SENSATIONAL FINISH AT ST JAMES'S PARK

Dramatic Penalty Equaliser by Baugh

Saturday, November 1st 1930.

EXETER CITY 3 (Varco Purcell Baugh)
NOTTS COUNTY 3  (Maw 2 Andrews) Half-time: City 0 Notts County 2.

Exeter City: Davies; Baugh and Miller;
Clarke, Dennington, and Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Notts County: Ferguson; Mills and Bisby; Jakeman, Froggatt, and Kemp; Taylor, Fenner, Andrews, Maw, and Haden.
Referee:- Mr E.E.Small, of Bristol.

Exeter City were unlucky in the matter of the weather for this afternoon's big Football League attraction at St James's Park, in the shape of a visit from the unbeaten Southern Section leaders, Notts County, who hope and believe they are on a non-stop run to regain Second Division status in a twelve-month. Rain fell heavily all last night, and continued on and off this morning. It eased off for a time at mid-day but started again shortly before 3 o'clock. The playing pitch was saturated in places, and the rain kept away many would be spectators from the country round about. There were only 5,000 spectators when the game started.

Keetley Missing.
Exeter City had Davies for Jones in goal, compared with last Saturday, and the County were without their star centre-forward, Keetley, who has influenza. So they moved Andrews to the centre and brought in Maw at inside-left. Notts, who were making their first appearance at Exeter, looked a very smart side, also a very big one, in white shirts and black knickers, and they were given a rousing reception when they came out, led by Froggatt. They won the toss, and Varco set the ball in motion towards the big bank at the far end. The game, with Notts County dominating the first half and Exeter the second, turned out to be most entertaining, and one which reflected great credit on the Grecians. They might well have won if they had taken all their chances. There was a most sensational finish, Exeter levelling the scores right on time by the aid of a penalty kicked by Baugh when Bisby was ruled to have hit down a drive from Purcell. Baugh's shot, a superb low drive to the left of Ferguson, entered the net at lightning speed amidst tumultous cheering, and it was the very last kick of the match. Exeter, who played their best football of the season in the second half, might have justifiably had another penalty in this period, when Armfield was fouled in the penalty area, the score at that time being Notts County 3 Exeter City 1. The County, from a football standpoint, were much the more scientific of the two sides, but the Grecians, who strove valiantly right to the end, deserved
their point. The first half produced two goals to the visitors, and both were obtained by Maw, the reserve inside-left. The first, after 30 minutes, was a powerful left foot shot to the top of the net, well out of the reach of Davies. The second, five minutes later, was the result of close combination between Haden and the inside forwards. Exeter's defence was spreadeagled, and Maw ran the ball into the net with Davies yards out of his goal. Maw would have completed the "hat trick" with luck, just before half-time, but with Davies outside his goal the ball went a yard outside the post. Right on the interval Ferguson made a good save from Houghton.

Second Half.
The Exeter defence was soon in hot water, the half-backs being unable to stem the Notts torrent, and from Taylor's studied centre Andrews head their third goal. After this the Notts players began to indulge in "exhibition" football, but they were brought to earth quickly. An attack on the Exeter right getting through, Purcell transferred neatly to the centre for Varco to beat Ferguson with a forceful shot. Doncaster missed two open goals, and Armfield allowed a glorious chance to go begging, but with fifteen minutes' play remaining Purcell headed the City's second goal from a corner taken by Armfield. The third goal was the penalty, already described.

Comments.
It was the best game seen at St James's Park this season. Notts were faster and cleverer in their work generally, but what the Grecians lacked in finesse they made up for in grit and fighting spirit. No one will question the superiority of the County in the finer points of the game. They had a brilliant spell of football towards the end of the first half, when their first two goals were scored. They restarted in the same style after the interval and quickly got another goal. It speaks volumes for the pluck and enthusiasm of Exeter that after this they reached equality, and indeed came very near to winning the game. The last-minute penalty, so coolly taken by Dicky Baugh, provided a wonderful closing thrill, and the tumult of cheering must have been heard all over the city. The attendance, 5,000 at the kick-off, later increased to 7,000.

• The Western League match between Taunton and Exeter City Reserves, had to be postponed, as Taunton were engaged in the F. A. Cup.