EXETER COLLAPSE AFTER PROMISING START
Saturday, January 31st 1931.

BRENTFORD 2  (Gamble Berry)
EXETER CITY 2  (Houghton)
Half-time: Brentford 0 Exeter City 1.

Brentford: Nash; Hodge and Adamson; Davies, Bain, and Ware;
Foster, Gamble, W. Lane, Blakemore, and Berry.
Exeter City:- Jones; Baugh and Miller;
Inglis, Angus, and Clarke; Armfield, Purcell, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Referee:- Mr C.F.Moon, of Bristol.

James Lane having just been transferred to Crystal Palace, the Brentford team selectors gave the vacant position at inside-right to F. Gamble, who rendered excellent service at centre-forward as an amateur before joining the ranks of the paid men. The Exeter City team, in blue jerseys with red tops, posed for a whole battery of cameras just before the start, such is the effect of Cup-tie fame. Davies and Barber were rested, deputies being Jones and Inglis. The weather was dull but fine, and there was an attendance of about 10,000. Miller won the toss and Brentford kicked off against a slight breeze.

Within an Ace of Scoring.

After a quiet opening the Grecians came within an ace of scoring. Doncaster and Houghton got moving on the left and Adamson attempted to pass back to Nash. In a flash Varco gained possession and shot, and it was lucky for the "Bees" that Bain was in the goalmouth to stop the ball. The crowd appreciated Exeter's good football in the opening ten minutes, the Brentford defence being subjected to heavy pressure. Angus and Houghton shot just wide, and at the other end a worthy attempt from Blakemore, following a corner, was saved by Jones. Varco had a good chance but shot straight at the goalkeeper. The game was not lacking in excitement, and at the end of half an hour Miller conceded a penalty for a tackle, unfairly in the opinion of the referee, on Lane. The spot kick failed to help Brentford, as Berry's weak shot along the ground was coolly saved by Jones. This was a prelude to further attacking by the City, and 35 minutes from the start Purcell ran through nicely and made a short inside pass to Houghton, who quickly gathered up the ball, and manoeuvring cleverly for a shooting position gave the City the lead with a great shot. It was a brilliant goal, and on the run of the play Exeter well deserved the lead. They were, in fact, infinitely better ballanced than Brentford. Towards the interval Houghton and Doncaster were in evidence with more fine football, and when the ball was middled Varco was unlucky to stike the bottom of the upright with a powerful drive.

Second Half.

Drizzling rain greeted the opening of the second half. The City, with the wind now behind them, got away a forced a corner which Nash cleared from a crowd of players in the goalmouth. Miller made a sensational clearance, heading away a shot from Lane from right beneath the crossbar with the crowd shouting "Goal!" The game underwent a transformation in the second half, and the City, after playing so well and taking the lead, collapsed. Gamble equalised with barely twenty minutes left for play, and four minutes later Jones allowed a harmless looking shot from Berry to twist out of his hands and roll into the net. Apart from this one fatal slip Jones played excellently in goal. Miller and Baugh were grand full-backs after the change of ends, and Clarke was the best half-back on the field. Doncaster and Houghton gave sparkling performances in the forward line, particularly so in the first half, but Varco was slow on the ball and the right wing lacked thrust.

Western League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 6
YEOVIL 0.

A week ago the City Reserves were beaten sensationally at Yeovil by 12 goals to nil in a Western League match. Today the teams met at St James's Park for the return encounter in miserable weather before 1,000 spectators. 

Exeter Reserves:- Bond; Gray and Shanks; Keefe, Ditchburn, Hill; Gumm, McCosh, Parsons, Halliday, and Lister.
Yeovil & Petters:- Johnson; Clark and Cheetham; McDade, Jordan, and Pratt; Bloxham, Connaboy, Edmunds, McNeil, and Rankin.
Referee:- Mr H.F.Curtis, of Plymouth.

On a saturated surface play opened fast, and each team attacked in turn. Nice combination was shown by the Yeovil forwards, but Halliday was outstanding in the Exeter forward line, his dribbling and distribution of the ball being one of the best features of the play. Parsons scored for Exeter in sixteen minutes, and McCosh four minutes later. After a further six minutes Lister centred well for Parsons to score another goal.
Half-time:
City Reserves 3 Yeovil 0.

McDade and Bloxham came under the referee's notice for foul tactics, and there were several unsavoury incidents. Several players were called to the centre of field for a few words from Mr Curtis. Halliday scored for Exeter with a strong header from Gumm's centre, and McCosh and Parsons increased the total to six. "Six more!" shouted a spectator, with last Saturday's match result at Yeovil in mind.