Exeter City v Cardiff City 
VARCO DOES THE "HAT TRICK"
THREE GOALS OUT OF FOUR SHOTS

Exeter Are Steadily Climbing the League Ladder

Saturday, October 10th 1931.
EXETER CITY 3 CARDIFF CITY 1.

Visiting St James's Park for the first time since season 1919-20, Cardiff City proved a very popular attraction this afternoon, and the team received a hearty ovation from the 8,000 spectators when they followed the Grecians on to the field. Exeter had Jimmy Gray at right back for Baugh, and the "Bluebirds" had McCambridge at centre forward in place of O'Neill, who is injured. The weather was brilliantly fine, and Miller was fortunate in winning the toss, so that Exeter could play from the St James's Road end with the sun behind them.

Exeter City:- Davies; Gray and Miller;
Clarke, Childs, and Barber; Armfield, Purcell, Varco, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Cardiff City: - L.Evans; Smith and Roberts; A.Evans, Galbraith, and McGrath; Emmerson, Harris, McCambridge, Jones, and Robbins.
Referee:- Mr L.E.Gibbs, of Reading.

The dazzling sun played a big part in this match, contested in conditions more suitable for cricket than football. Exeter got their goals in the first half, while the going was good, and the "hat trick" by Varco was the feature of the game. From his first four scoring chances the Cornishman obtained three goals. This is excellent shooting. Almost on the stroke of half-time a typical bit of dribbling by Houghton with support from Armfield almost gave Varco (and Exeter) a fourth goal, a stinging shot from the centre-forward being kept out by Evans more by luck than judgment. The enthusiasm and fast attacking play of the Grecians enabled them to succeed against a really polished combination, which, however, did not show quite the same dash and determination in front of goal.
For Exeter, especially good work in the attack was done by Varco, Armfield, and Purcell, while the halves and backs were all in fine fettle. Gray made a very impressive return to the team, while Davies's goalkeeping was immaculate, as usual. Exeter took the lead after fifteen minutes. Smith, faced by Doncaster, missed his tackle, and Houghton, receiving, rounded an opponent before giving to Varco, who had no difficulty in beating Evans with a low cross-shot. After twenty-eight minutes Varco's enthusiasm in following up won its reward. Varco chased after a bumping ball, and forcing his way past Galbraith and Roberts, shot strongly to the bottom corner of the net as L.Evans advanced. Ten minutes before the interval Davies saved from Emmerson and Harris in turn, and then the Grecians swept down the field in style and scored again. Doncaster took the ball past Smith and from the goal-line crossed to Varco, who pushed the leather forward and beat Evans in a race for possession. His shot into the empty net marked the first "hat-trick" by a Grecian in League football since Hemingway scored four times against Northampton on Easter Monday 1930. In the twelfth minute of the second half a clever centre from Robbins was met by Emmerson, who banged the ball unhesitatingly into the Exeter net. The City are now steadily climbing, and after today's victory are 13th in the table.

NEWPORT COUNTY RESERVES 1 EXETER CITY RESERVES 0.

Southern League match at Somerton Park, Newport.

Fox, who was transferred from Newport County to Exeter City a few weeks ago, opposed his old club at Somerton Park. Exeter's wing halves could not check the lively Newport wingers and the result was a series of saves by Godbeer. Three times Fox took the ball from the feet of the raiding Ironsides' forwards, and in the first half he was certainly the best back on the field. Fifteen minutes before half-time Whitton scored for Newport, who well deserved to be in front. In the second half Angus repeatedly failed to stop Whitton from breaking through, and desperate defence had to be resorted to by Fox and Baugh.

The Exeter team was:- Godbeer; Baugh and Fox; Johnson, Angus, and Ditchburn; Gumm, Graham, Whitlow, Halliday, and Courtney. There was little understanding among the Exeter forwards, who often got in one another's way when near goal.