Exeter City v Watford
Wednesday, April 10th 1929.

Midweek Match at Exeter

GRECIANS V WATFORD AT ST JAMES'S PARK

Today's return Football League match between Exeter City and Watford was of vital importance to the local club in their struggle to avoid having to go to the League with an application for re-election, as they did in 1921-22, and just missed having to do so again the next year and in 1925-26.Unfortunately they could not call upon Pool, Mason, McDevitt or Houghton, all of whom are on the injured list. Lowton, however, has recovered, and he resumed at right back. Doncaster and Death came into the forward line in the places of Houghton and Cameron.

Exeter City: Holland; Lowton and Miller; Sheffield, Dennington, and Clarke; Purcell, Doncaster, Wade, Bastin, and Death.

Watford: Hewett; Prior and Brelsford; Cowan, McBain, and Woodward; Chapman, Barnett, McPherson, Sheppard, and Daniels.

Referee: Mr G.Franklin, of Portsmouth.

McBain beat Lowton in the toss and set Exeter against the breeze. After some brief skirmishing in midfield Bastin coaxed the ball past McBain from just past the halfway line and fed Wade, who slipped it forward to Death. Death went on to shoot at top speed, and Hewett was fully extended in fisting the ball clear.

Bastin was again instrumental in setting up another City attack, but Cowan intercepted. Watford then gave the City a taste of their quality, showing some very pretty attacking ideas, but two of their moves broke down when Holland saved first from McPherson then from Sheppard. Death and Bastin continued to provide Exeter's best hopes of success in this important match, but Death's clever approach work and his speed when on the move with the ball was not matched by his wild shooting. Dennington, Clarke, and Bastin were all working like beavers in midfield, but numerous attacks broke down before they could become really dangerous. Two minutes before half-time Daniels diverted a ball from Cowan into the City net. Five minutes after half time a powerful drive by Bastin was too hot for the Watford goalkeeper, and Wade snapped up the rebound to score at close range. But with twenty minutes to go a scramble in front of the Exeter goal ended with McPherson scoring for Watford, and Clarke with a wonderful 35 yards drive from a free-kick direct at the goal, brought the scores level, and the match ended:
Exeter City 2 Watford 2.