Saturday,
April 18th 1931
WALSALL 2
EXETER CITY  1.

Exeter City in their last "away" League match of the season, had to meet Walsall, who have the record of four successive victories over the Grecians. The City were at full strnegth, but Walsall had their reserve full backs in the side. There were 4,000 spectators. The weather was cool, with a boisterous wind, and Walsall winning the toss played down the slope in the first half.
Walsall: John; Edgar, B.Bradford; Godfrey, Helliewell, Archer; Brookes, W.Bradford, Mays, Eyres, and Barnes.
Exeter City: Davies; Baugh, Miller; Clarke, Angus, Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster. Referee:- Mr W.Evans, of Barry.

In Exeter's first attack Armfield was given offside, and at the Exeter end of the field Davies did well to prevent a header by Barnes entering the net. In twenty minutes Exeter broke away and Houghton scored from Purcell's pass. Straight from the kick off Walsall equalised, a clearance by Miller rebounding off W.Bradford's foot and the ball flying into the net, Davies being taken by surprise. It was a pure strock of luck for Walsall. Archer, Eyres, and Barnes combined well in midfield for Walsall, and the ball was taken up the field for Barnes to finish the move with a hart shot, which Davies did well to save. Unluckily for Exeter the ball went to W.Bradford, who netted from close range.

Southern League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
BATH CITY 0.

By their victory over Bath City, the Exeter City Reserve team made certain of winning the championship of the Western Section of the Southern League, with two matches still to be played. The following teams lined up this afternoon at St James's Park in cold, wet weather, before 2,000 spectators.
City Reserves:- Jones; Gray, Shanks; Inglis, Ditchburn, Bright; J.Gumm, McCosh, Parsons, Halliday, and Lister.
Bath City: Prout; Howson and Hicks; Neesam, Dyer, and Hall; Green, Davidge, Budd, Walter, and Bishop.

Three times in the first half Parsons sent the ball over the bar, and Howson, the former Exeter City back, almost scored in his own goal when he blocked a shot from McCosh. After thirteen minutes of the second half Parsons scored for Exeter, the ball coming in to the centre following good combination between Gumm and McCosh. Five minutes later Inglis and Parsons paved the way for Halliday to increase the lead. Exeter maintained their advantage, and Prout had a busy time in the Bath City goal.

Wednesday, April 22nd 1931.
McDEVITT'S BENEFIT MATCH:
EXETER CITY v WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS.

The match between Exeter City and the Wolves at St James's Park on Wednesday evening for the benefit of Mr Billy McDevitt, the City manager, attracted a crowd of about 5,000 spectators, and a very entertaining game resulted in a win for the City by three goals to one. Neither team tried very hard to score, but as a matter of fact, four goals were scored, three by the City, but had the teams been engaged in a serious match the result would probably have been different.

Exeter City:- Davies; Baugh, Miller; Clarke, Angus, Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.
The Wolves:- Tootill; Lowton, Shaw; Rhodes, Hollingworth, Kay; Bottrill, Hartill, Martin, Hemingway, and Barraclough.
Referee:- Mr R.H.Pym, of Bolton Wanderers.

Rhodes opened the scoring accidentally after 30 minutes when he passed back
to Tootill, expecting the goalkeeper to clear, but Tootill was out of his goal and the ball ran into the unguarded net. Martin equalised four minutes later with a perfect low shot into the corner of Exeter's net, and the teams crossed over on level terms at one goal all. Armfield put the City in front from Houghton's pass ten minutes from the end of the game, and seven minutes later Varco from Doncaster's centre scored with a lovely shot that sailed into the net just below the crossbar. There were special cheers for Wilf Lowton, the Exonian, now the captain of the Wolves, and for Cyril Hemingway, another ex-Grecian, when the teams came out, and there was a hearty reception, too, for Dick Pym, of Topsham, Exeter City, and Bolton Wanderers, when he took the field to control the match.

Dick Pym, who held the whistle, made the minimum use of it. Twice in the first half he thought it advisable to exercise his authority for anbious case of "hands," and a palpable "offside," and in the second half he obliged some of the crowd by responding to their appeals for the whistle.

Both teams were splendidly served at full back, Miller being in brilliant form for the City, and Lowton and Shaw a dashing Wolverhampton pair. Hemingway was often in the picture for quick and nimble attacking work, in exactly his old time style, but he was out of luck with his shooting.

Western League
BRISTOL ROVERS RESERVES 0
EXETER CITY RESERVES 0.

No goals were scored in the Western League match at Eastville on Wednesday evening, so Exeter won a highly valuable point. The Grecians have now to get only one point in their remaining game with Taunton to win the championship of the League. They have already won the Southern League title. A high wind and light ball almost put accurate football out of the question, but there were far too many free kicks, and some of the referee's decisions were puzzling, to say the least. Gray, Ditchburn, and Shanks were the City's best players, all working tremendously hard.

Thursday, April 23rd 1931.
TORQUAY UNITED 6
EXETER CITY 2.

At Plainmoor on Thursday evening Torquay United defeated Exeter City in the first round of the Devon Professional Championship, and will meet Plymouth Argyle in the Final next week. The evening was fine and warm, and there were 3,000 spectators. The teams lined up as follows:

Torquay: Joe Wright; James Wright, and Fowler; Phoenix, Butler, and Smith; Clayson, Birkett, J. Trotter, Hutchinson, and Bell.

Exeter: Davies; Baugh, and Miller; Clarke, Angus, and Barber; Purcell, McCosh, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.

The Grecians made an unfortunate start, for Torquay United gained an early lead of two goals, both from penalty kicks. The first was awarded after nine minutes' play when Angus handled, and Fowler made no mistake with the kick. Two minutes later Fowler scored again from the spot when Clayson was fouled. Purcell supplied the first dangerous shot for the City, causing Joe Wright to tip the ball over the bar, and immediately afterwards let fly with a classic rising shot which missed the upright by inches only. The United's third goal was gained through splendid co-operation. Birkett was given the ball and got through on the right to pass to Clayson, who cut in to the penalty area. When challenged by Davies, some yards out, he tapped the ball to Hutchinson who scored in the empty goal. Doncaster with fast and fearless play kept Jimmy Wright occupied, but in the Torquay attack Bell was given little room by the alertness and keen tackling of Dicky Baugh.
Half-time:
Torquay United 3 Exeter City 0.

Second Half.

After the interval the Torquay forwards plied Davies with shots, and Clayson increased the lead by forcing the ball into the net through Davies's legs. The City were given a penalty for a foul by Jimmy Wright on McCosh, and Joe Wright made a miraculous save from Baugh's hard shot, head high. Bell scored twice for Torquay, the second following a nice dribble and pass by Clayson. Exeter obtained a goal through Fowler kicking into his own net a centre from Doncaster, and four minutes from the finish McCosh reduced the arrears again with a header into the net from a clever pass by Doncaster.