Plymouth Argyle v Exeter City 

Saturday, March 9th 1929.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0
EXETER CITY 0

The Grecians' performance was far better than anything that could have been anticipated in such a match at this three weeks ago before the Exeter City improvement set in. Exeter's strong defence carried off the honours of the match, which played at Home Park in brilliant sunshine before 10,000, Lowton winning the toss.

ARGYLE: Craig Russell Titmuss Mackay McKenzie Hardie Matthews Forbes Grozier Leslie Black

CITY: Holland Lowton Miller Phoenix Pool Clarke Purcell Doncaster Hick Houghton Cameron 

The splendid play of Holland and his backs during a difficult first half and the whole-hearted support they received from Phoenix, Pool, and Clarke, were the reasons for Plymouth failing to secure the lead, despite much of the play taking place in Exeter's half of the field. The second half was more evenly contested and both goals had narrow escapes. One save by Holland from the left foot of Matthews when all seemed lost was truly sensational. Purcell had two chances at the Argyle end but missed the target each time. The issue hung in the balance until the very last kick, both sides striving all they knew for the winning goal. The crowd at Home Park included nearly a thousand Exeter supporters, who had taken advantage of the cheap excursion fares by rail and char-a-banc. 

From the Plymouth Argyle official programme today: - "In the first of the Devon Derby matches to be played at Home Park this season, the Pilgrims should have an opportunity of displaying their ability, for in truth the Grecians are in a sorry plight, and although I have not seen them play this season I am given to understand that their form is as bad as their position in the League table suggests. If the Pilgrims cannot defeat their old Devon rivals, then, indeed their form must have suffered a drastic deterioration, more especially in the fact that earlier in the season the Argyle won at St James's Park much more convincingly than the score of 2-1 suggested.

Western League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
BRISTOL ROVERS RESERVES 3.

Brilliant spring-like weather favoured today's Western League match at Exeter between the reserve teams of Exeter City and Bristol Rovers. The attendance, at the start, was 2,500, and additional interest was provided in the appearance of an old favourite, Billy Compton, in the Rovers' ranks, and the former Grecian received an appropriate cheer from his erstwhile admirers.

City Reserves:- Campbell; Ditchburn and P.Noble; Sheffield, Dennington, and Christie; J.Bluck, Streets, Wade, Bastin, and Death.

Rovers Reserves:- Densley; Barton and Rotherham; McCaig, Smith, and Falconer; Homer, Dix, Dando, White, and Compton.

Early play was in favour of the City, and in the first minute Densley had to leave his goal to clear with Wade following up swiftly. Later Death sent in a useful centre, which Streets landed on top of the net from an awkward angle. Bastin was prominent in these early attacks, in which he manoeuvred cleverly for position. Midway through the first half Dix sent Homer away with an astute pass, and from Homer's centre Compton met the ball first time and sent it crashing into the net. Dando scored Bristol's second goal after 30 minutes. The feature of the second half was a brilliant goal by Bastin with a flying header from Bluck's centre. Dix then scored for Bristol and Bastin for Exeter.