Newport v Exeter City GRECIANS WERE NO OBSTACLE TO NEWPORT COUNTY

Martin Does the Hat Trick

Saturday, December 21st 1929.

NEWPORT COUNTY 4 (Seymour Martin 3)
EXETER CITY 1 (Houghton)
Half-time 3-0.

Newport County:- Blakemore; Hugh and Reid; S.Richardson, Nairn, and Lawson; Morris, Seymour, Martin, McKenna, and Thomas.
Exeter City:- Alderson; Baugh and Shanks; Ditchburn, Clarke, and Dennington; Purcell, Houghton, Guyan, Hemingway, and Doncaster.
Referee:- Mr J.M.Wiltshire, of Sherborne.

Successes are only comparative, and Newport's big win over Exeter City at Somerton Park this afternoon does not necessarily mean that in one bound. they have reached the stage of excellence. They undoubtedly showed great improvement on their earlier form, but they found the Grecians a less serious opposition than for many seasons past. In no department was this more noticeable than in defence, and therefore, to that extent the Ironsides' scoring capacity may have been exaggerated.

ALDERSON'S BLUNDER.
Seymour and Martin in the first quarter of the game scored within a minutes of each other. After 30 minutes Shanks, under the impression that few the ball was going out of play, reckoned without the persistence of Martin. The Newport leader captured the ball and whipped it across the goalmouth, where Alderson stood, alone and quite unhampered by the presence of any of the home forwards. Exeter's goalkeeper uncharacteristically fumbled the ball and allowed it to hit him on his shoulder and bounce into the net. Martin obtained another goal shortly after ends had been changed, and there was a stoppage for an injury to Lawson, who had to leave the field. Blakemore saved finely from Guyan and Hemingway, but was at length beaten by Houghton from a penalty awarded against Richardson for "hands." Further pressure by the Grecians looked likely to succeed but Hugh headed clear from under the crossbar, the ball having come in from Hemingway. The play, despite the heavy ground, was fast and lively with Newport County the stronger team by a long way. Lawson returned to the field after an absence of fifteen minutes. Doncaster forced a corner which he took himself, Blakemore saving, and Guyan headed the ball inches over the crossbar. Doncaster was Exeter's only forward who looked at all dangerous, but many of his centres and passes were wasted. There was not enough directness about the City's attacks, and the moves which began in midfield petered out very tamely in the penalty area. Newport County, who have never been beaten on their own ground by Exeter City, introduced a young amateur, A.R.Hugh of Rogerstone, at right back. As yet he is raw and inexperienced, but his display suggested that he has a football brain and the right qualities for a full-back. He was more serviceable than Baugh on today's play, for Baugh did not live up to his reputation.

Southern League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
BARRY 1.

Notwithstanding the fine weather, the attendance at St James's Park for the Southern League match there between the City Reserves and Barry was barely one thousand. Stanley Bright, of Hemyock, has been playing well for Exeter in several recent games, and he was again selected for the left back role.

City Reserves: Holland; Howson and Bright; Sheffield, Mason, and McMullan; Armfield, Thomas, Gumm, Henderson, and Townsend.
Barry: Owen; Brown and Hinton; Bailey, Baggott, and Gardner; Condon, Kershawe, Jones, Ward, and G. Thomas.
Referee:- Mr S.Trenchard.

Barry tried to force the pace but were driven back, and a very smart touch by Henderson gave Gumm a clear run to the Barry goal. He delayed too long, and was robbed of the ball. Bright conceded a corner, and from Condon's well placed flag kick Kershawe attempted a header, but Holland's long reach enabled him to punch clear. Twice in the space of two minutes shots by Armfield struck the crossbar, and Henderson, who was Exeter's best forward had one hard drive saved by Owen. In the second half Armfield was hurt in a collision with Owen, but resumed, and the Barry goal had a narrow escape when Armfield again got through, but his final pass was placed behind the other forwards. Barry improved, and in a series of attacks Holland performed splendidly in goal for the City, but was eventually beaten by Ward. Fifteen minutes later, from Armfield's centre Gumm equalised. Close on time Gumm snapped up a loose ball and scored with a beautiful shot from outside the penalty area, the ball entering the goal just below the crossbar.