Eastertide Football

Saturday, March 30th 1929.

EXETER CITY 2  (Houghton Bastin)
BRISTOL ROVERS 2 (Phillips 2)

There were seven thousand spectators at St. James's Park for today's League game against the Rovers, who had Phillips, late of Merthyr Town, at centre forward and Murray, late of Bristol City, at centre half. Mason, now fully fit and happily recovered from his long illness, made a welcome return to the Exeter first-team.

Exeter City: Holland; Lowton and Miller; Sheffield, Mason, and Dennington; Purcell, Houghton, Hick, Bastin, and Death.

Bristol Rovers:- Whatley; Bennett and Haydon; Britton, Murray, and Roberts; Reay, Cosgrove, Phillips, Dando, and King.

Referee:- Mr E.C.Sambrook, of Swansea.

The City opened at a very fast pace and in the first few minutes the Rovers' defence was very hard pressed. Corners to Exeter were not productive, but in the sixth minute Bastin inaugurated a movement which was carried on smoothly by Dennington, Death, and Hick, the centre forward feeding Houghton a dozen yards from the Bristol goal. Houghton daintily guided the ball past Murray and Haydon and then beat Whatley with a cool cross shot. Keeping up the good work, the Grecians had a great chance of going further ahead three minutes later, but this time Houghton receiving a swift centre from Death right in front of goal hooked the ball over the bar. In later play only the brilliant goalkeeping of Whatley who saved excellent shots from Hick and Death prevented further goals. Bastin with a long shot sent over the bar, but made amends two minutes later, for when Lowton drove a free kick forty yards into the goalmouth and Whatley fisted away, and Sheffield put the ball down again into the midst of several players and the Rovers' defence got all tangled up, Bastin threaded his way confidently through the crowd and sent the ball into the goal.
Half-time:
Exeter City 2 Bristol Rovers 0.

Soon after the re-commencement a shot from Hick was saved by Whatley, and one from Purcell went over the bar. Haydon checked Bastin when he tried to make headway from Death's good pass, then Death in another raid put the ball over the bar. Further attempts at a score by Bastin, Death, and Houghton were all aimed too high, the ball travelling over the bar in each case. With all the pressure Exeter were exerting, and with the play continually at the Bristol end, it came as something of a shock when in an isolated breakaway Reay got the ball across to Phillips, who successfully negotiated a challenge from Lowton and placed the leather well into the Exeter net. Exeter had up to now had enough chances to win the match three times over but were left with the slender lead of one goal only. Worse was to come, for with but ten minutes remaining Lowton, who could have headed clear, kicked the ball instead. It cannoned against Phillips, who somehow managed to scramble it into the net, Bristol thus equalising. Bristol Rovers in the closing play defended their goal capably against a very disillusioned Exeter side.


SOUTHERN LEAGUE MATCH AT STAPLETON ROAD, BRISTOL.
BRISTOL ROVERS RESERVES 2
EXETER CITY RESERVES 1.

Dix from six yards opened the scoring for Bristol, and Wade, after a fine solo dribble, equalised, both goals coming in the opening quarter of an hour. Britton scored Bristol's second goal from Compton's centre. In the second half a good header by Wade was saved by Farmer on the goal line, and two fierce drives by Doncaster were also saved by the goalkeeper. Noble and Pollard defended so well for Exeter that Campbell had not much to do.

Rovers Reserves:- Farmer; Rotherham and Barton; McCaig, Smith and Falconer; Homer, White, F.Britton, Dix, and Compton.

City Reserves:- Campbell; Pollard and Noble; Phoenix, Ditchburn and Christie; Bluck, McDevitt, Wade, Doncaster, and Cameron.


Good Friday, March 29th 1929.

EXETER CITY RESERVES 6 (Wade 5 Doncaster)
MERTHYR TOWN RESERVES 0

Exeter City Reserves gained a handsome victory over Merthyr Town Reserves at St. James's Park on Friday, scoring six goals without reply. The match kicked off at 4 o'clock and was well attended. Exeter Reserves were the cleverer side throughout, and dominated the game, but owing to the brilliant work of Allman, the Merthyr goalkeeper, they only were able to score once in the opening half, Wade netting the ball after half an hour's play. Wade in the second half showed a nice sense of anticipation, and with all the other forwards combining effectively he added four more goals to the one he obtained before the interval. Doncaster with the fifth goal wound up the scoring. The only danger to the City, who were well on top throughout, came from Merthyr's extreme wingers, but they were poorly supported by the half backs.

Exeter were represented by:- Campbell; Pollard and Noble; Phoenix, Ditchburn, and Christie; Bluck, McDevitt, Wade, Doncaster, and Cameron.