EXETER CITY BEATEN BY COBBLERS IN A KEEN GAME

Monday, September 7th 1931.
Childs Injured 

In a great fight Exeter were just beaten at the County Ground, Northampton, by the odd goal in three. Seeing that they had to field a much changed team, due to injuries, it was a capital performance on Exeter's part. Miller and Clarke were substituted by Jimmy Gray and Robinson, and the team was led out by Childs.

Northampton:- Hammond; Inglis, Dawes (F); Allon, Maloney, Odell; Scott, Boyle, Bowen, Dawes (A), Weston.
Exeter City: Davies; Gray (J), Baugh; Robinson, Childs, Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Whitlow, Houghton, Doncaster.

The game was mainly notable for excellent defence on the part of both teams. For most of the game the respective attacks were splendidly held, and in this respect Exeter are deserving of praise by reason of the fact that an injury to Childs forced him to go on the wing, necessitating a rearrangement of the half backs. Exeter fought tremendously hard to retain the lead given to them twenty minutes from the start by Whitlow. Childs was the main figure in this goal, for his shot was too fierce for Hammond to save properly, and when the goalkeeper parried the ball Whitlow was on hand to turn it into the net. Not until twenty minutes from the end of the game did the Cobblers draw level, Bowen then accepting a return pass from Weston to drive the ball past Davies at full force. Three minutes later Albert Dawes scored the deciding goal when he converted a centre from Weston. Davies kept goal admirably for Exeter, whilst Baugh's sound defence and Barber's skill on the left flank continually won admiration.

Hammond continues to be a tower of strength in the Northampton defence, while F.Dawes and Inglis were a model pair of backs. The game was watched by 7,000 spectators, and Exeter's plucky fight won warm commendation.

City Reserves v Dartford
DARTFORD WIN THE SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Grecians Heavily Beaten at the Park.
Wednesday, September 9th 1931.
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
DARTFORD 7.

Dartford made a big impression on the 2,000 spectators who attended at the Park for the deciding match in connection with the Southern League Championship. Playing clever football at high speed, this well balanced team from Kent beat a very strong Exeter Reserve team by seven goals to two, playing the Grecians almost to a standstill before the game finished. It was an astonishing display, and the visitors are entitled to every credit for the way in which they kept up the pace and rattled on the goals, especially in the second half. Exeter City actually took the lead just after the interval, and Dartford then simply tried harder and redoubled their efforts, and with the home forwards failing quite hopelessly to a particularly sound defence, with the half-backs nearly always beaten for pace, with the backs overwhelmed, and with the goalkeeper hardly ever knowing from what quarter to expect the final thrust, Exeter had a really unhappy second half.

Exeter City:
Jones; Baugh, Bright; Ditchburn, Angus, Barber; J.Gumm, Graham, Woodward, Halliday, Courtney.

Dartford: A.Webster; Hogg, Legg; Patrick, Charnley, Hughes; Hopkins, Trotman, Wilson, Dunsire, Harron.

Referee: Mr F.W.Reeve, of Devonport. Captains: Ditchburn and Charnley.

The City club had announced their intention of treating this match as a first team fixture, but they have been hard hit by injuries, and as a matter of fact only Baugh and Barber of the Football League side were on duty. Three of the other players, Ditchburn, Angus, and Halliday, have been injured, and none of them was able to reproduce his usual form. Only Woodward caused the Dartford defence any anxiety, and as the ball usual came to him more than head high it was a simple matter for the hefty Charnley to make things almost impossible for Exeter's young leader, willing though he was. Setting a fast pace right from the start, Dartford did most of the attacking, and Dunsire and Harron mostly had the beating of Ditchburn and Baugh. Hopkins from a centre by Harron gave Dartford the lead nine minutes before the interval. Then Barber took a free kick for a foul on himself, and sent the ball in to Woodward, who scored the equaliser with a brilliant header. Within two minutes of the change of ends Exeter secured the lead, a powerful drive from Angus entering the goal just beneath the angle on Webster's left. Angus then failed to clear from Hopkins in the goalmouth, and Wilson brought the scores level again. After eighteen minutes of the second half had been played Harron took the ball through on the left wing and centred for Trotman to score. Maintaining a rare pace, Dartford now ran away with the game, and further goals were obtained by Trotman, Hopkins, Trotman, and Hopkins in turn.

THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.

Following the match, the officers of the two clubs and the players assembled in the Boardroom, where the Secretary of the League, Mr Darbyshire, presented the immense silver Championship Shield to the Dartford captain, and the Cup for the runners-up to Dick Baugh, who was the Exeter captain in this match instead of Ditchburn. Sets of medals were handed to the chairmen of the two clubs, Mr G.W.Sarel and Mr M.J. McGahey, for distribution as the Directors deem fitting. Mr Darbyshire in a speech, apologised for the unavoidable absence of the League president, Mr A.J.Darnell, and in making the presentations, said the Shield was inscribed with many honoured names in football, and some of great renown. He said that Exeter City had put up a very meritorious performance last year in the Western Section of the Southern League, and perhaps they might carry off the Shield another year. In conclusion, Mr Darbyshire thanked Mr S. H. Thomas and the Directors of the Exeter City club for the excellent arrangements made for the match.