TRIUMPH OF TACTICS: LUTON BEAT THE CITY ON A SWAMP

Luton Town Cut Out the Frills

Monday, September 29th 1930.

LUTON TOWN 3 (McNestry Slicer Dent)
EXETER CITY 1 (Varco)
Half-time 2-0.

Luton Town:- Harford; Kingham and Richards; Clark, McGinnigle, and Hale; McNestry, Armstrong, Rennie, Dent, and Slicer.
Referee:- Mr T.W.Chamberlain, of Ilford.
Exeter City:- Davies; Baugh and Miller; Clarke, Ditchburn, Barber, Armfield Purcell, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.

Under such conditions that Luton Town and Exeter City were called upon to play at Luton on Monday evening it would be unfair, and unwise, to resort to harsh criticism. The rain simply fell down in torrents, and even before the start of the match the field was little better than a swamp. Moreover, the proceedings were marred by a bad accident to Harford, who in saving a terrific drive from Purcell fell so awkwardly that he dislocated his right collar bone, and had to be conveyed to Luton Central Hospital.

Kingham in Goal.
Taking into account the fact that Kingham had to occupy Harford's place, and that Luton were compelled to fight the last fifty minutes with ten men, Luton are to be congratulated on their performance in winning by 3 goals to one. were Luton Town's success was a triumph of tactics. They cut out the frills and made it their business to reach the goal by the shortest route, and when they once in possession they gave the ball plenty of air. The game was ten minutes old when Luton took the lead. Dent, the former Exeter forward, who made his first appearance, supplied the pass which gave McNestry the chance to beat Davies with a left footed hook shot. Twenty minutes later Slicer obtained a second goal with an oblique shot after Davies had been drawn out of his goal. It was anticipated that the City would quickly wipe out this advantage in the second half, but instead Dent netted again for Luton, and Varco obtained the City's solitary goal while the Luton defence was appealing for offside. Exeter City's football was disappointing. Houghton and Purcell were repeatedly lying back in a half-back position with Varco isolated and the wingers waiting for passes which seldom came. Ditchburn and Miller played magnificently in the defence, whilst Clarke and Barber were also very good.