FULHAM'S DECISIVE VICTORY 
Second Half "Hat-Trick" by Newton at Exeter's Expense

Wednesday, September 2nd 1931.
EXETER CITY 0 FULHAM 3

Last season's two leading goalscorers, Varco and Houghton, were left out of the City team to play Fulham at St James's Park. Their places were filled by Woodward, making his first Football League appearance, and Fred Whitlow, the new centre forward from Charlton Athletic, who occupied Houghton's position with Woodward leading the attack. Fulham included two of their new players, Richards, outside right, from Coventry City, and Newton, who was Stockport County's highest scorer last season with 34 goals from centre-forward. There was an attendance of about 7,000, and the evening was fine.

Exeter City:- Davies; Baugh and Miller; Clarke, Childs, and Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Woodward, Whitlow, and Doncaster.
Fulham: Beecham; Gibbon and Hickie; Webb, Gibbons, and Barrett; Richards, Hammond, Newton, Price, and Penn.
Referee:- Mr A.J.Attwood, of Newport.

After holding the strong Fulham side in the first half Exeter City were given an object lesson in goalscoring after the interval. Newton scored his first goal after three minutes, his second twenty minutes later, and his third five minutes from time. Although Newton was the scorer of all three goals, the finest player in the Fulham team was Hammond, whose fast and clever foraging and accurate placing of passes frequently had the City defence in trouble. Whitlow, although making some clever and thoughtful moves, was not altogether a success at inside left for Exeter. He was slower than his colleagues, and for long spells Doncaster, whose understanding with Houghton has won many matches in the past, was ploughing a lonely furrow. Woodward in his first big match did very well but badly lacked support.