Torquay United v Exeter City
Saturday, February 23rd 1929.

TORQUAY UNITED 1 (Hemingway) EXETER CITY 3  (Doncaster Lowton Purcell)

The success of the Grecians at Plainmoor was richly deserved, especially in view of the fact that they were without McDevitt (injured) for the best part of an hour, and Pool was playing under a handicap with a damaged leg right through the game. "Dogged" appeared to be the motto of Exeter City today. There was very little polish about their play, but they were quick and keen in tackling, and just as quick to advance on the Torquay goal, when opportunities occurred. Torquay were not given the chance to settle down. The football was snappy all through, and Exeter generally shaped the better, and certainly the more aggressive side. The City owed a lot to Holland for his fine goalkeeping, and to Lowton and Miller, a splendid pair of backs. For Torquay the star forward was Hemingway, who played on the left wing to day, and he was given great support by Smith.

Torquay United:- Gough (captain); Fowler and Brown; Chamberlain, Davis, and Smith; Mackey, Hill, Budd, Kelly, and Hemingway.

Exeter City:- Holland; Lowton and Miller; Phoenix, Pool, and Clarke; Purcell, McDevitt (captain), Hick, Doncaster and Cameron 

Today's crowd of just over 7,000 was in striking contrast to the concourse which assembled at Plainmoor back in December on the occasion of the second round F. A. Cup tie between the Magpies and the Grecians, but there were several hundred Exeter City supporters in the crowd, and it was soon clear that there would be plenty of vocal encouragement for both teams. The weather was delightfully fine and the ground in good football condition, but on the journey to Torquay the Exeter following had encountered patches of thick mist, and there was just a chance that this might creep over the ground and affect the spectators' enjoyment of the play.

The Game.

They said at Torquay that Gough always wins the toss, and he did so today. There was no wind, but Exeter had to face what sun there was in the opening half. In the first minute Purcell got away and crossed a beautiful centre to Hick, who headed into Gough's hands. Gough failed to catch the ball cleanly, and Hick dashed in and shoulder-charged the goalkeeper, Torquay being given a free-kick. Torquay made ground on the left and Phoenix fouled Hemingway, being spoken to by the referee, Mr C.F.Moon, of Bristol. Gough fisted out a dangerous looking dropping shot by Doncaster, but in the tenth minute Exeter took the lead, and it was Doncaster who scored, Hick and McDevitt having provided the opening. Doncaster's first shot was blocked but he tried again and this time the ball cannoned into the net off the legs of Fowler. Pool was injured in an encounter with Hill, and went off for a few minutes of massage. Torquay wanted a lot of holding and Mackey from Hemingway's pass went close. Pool returned to the field, limping. Exeter returned to the attack and Hick with a classic drive skimmed the Torquay crossbar. Holland made excellent saves from Hemingway and Chamberlain. Pool was limping all the time from his leg injury, and now there was a stoppage for injury to McDevitt, who was carried off the field to the dressing room. a knee Eight minutes before the interval Torquay equalised by means of a penalty for hands against Clarke. Hemingway took the kick and scored with a high shot.

Purcell Scored for Exeter.

Exeter forced a couple of commers, and then regained the lead four minutes before half-time. Cameron placed a corner kick to Pool, who, crippled as he was, was lying well up in support of the forwards. Pool passed to Purcell, who with a cool, low shot through a crowd of players, found the Torquay net. It transpired at half-time that McDevitt had torn a thigh muscle, and Exeter had to resume without him. There was jubilation among the Torquay supporters when Budd netted the ball, but Hill was offside and the referee disallowed the goal. Play became very scrappy in the second half, and free kicks for fouls were the order of the day. Seventeen minutes had elapsed when Davis foolishly handled right under the referee's eyes, in the corner of the penalty area. There was only one decision Mr Moon could make, a penalty to Exeter. Lowton came up to take the kick, which as it happened, was at the other end of the ground to the scene of his two previous failures at Plainmoor. There was a special ovation for Lowton when he scored with a powerful low shot in the centre of the goal. Hick was floored in an encounter with Gough, and Lowton, in the City goalmouth, cleared from Mackey with Holland beaten. Right at the end Purcell from Hick's pass missed the goal by inches with a splendid cross drive from outside the penalty area.



Southern League 
EXETER CITY RESERVES 3
TORQUAY UNITED RESERVES 2.

Although the sun shone brilliantly there was a very meagre attendance at St James's Park for the junior "Devon Derby" for Southern League points between the City Reserves and Torquay United Reserves.

Exeter Reserves:- Campbell; Hill, Noble; Sheffield, Ditchburn, Dennington; Bluck, Streets, Gumm, Bastin, and Death.

Torquay Reserves: Millsom; Mellon, J.Price; Clitheroe, Preston, Smeaton; Waller, Thomas, Gardner, Humphery, and Edmunds.

Billy Death after twenty minutes "made" the first Exeter goal for Streets and scored the second one himself. A minute before half-time Waller netted with a high shot from Thomas's pass. Death scored the City's third goal midway through the second half, it being hotly disputed by Torquay on the grounds of offside. Preston, the Magpies' skipper, continued to protest and was cautioned by the referee. The ground became enveloped in a thick mist towards the end and play was difficult to follow. Waller scored for Torquay from Edmunds' centre.


Western League
Wednesday, February 27th 1929.
BRISTOL CITY RESERVES 4
EXETER CITY RESERVES 1.

The appearances of three newcomers, John Walsh, Wright, and Varnham, in the Bristol City team against Exeter City Reserves created a good deal of extra interest in today's Western League fixture at Ashton Gate.

Bristol Reserves:- Newlands; Holbrook and Hughes; Geddes, Smith, and Barber; B.Williams, John Walsh, Wright, Garland and Varnham.

Exeter Reserves: Campbell; Pollard and Noble; Sheffield, Dennington, and Christie; Bluck, Streets, Wade, Houghton, and Death.

Varnham and Wright were early in the picture, Varnham with a nicely placed ball from the wing which Wright gathered. Wright's shot at goal lacked power, and it was tipped over the bar by Campbell. John Walsh put a nice centre through but the ball was blocked by Dennington. On several occasions after this Exeter's goal was in danger, but Campbell averted the threat by clever saves from John Walsh and Wright. Exeter broke away on occasions, but their finishing was weak. After half an hour's play Hughes received a kick on the leg and had to retire. The Grecians began to play with more understanding, and after Death with a long shot had skimmed the home crossbar Streets beat Newlands with a fast drive. Close on half-time Wright headed the ball into the Exeter net. Bristol's play in the second half improved greatly, and three goals, two by Varnham, and one by Garland, were scored.