0-3.
1925-26: Middlesbrough away, lost 1-5
1926-27: Sunderland home, won 3-2.
Bolton Wanderers home, drew 0-0, replay away, lost 0-3.
1927-28:Manchester City away lost 0-1

On the other hand Leeds this season are among the leading clubs of the First Division, being currently placed fourth in the League table, with 12 victories, 4 draws, and 8 losses from their 24 games played to date, including, successes on the grounds of Everton, Derby County and Blackburn Rovers, whereas Exeter, right at the bottom of the Southern Section, have won only four times in the whole of the season to date, and been beaten twelve times, Southend, Torquay United, Plymouth Argyle, and Brentford each having won at St James's Park. With every factor against them, therefore, except that of ground advantage, the City yet faced their difficult task with eager determination, and not without hope of achieving a sensational success. By two o'clock there were seven thousand people in the "Park," and the crowd, warmly wrapped up, was pouring in fast, and notice boards were carried round the ground announcing that Cameron would be at outside left and Dennington at left half in the Exeter team, and that Edwards would play right half for the visitors. The weather conditions were in marked contrast to those last year when Blackburn Rovers were here. Then the day was wet and the ground heavy. Today the spectators assembled in the dry,but the temperature was almost at freezing point and the wind was very keen. A Grecian who played a prominent part in the City's Cup games last year, Sam Mason, was debarred from helping the club in the present series, through illness. A mighty cheer from thirteen thousand people signalled the appearance on the field of McDevitt and the rest of the Grecians at 2.27 o'clock, and a minute later followed the men of Leeds United, a big and hefty looking eleven, very smart in light blue and white striped jerseys and dazzling white knickers. Both goalkeepers wore dark blue sweaters. Mc Devitt beat Edwards in the toss, and Exeter occupied the far end of field in the opening half, Leeds facing a light breeze.

The Game.
In the opening minute Exeter were awarded a free-kick for "hands," and Miller placed the ball with a direct shot inches outside the post with Potts closely watching it go by. In the next minute the City all but scored, following a throw-in by Pollard. Doncaster headed the ball on for Cameron to dash in and turn it goalwards. Potts was at the wrong end of the goal to deal with the danger, and great was the Leeds relief when the leather missed the post by the merest fraction. End to end play followed, with the City forwards showing pace and judgment in their work, and Mc Devitt, Doncaster, and Cameron shared in a delightful move which had the Leeds defence on the run. "Hands" against Dennington let Leeds in, and a pretty pass from Wainscoat to Mitchell caught the City defence off its guard. Mitchell was crowded out, but a corner was forced, and from the flag kick Mitchell centred beautifully. The home defence waited, but Keetley jumped for the ball, and his downwards header to the bottom corner of the net gave Leeds United the lead with the game only five minutes old. Keetley and Mitchell were deluged with congratulations from their delighted colleagues at this early success.

Light Ball Very Lively and Play Fast.
Exeter made ground after this, and Leeds conceded a corner in checking Cameron. The flag kick was cleared promptly, but Menzies conceded another corner, swung over well by Purcell, and first-time shots by Cameron and Doncaster cannoned off the Leeds defenders bunched in the goalmouth. The Leeds defence, at this stage, and in face of this determined onslaught by Exeter, was wildly excited, and Townsley looked far from the classy Scottish International that he is, in his unsuccessful attempts to get to grips with the wily Cameron. Two more corners fell to the Grecians, who could not however improve on them, and the game opened out again. Keetley handled when Leeds were making progress, and the City were quickly raiding the Leeds territory again. The light ball was very lively and play very fast on the iron-hard ground. The strength of the Leeds half back division was evident, but the smartness of the Exeter forwards on the ball was giving the United defence cause to worry. Play had been in progress for seventeen minutes when there was a stoppage for an injury to White, but the player soon recovered. Turnbull was closing in dangerously on the Exeter goal when he was successfully checked by Miller, and the City, with McDevitt and Purcell in possession, got away in front of the grandstand only to be pushed back again, and from outside the Exeter penalty area both Keetley and White attempted shots. Keetley missed the ball altogether and White fired wide of the posts. Much midfield play was now the order of the day, and in this the visitors' methodical combination, with players running instinctively into position for return passes, aroused the admiration of the spectators. McDevitt beat Hart, Reed, and Menzies in turn with a classy dribble down the middle and by means of a beautiful ground pass placed the ball almost in the goalmouth to Houghton, who, to the dismay of the crowd hooked the leather, left-footed, high over the bar when faced with an open goal.

On Top of the Net.
Doncaster's tussles with Hart were always interesting, and not in every case to Hart's advantage, and Miller's watch on Turnbull was keen and good. Leeds United's forwards at last came away in a line, but Turnbull's centre dropped on top of the net. The crowd was thrilled again when from Pollard's throw in Purcell worked the ball past Menzies and drove fiercely at the goal, the shot skimming the top of the crossbar. The next City advance was on the left wing, but Cameron failed with the centre. Keeping up the pressure the City forwards gave Leeds acute anxiety, and only the hardest of luck prevented the Grecians from levelling the scores. Potts saved right underneath the crossbar from Doncaster when Exeter seemed certain to score, the attack having been carried to close quarters with a profusion of red and white shirts bunched in the goal-area. As Potts turned the ball aside he was bundled into his goal-net by McDevitt.

