CITY'S WHIRLWIND FINISH: TWO GOALS IN LAST FIVE MINUTES

Wednesday, January 28th 1931.

EXETER CITY 3 (Doncaster 2 Armfield) 
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 (Weston Wonnacott Bowen) .
Half-time 1-1.

Exeter City:Davies; Baugh and Miller; Clarke, Angus, and Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Northampton: Cave; Inglis and Anthony; Dawes, Maloney, and Davies; Riches, Boyle, Bowen, Wonnacott, and Weston.
Referee:- Mr S.L.Stenning.

The Grecians fielded the team which beat Bury in the Cup on Saturday, all the men reporting fit. On a drying ground and in windy weather the teams lined up before a crowd of 3,000.

Miller lost the toss and Exeter had to face the St James's Road end in the opening half. Bowen quickly broke away but finished tamely with a shot which travelled wide of the posts. Some spirited movements were then seen from the home forwards, Houghton and Doncaster being prominent, but the Northampton defence was cool and resourceful and the Cobblers returned to the attack. Weston beat Baugh but shot wide with only Davies to beat.

Offside Tactics Fail.
After sixteen minutes Northampton, who had foiled the Exeter forwards more than once by means of offside tactics, now paid the penalty of this policy. Varco, who had been thrown offside, made no attempt to play the ball from Armfield's centre, and the Northampton defence stood still, awaiting the whistle. There was however no signal from the referee, and Doncaster ran in from the wing and scored from close range after a tussle with Cave. Miller's cool and competent defence was a fine feature of the Grecians' play, and Houghton delighted the crowd with his clever constructive football. Inglis was admonished by the referee for repeatedly fouling Houghton, and the crowd began to show some resentment against the player. Right on the interval Riches centred to the Exeter goalmouth and Weston equalised.

Second Half.
A brilliant shot by Varco beat Cave but hit the upright, and Purcell sent in a powerful drive which just missed the goal. After 17 minutes Northampton scored through Wonnacott against the run of the play and two minutes later their lead was increased, Bowen heading through. In an amazing whirlwind finish the City levelled the score with two goals in the last five minutes.