Match 46
6th April 1931
Gillingham (h)

Southern League
Plymouth Argyle Res. (a)

7th April 1931
Western League
Torquay United Res. (h)

Easter Monday,
April 6th 1931.
EXETER CITY 3 GILLINGHAM 0.

Gillingham's visit to St James's Park this afternoon attracted a crowd of seven thousand spectators in mild and dry weather, and although the first half was undistinguished by any good football on either side, and there was very little to choose between the teams for some time afterwards, the City eventually won well by three goals to nil, thereby completing an Easter holiday "double" at the expense of the Hoppers. Billy Death, the former Exeter City outside left, travelled down with the Gillingham party, but did not play. The teams were:
Exeter City: Davies; Baugh, Miller; Inglis, Ditchburn, Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.

Gillingham:- Smith; Robertson, McGregor; Ellis, Beacham, Bishop; Bethell, White, Loasby, Pateman, and Scott.

Referee:- Mr J.M.Wiltshire, of Sherborne.

The defences were mostly in evidence throughout the first half, during which no goals were scored. The Exeter forwards were ragged, and passes went astray frequently. Beacham played a sound stopping game for Gillingham.

Second Half.

After ten minutes one of the visiting players elbowed the ball just inside the
penalty area, and from the spot kick Baugh gave Exeter the lead with a swift low shot. This put more life into the game, Gillingham setting up a series of hot attacks, and for some time the City had to defend desperately. Seventeen minutes from the finish a long pass down the centre by Barber found the Gillingham backs out of position, and Varco ran on to score easily with a good shot to the bottom corner of the net. Two minutes later Houghton scored Exeter's third goal with a wonderful 25 yards' shot from an acute angle.

Southern League
ARGYLE RESERVES 4
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2.

A large holiday crowd at Home Park saw the Argyle Reserves defeat Exeter City Reserves by four goals to two in a Southern League match. In the early stages the play swung rapidly from end to end, and Stanbury saved brilliantly from Halliday, diving full length to turn the ball round the post. Then the Argyle got away, and 22 minutes from the start Mackay snapped up a pass from Channon and drove hard past Jones. Within two more minutes Mackay scored the Argyle's second goal. Half-time: Argyle 2 Exeter 0. Exeter played gamely after the interval and took a full share in the game but were confronted with further arrears when Mackay completed the "hat trick." Less than a minute later Mackay scored the Argyle's fourth goal with another excellent shot. By clever play Exeter worked themselves into a good position, and the arrears were reduced by Parsons with a capital shot. Parsons scored again through a clever individual effort, drawing Stanbury out and shooting into the net.

Tuesday, April 7th 1931.
EXETER CITY RESERVES 4
TORQUAY UNITED RESERVES 1.


Western League match at St James's Park.

Although the conditions were ideal for football the "gate" at the "Park" for this afternoon's match between the City and Torquay Reserves was less than one thousand.

City Reserves:- Jones; Gray and Shanks; Clarke, Angus, and Hill; J.Gumm, McCosh, Parsons, Halliday, and Lister.
Torquay Reserves:- Millsom; James Wright and Tapp; High, Hewitt, and Weightman; Mackie, Freer, Fisher, Burrows, and A.E.Trotter.

Play opened at a fast pace, and the Exeter half backs and backs dominated the game for some minutes. Millsom saved a fierce shot from Angus, and turned one from Gumm on to the post, whence the ball rebounded into the field. When Torquay took play to the Exeter end Hewitt shot splendidly, and Jones tipped the ball over the bar. A free kick to Exeter on the edge of the Torquay penalty area was sent in by Angus, whose powerful drive skimmed over the crossbar. The Grecians took the lead after 32 minutes, Parsons placing the ball through the middle to Halliday, who found the net with an unstoppable shot. Halliday scored Exeter's second goal after Millsom had saved from Parsons at close range. Jones made a smart double save from Burrows and Freer.
Half-time:
Exeter City Reserves 2
Torquay Reserves 0.

Parsons increased Exeter's lead eight minutes after the interval with a shot that entered the net off the foot of the post. Next, Parsons, receiving from Gumm, dribbled past Wright and ran on to give a simple opening to Lister, who scored the City's fourth goal. Twelve minutes before the finish of an entertaining game Torquay attacked on
their left and Trotter scored with an excellent shot. Exeter City Reserves have won every one of their home matches this season in both the Southern and Western Leagues, and are well in the running to win the championships of both. There are three more games to be played in the Western League, all away.

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