Exeter's Equalising Goal.
Pollard received a foot injury and had to go off the field for treatment. He was being attended to by trainer Eddie Jones behind the Exeter goal when the ball was quickly and expertly passed by Dennington to Cameron, and the left winger middled so neatly that Doncaster from eight yards' range turned the ball into the goal for the equaliser almost without an effort. The cheering of the crowd, which had hardly ceased throughout the game, rose ecstatically to a crescendo. And never was a goal more richly deserved, for with normal luck the Grecians would have had three, not one! The cheering continued unabated as the City strove for an interval lead, with Pollard now back on the field. McDevitt fed Purcell with a nice pass, and the winger again outpaced Menzies and dropped the ball in the goalmouth for Potts to make a good save under the crossbar.
Half-time score:
EXETER CITY 1 (Doncaster) 
LEEDS UNITED 1 (Keetley)

For a long time after the restart the teams fenced keenly without either of the attacks being able to get to close quarters, but when twelve minutes had gone by the City took the lead in great style. The ball went from McDevitt's head to Purcell, then back to McDevitt and to Purcell again, the second pass being cleverly directed behind Menzies so that the speed of Purcell carried him to the corner of the Leeds penalty area, with Menzies outpaced. The ball was then sent across the eighteen-yards' line to Cameron, Purcell ran on and received the return ball which he rammed into the net well wide of Potts to round off a lovely move in which nearly all the forwards had played a part. Great was the excitement at this brilliant success, and the frenzied cheering, and the thumping of boots on the boards of the grandstand must have been audible half way down St Sidwell's. Stung by this reverse, Leeds set up a sharp attack and Miller gave a comer, but Holland cleared the dangerous shot sent in by Wainscoat by tipping over the bar, and a second corner brought Leeds no advantage. Away raced Cameron up the left wing, but Hart, who was by far the coolest of the Leeds defenders, diverted the centre back to Potts, who picked up and cleared with a long kick.

Prospects of Another Goal.
Every move on the field was now being followed by the spectators with intense interest, and when Dennington crossed the ball over Menzies's head to Purcell there were prospects of another goal, but the winger failed to gather up the pass. The City's snappy play was proving wonderfully effective, and even when from the centre line Keetley sent Mitchell away with a perfect pass Lowton was on top of the winger in a jiffy and cleared the danger. Wainscoat thrilled the crowd with a rocket-like cross shot from 25 yards, the ball flying about six inches over the goal. Leeds United, desperate now in their turn for the equaliser, concentrated on attack, and there was promise in their steady, calculated moves, but Exeter defender very stubbornly, and Holland was not called upon. Leeds tried move after move without being able to find a loophole in the City rearguard, Pool and Pollard giving the backs fine support. A centre from Mitchell was hooked high over the home goal by White.

Menzies Saves the Game for Leeds.
A lightning City attack furnished a grand diversion, and when the next raid was launched Purcell was clean through when he was tripped from behind just outside the penalty area. Lowton's direct shot from the free kick failed to penetrate the Leeds defensive barrier, but Purcell gained possession, and it was only a daring plunge at the ball by Potts that prevented another goal. Leeds, however, got the goal they had been striving for when, twelve minutes before the finish Menzies took a free kick two yards in front of the halfway line and the same distance in from the left hand touch-line. He drove high and direct to the goalmouth, and when one of the City defenders jumped to head clear and missed the ball Holland failed to cover it, and the leather bounced over the line and into the goal; another simple score, and a very lucky one for the visitors, right "out of the blue." A little over ten minutes remained for play, during which time the Grecians' defence was engaged in beating off the Leeds forwards, who now strove their hardest to snatch the winning goal. Menzies, who had been practically run off his legs by Purcell throughout the proceedings, had by his astonishing goal in the last stages the satisfaction of knowing he had saved the game for his side.

Comments.
Leeds United, one of the top clubs in the First Division, found the City a rare handful, and with luck the lively Grecians would have won the match. A simple goal before the teams had settled down gave Leeds an early lead, and the City had to fight hard to get back on terms, but the forwards' strong tactics and brilliant combined play carried them through splendidly, and the City looked like match-winners when they not only achieved equality but secured the lead. A soft goal indeed was Menzies's for Leeds near the end, when the full back netted with an enormous free kick from a position almost at the angle of the centre and touch line on the popular side, a distance of about 65 yards from the goal. Nobody on the ground could have been more amazed than the scorer himself was when the ball dropped into the net with Holland making no attempt to save. This surprise score robbed the City of the victory that had so thoroughly well earned by their strong and determined play in all departments. The closing play was ragged, and for the most part it consisted of pressure by Leeds, with the Exeter defence on its mettle. The Grecians did not win, but they came exceedingly near to doing so, and it is expected that they will put up another courageous and stirring fight when they travel north for the replay, which is next Wednesday at 2.15 p.m.

