VAST IMPROVEMENT IN THE CITY FORWARD LINE
Houghton's Welcome Return :  
Whitlow a Cool and Clever Leader:
Saturday, September 5th 1931.

EXETER CITY 4 BRENTFORD 1.

The Grecians made two changes for the visit of Brentford to St. James's Park. Houghton resumed at inside left after missing one match through illness, and Whitlow led the attack. Miller won the toss, and Brentford, in blue jerseys and black knickers, kicked off towards St. James's Road, facing a high wind. The weather was cloudy and cool, and about 6,000 spectators attended.

Exeter City:- Davies; Baugh and Miller; Clarke, Childs, and Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Whitlow, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Brentford: Nash; Hodge and Adamson; J.C. Burns, Bain, and Ware; Foster, Robson, Lane, Cook, and Berry.

Referee:- Mr L.E.Gibbs, of Reading.

Brentford opened the scoring after seven minutes when Lane received the ball from Ware and ran through to beat Davies with the City defence standing still thinking Lane was offside. But the City were level two minutes later, Whitlow dribbling past Hodge and Nash to steer the ball into the net. This goal being the Grecians' first of the season, the spectators were doubly appreciative. Foster missed badly for the visitors, and at the other end Houghton managed to scoop the ball wide of the net with Nash out of his goal. After twenty minutes a combined move by all the home forwards culminated in a lovely centre coming across from Armfield, which was headed by Houghton into the Brentford net at express speed.

Half-time: City 2 Brentford 1.

Brentford commenced the second half with a series of determined attacks, and came close to scoring when Cook headed Berry's pass just over the Exeter bar. After nine minutes a penalty for a foul. by Bain resulted in Baugh scoring the City's third goal, the ball being driven low into the corner of the net, well out of the goalkeeper's reach. After Davies had made a sensational save from Berry play veered again to the other end, and a combined move between Clarke, Armfield, and Whitlow ended with Doncaster closing in from the wing to shoot hard and true past Nash for Exeter's fourth goal. Miller was handicapped by a knee injury during most of the second half, but played grandly in co-operation with Baugh. Fifteen minutes from time Clarke retired from the field with an injured leg, and Purcell dropped back to right half. Houghton's return made all the difference to the City forward line, and Whitlow was a cool and clever leader, always dangerous when in possession.

ARGYLE RESERVES 2
CITY RESERVES 2.
Western League match at Home Park, Plymouth.

There were 6,000 spectators to witness the return Western League contest, at Home Park. The weather was dull, and the Argyle, winning the toss, played with a considerable breeze at their backs.

Argyle Reserves: Stanbury; Bland, Titmuss; Gorman, Pullen, Reed; Matthews, Mackay, Thompson, Wilson, Leitch.

City Reserves: Jones; Gray (J), Gray (E); Robinson, Ditchburn, Bright; Keen, Graham, Varco, Woodward, Courtney.

Exeter were the best side in the first half, and shots by Woodward and Keen struck the side netting. Long passing by Varco put Woodward through, and the inside left timed his shot nicely, giving the Grecians the lead as Stanbury came out to meet the ball. The Argyle drew level in the next minute, Jones punching out a centre from Matthews to Wilson, who had moved over slightly to the right, and Wilson settled matters with a shot which found the back of the net, high up. The Argyle took the lead just before half-time, Thompson scoring with a shot which gave Jones no possible chance.
Half-time Argyle 2 City 1.
Varco was the first to get dangerous for Exeter in the second half, and fine play by the Cornishman led to the equalising goal, scored by Woodward. Gorman failed to clear a long centre from Varco, and before he could recover himself Woodward put the scores level with a fine shot from fifteen yards. Varco and J.Gray were Exeter's best players, and Woodward's shooting was a feature.