CITY'S FIRST AWAY WIN OF THE SEASON Large Party of Exeter Supporters at Bristol

Saturday, October 24th 1931.

BRISTOL ROVERS 2
EXETER CITY 4.

A large party of excursionists journeyed from Exeter to see the match between the Grecians and Bristol Rovers at Stapleton Road. They reached the ground in excellent time, and their red and white favours made a welcome splash of colour on a cold afternoon at the rather drab looking Bristol enclosure. Exeter had Angus at centre half in place of Childs, who is unfit. Miller won the toss and the Rovers had to face a strong wind at the outset. The attendance was 7,000.

Bristol Rovers: Calvert; Pickering and Hill; Routledge, Stoddart, and Cooper (J); Oakton, Dando, Cook, Dix, and Young.

Exeter City:- Davies; Gray and Miller;
Clarke, Angus, and Barber; Armfield, Varco, Whitlow, Houghton, and Doncaster.

Referee:- Mr H.E.Gray, of London.

Exeter's brilliant play in the first half, during which they scored two goals without reply, led their supporters to believe that they had a very easy and clear-cut victory in store, but it was not so simple after all. The Rovers were remarkably better after the interval, and scored two quick goals. This led to a stirring struggle, in which Exeter's defence was shaky, and at times showed too much hesitation. The Grecians' forwards deserved full marks, however, and some more due to the ability with which they pulled the game round again in their favour, so that in the closing play they could afford to slacken off somewhat. Whitlow led the City forwards brilliantly, whilst Varco and Houghton were splendid inside forwards. Both wingers did well, especially Doncaster, who was quicker with his passes to the inside men than Armfield was. Within two minutes pressure by Houghton forced Pickering to concede a corner, and when Doncaster middled the ball a quick shot by Whitlow almost entered the net close to the post. After a spell of midfield play Angus sent a nice pass to Armfield, who had the Bristol de fence hopelessly beaten for pace. The ball was transferred along the carpet to Whitlow, who completely missed it. This was a remarkable escape for the Rovers. When the Grecians advanced again Houghton and Armfield by clever inter-passing got through on the right, and from Armfield's centre Whitlow made full amends for his earlier miss, by scoring with a great first-time shot which gave Calvert no possible chance of saving. From another of Armfield's centres Whitlow charged the goalkeeper, who showed resentment and was admonished by the referee. Davies saved from Dix after Miller had failed to head the ball clear, but generally the play was monopolised by Exeter, whose lead was increased by Houghton from a penalty kick given against Hill for fisting out a shot from Barber, seven minutes before half-time.

Goals by Young and Oakton early in the second half neutralised Exeter's lead, but after 21 minutes Armfield scored for the Grecians after Calvert had saved a stinging drive from Houghton. Cook scored "with his hand" for Bristol, but the referee spotted the offence, and twelve minutes from the end came the best goal of the game. Whitlow was in the act of shooting when he was brought down by Hill, but Houghton jumped into the breach and from twenty yards fairly crashed the ball into the roof of the net with a shot no goalkeeper could have saved. 

Southern League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 1
BRISTOL ROVERS RESERVES 4.

In this afternoon's Southern League match at St James's Park the Grecians were two goals behind after ten minutes' play, first Riley and then Douglas beating Grigg with excellent shots. Clever combination between Halliday and Purcell looked promising for the City, but Gumm's centre was fisted away by Berry. Bristol were the more polished side, and Riley was a big thorn in the side of the home defence.

Early in the second half the Exeter goal had a remarkable escape when a centre from Storer was met by Riley, whose shot struck the upright at lightning speed. The Grecians were putting up a sorry display, and Ditchburn and Hill were weak links in a team that showed very elementary defensive knowledge. Bright seldom put a foot right, and generally Exeter were running about aimlessly. The scoring was completed by Woodward for Exeter, and Storer and Riley for the
Rovers.

Exeter City Reserves:- Grigg; Baugh, and Bright; Johnson, Ditchburn, and Hill; Gumm, Purcell, Woodward, Halliday, and Courtney.

• BLACKMORE AND BASTIN.

INTERESTING COMMENTS FROM AN EXONIAN ON THEIR PLAY.

Whenever Exeter City are in town Exonians living in London flock to see their old favourites, and give the team a hearty welcome. When the Grecians are at home their London friends look through the League programme to see if any of the ex-Grecians who have won fame with bigger clubs are in Town, and if so, off they go to see how they are getting on. The views of these City followers are always interesting, and here are the comments of Mr F.Berry, formerly of Exeter, but now resident in London, on the form of Harold Blackmore and Cliff Bastin when they met in the Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers match at Highbury, on the Saturday before last. "I went over to Highbury last Saturday and saw the Arsenal v Bolton match, and particularly to see how the two ex-Grecians, Blackmore and Bastin, played. The truth is that they both played well. Harold Blackmore seems faster than ever he has been. He was often out on the wing fetching the ball for himself. Roberts, of course, followed him. The goal Blackmore scored was a real beauty. He ran into position when Westwood got going, took his pass, and the ball came from Harold's left foot, knee high, an unstoppable shot, smack in the back of the net; one of his famous old-time shots we used to see at St James's Park. Roberts, of the Arsenal, was so busy looking after Harold Blackmore that he had no time to feed his own forward line. With a bit of luck Blackmore would have had two more goals.

Clifford Bastin is a wonder; he is improving in every game he plays. It wasn't his fault that the Arsenal did not win. I can assure you that I felt very proud of them both; they were two of the best on the field. I am glad to see Exeter City are settling down and winning their games. Good luck to them."

• JACK ROBINSON, EXETER CITY GOALKEEPER.

The death is reported on October 28th of Jack Robinson, the famous old English International goalkeeper who played for Exeter City in 1905 and again in 1908 and 1909, when the Grecians first adopted professionalism.

John William Robinson, to give him his full name, was born at Derby in 1870 and began his football career at the age of eighteen with Derby Midland. He later played for Lincoln City, and joined Derby County as a professional during the season of 1890-91. He was selected to keep goal for England versus Ireland in 1897, following which he appeared in a further ten games for England. He then played for New Brighton, Southampton, and Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City, for a few matches in 1905, and Green Waves, at that time being the licensee of an hotel in Plymouth. He is still remembered at Exeter for his brilliant displays in the Grecians' early Southern League matches, and particularly in the second round F.A.Cup tie against the Argyle at Home Park. He moved to Stoke in 1909.