WHAT LEEDS THOUGHT OF THE CUP TIE.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE MATCH BY THE YORKSHIRE SPORTS ECHO.

Six years ago Leeds United were called upon to make a long trip to Portsmouth for a cup-tie. "Pompey" were then in the Southern Section of Division Three of the League, and after drawing at home came to Leeds and were defeated. Once more Leeds were summoned by fate to journey to the "ends of the earth" in a Cup-tie, and today they met another Southern Section club, Exeter City, the occasion being the third round of the F. A. Cup Competition. The City have not had a successful season to date, 22 League games yielding a meagre total of 14 points, and on paper Leeds were favourites. However, that is enough of conjecture, let us get down to facts. The Leeds team arrived in Exeter in good time on Friday afternoon. They spent the evening at a local theatre, and this morning strolled up to the ground to take stock of the surroundings. They found the enclosure a good deal smaller than the one at Elland Road and it has also a cramped appearance because of the fact that the touchlines and goal-lines are very near the spectators. The ground was rather hard and bumpy in places and the weather extremely cold. The United for the first time since December fielded their best side, Edwards making a welcome return, and Hart has recovered from last week's injuries. Exeter were without their left half-back, Clarke, who was ill. Dennington took his place, and Cameron was preferred to Death at outside left.
When Exeter Met the Cup-winners.
The only First Division teams Exeter have met in the Cup prior to this match were Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers, and the latter after accounting for them went on to win the Cup. The Leeds excursion brought an enthusiastic party of supporters. The crowd was about 12,000 at the start, a long way below the record, which is 21,000. There was a big counter-attraction at the other end of Exeter in the Rugby Union championship match between Devon and Somerset. Keetley kicked off for Leeds, and Exeter were soon off the mark. Reed pulled up Purcell when that player was in his stride, but a moment later Townsley mis judged a dropping centre, and a shot from Cameron passed just outside the goal. This was a very near thing for Leeds. Exeter were playing with any amount of confidence and their left wing was very clever, so much so that the Leeds defence was rather bewildered. Evidently the visitors had not settled down yet. Both Keetley and Mitchell let good openings go by lack of decisiveness, but Keetley made amends after five minutes. A corner was forced, and Mitchell getting in a beautiful flag kick centred to Keetley, who headed the ball into the net. That was good work after a rather shaky start, but Exeter were soon troubling the Leeds men again, and forced a corner. This was quickly disposed of, and had Keetley kept on-side he could have got nicely away following good work by Wainscoat and Mitchell. Still another corner was forced by Exeter, and Leeds were shocked by the good quality of the Exeter play. The corner was cleared by Hart in the nick of time. Leeds' Forward Machinery Not Working. Exeter's work was disconcerting and in the first quarter of an hour they had more of the play than Leeds. For a team so lowly placed in the table they were doing remarkably well. The Leeds forward machinery was not working up to its proper standard, but they began to show more promise than hitherto.

Game Swinging Round in United's Favour.

White got a nasty crack in a tackle and resumed limping. The game had swung round in United's favour now and there was promise of more goals to come. Try as they would, however, the Leeds men could not put the finishing touches to their work. Many movements opened well only to fizzle out in front of goal. It may have been that the ground troubled Leeds United, for they were cramped for space, but it has to be said for Exeter that they were playing a game worthy of a higher place in the tables. Their defence was especially good, Lowton and Miller being masterly in the craft of interception, and the home team have these two players to thank for turning the tide of attack. Holland had a safe pair of hands, and when called upon he made many splendid saves. When Leeds did get on the move again Keetley failed when well placed, shooting very weakly when only faced by Holland. Keetley was spoiling himself by getting offside too often, and many promising moves came to nothing as a result of this. Houghton (sic) put the scores level just before the interval as the result of good work on the part of the Exeter left wing.

Half-time score:-
Leeds United 1 Exeter City 1.

Keetley Again Failed.

Exeter got away directly after the re-start and weakness on the part of Reed let in McDevitt, but the danger was only momentary. Leeds then had a chance, but Keetley again failed to make the most of a centre by Mitchell. Turnbull followed this with a failure to get the ball in from the wing. Leeds kept up the attack but were kept at a respectable distance from Exeter's goal. Townsley and Menzies did not appear to be working in harmony. The City took the lead 13 minutes after the resumption after a misunderstanding in the United rearguard. Townsley, instead of clearing, passed to Menzies, and in an instant Purcell stepped in and shot, finding the net from what appeared to be an offside position. The referee consulted the line sman, who at once pointed to the centre spot, and the crowd went wild in their delight. The players started again, Leeds going "hammer and tongs." Leeds certainly could not get properly working and they were not as quick on the ball as Exeter. They seemed to be fighting for their very existence. The spectators had seen very little good work done by United so far in this half. The only really good efforts to score were made by Hart and Wainscoat, and the whole team were much below form. Just on time Menzies scored a great goal for Leeds to bring the scores level. Leeds were awarded a free-kick for an infringement by Pollard near the touch line, and Menzies taking the shot sent it like a bullet into the net.
Result:-
Exeter City 2 Leeds United 2.