Bournemouth v Exeter City
MORE TEAM CHANGES: PURCELL RIGHT HALF: BRIGHT LEFT BACK

Eyre Scores Three Goals for Boscombe in 5-2 Win

Saturday, September 12th 1931.

BOURNEMOUTH & BOSCOMBE 5 EXETER CITY 2.

The City turned out in white shirts at Dean Court to avoid a clash of colours. Further changes were necessary through injuries, Bright making his debut in a Football League match at left back, and Purcell, captain for the day, taking the right half position. Reginald Trim, a local 17 year old former Schoolboy International, continued at left back for the Cherries, who were unchanged for the third consecutive match. Recent heavy rain had left the ground very soft, and a strong breeze was blowing from end to end. There were 6,000 spectators present when Bournemouth won the toss and took the breeze in their favour.

Boscombe: McSevich; Hayward and Trim; Halliwell, Coxford, and Moralee; Williams, Whitehouse, Eyre, Thain, and Russell.
Exeter City:- Davies; Baugh and Bright; Purcell, Robinson, and Barber; Armfield, Whitlow, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Referee:- Mr F.W.Reeve, of Devonport.

Exeter City's makeshift team made an uncertain start, their passing being a trifle erratic, and their only noteworthy attempt in the first 15 minutes was a long shot from Purcell that sailed over the bar. Robinson became the latest player to join Exeter's long casualty list when he received a kick on the ankle and had to leave the field for treatment. Barber then went to centre half with Houghton dropping back, so that for a time the City's wing half positions were filled by their two best inside forwards. Eyre scored Boscombe's first goal after 23 minutes, and nine minutes later Russell planted a downwards header in the corner of the Exeter net from Eyre's pass. The process was reversed a minute before half-time when Eyre headed the third goal from Russell's pass. The City were the first to score after ends had been changed, when Barber and Houghton combined to put Varco through. Trim was beaten for pace by Exeter's big Cornishman, who followed up the ball and shot it past McSevich for an excellent goal. The City half backs at this stage - were an inspiration. Purcell and Houghton combined clever attack with a sound defence, while Barber was a dogged and reliable pivot. In later play Boscombe attacked and Davies made a spectacular save from Whitehouse and another from Eyre. Bournemouth then scored their fourth goal when a free kick by Hayward, on the edge of the penalty area, hit Thain and rebounded past Davies into the top of the net, and Eyre made the score 5 1 after Davies had stopped, but failed to hold, a shot from Russell. Seven minutes from the end Exeter scored the best goal of the match. Houghton and Doncaster began the move and Varco finished it off with a thunderous shot to the roof of the net.

CITY RESERVES 4
BRISTOL CITY RESERVES 0.
Western League match at St James's Park, Exeter.

Exeter City have been so badly hit in the matter of injuries that they had to call up four amateurs this afternoon, against Bristol City. The weather was unpleasant, and there was a meagre attendance when the game started. Bristol City, in the charge of Len Southway, the former Exeter centre half, were late in arriving, and did not reach St James's Park until ten minutes before the start.

Exeter Reserves:- Jones; A. Phillips (St James's) and Hill; A.Johnson (Friernhay), Ditchburn, and P.Singleton (R.A.); Keen, Graham, Woodward, K. Cross (Dartmouth), and Courtney.

Bristol Reserves:- A.E.Mills; Bridge and Terry; Mercer, Humpish, and Garland; Robson, Kittlety, Vials, Walker, and Johnson.

Ditchburn lost the toss and Exeter played against a stiffish breeze for the first 45 minutes. The strange looking home team started very promisingly, and after Woodward had been checked a corner was forced. Keen's flag kick had the Bristol defence in difficulties until Graham drove the ball across the goal mouth and out of play. Graham was the scheme in the Exeter front rank but his shooting was poor. At the end of 33 minutes Courtney scored for the Grecians, beating Mills with a cool low shot after the ball had come across from Keen. Keen, Woodward, and Graham scored for Exeter in the second half, and a match which had opened on a minor key finally yielded splendid entertainment.

• Eddie Gray, the left back from Kingstonians, who came to Exeter on month's a trial, has returned to London, his engagement being terminated.