EXETER FORWARDS WEAK: VARCO LACKED CONFIDENCE

Large Number of Exeter Excursionists at Bristol

Saturday, March 22nd 1930.

BRISTOL ROVERS 1  (Phillips)
EXETER CITY 0 
Half-time 0-0.

Bristol Rovers: - Densley; Barton and Haydon; Findlay, Cosgrove, and Hamilton; Reay, Forbes, Phillips, Murray, and Shaw.
Exeter City:- Alderson; Gray and Miller; Clarke, Mason, and Dennington; Purcell, McDevitt, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Referee:- Mr A.G. Price, of London.

A large number of excursionists journeyed from Exeter and district to day to Bristol on the Great Western Railway, many of the City followers displaying the red and white colours of their favourites. The attendance was 8,000. Charlie Miller, restored to the team after a long absence through his knee trouble, led the Grecians out, the Rovers following quickly, both teams being heartily greeted. Varco led the Exeter attack in preference to Guyan, and Hemingway being on the injured list McDevitt played inside right, with Houghton getting a chance to occupy his correct position on the left.

EXETER HANDICAPPED.

The Grecians were again very disappointing, Houghton alone of the forwards possessing any good constructive ideas. They were, however  handicapped almost from the start by Doncaster sustaining a leg injury. He strained a muscle in the first few minutes, and although he remained on the field he became a passenger long before the finish. Varco was slow and lacked confidence. The bustle and dash of Guyan was badly missed in the centre of Exeter's attack. Miller made a successful return to the team, coming through his ordeal splendidly, and Mason was a strong pivot. Phillips scored Bristol's winning goal fifteen minutes after the start of the second half.

Western League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
BRISTOL ROVERS RESERVES 0.

When Exeter City Reserves lined up against Bristol Rovers Reserves for the Western League match at St James's Park this afternoon, the spectators looked hard at their programmes. After some minutes' scrutiny they discovered eight changes, and that Holland, Howson, and Guyan were the only players to retain their places as originally selected. The appearance of Bright at outside left surprised them most. The Rovers made no changes. The teams were:
City Reserves:- Holland; Howson and Shanks; E.Keefe, Gurkin, and R.Hill;
J.Gumm, Thomas, Guyan, McMullan, and S.Bright.
Rovers Reserves: Whatley; P.Skuse and Littlewood; McCaig, Plenderleith, and Roberts; F.Britton, Dix, Bennett, Paterson, and Lynn.
Referee: Mr F.W.Tawle.

The weather and ground conditions favoured an attractive game, and the early exchanges suggested that the crowd, which numbered 2,000 would not fail to get their money's worth. A spirited raid by the Rovers was checked by Shanks with a strong tackle on Britton, and Keefe took the ball upfield for Exeter. Beating several Bristol men, the Exminster youth sent in a nice centre, Whatley fisting over for a corner. Two further flag kicks fell to the Grecians in quick succession, but neither was productive, although McMullan just missed with the second. Whatley fumbled the ball from a hard shot by Gumm, and there was a shout of "Goal!" from the crowd, but the referee properly thought otherwise.

A PENALTY SAVED.

Keefe was frequently prominent with good defensive work for the City, and when he put the Grecians on the attack Plenderleith handled the ball in trying to stop Guyan breaking through. The referee had no alternative but to point to the white spot. Howson took the kick but drove the ball straight at Whatley, who saved under the crossbar. ust before the interval Holland distinguished himself with a splendid save from Bennett.
Half-time: City 0 Rovers 0.

SECOND HALF.

Guyan failed with an open goal, shooting straight at Whatley, but the goal keeper failed to clear properly, and McMullan seized the opportunity to net the ball from ten yards' range. With a little more steadiness in front of goal Exeter might have improved their position further, but they succeeded when Gumm, accepting a pass from Hill, found the net with an oblique shot which had Whatley beaten pointless. In the closing stages Holland saved from Britton and Dix, then Thomas, with the easiest opportunity of scoring, tamely put the ball wide.