ORIENT BADLY HANDICAPPED THROUGH INJURIES But Hold City to a Draw

Saturday, November 7th 1931.
CLAPTON ORIENT 2 EXETER CITY 2.

As Exeter City held the sixth position and Clapton Orient were last but one on the League chart, there was every indication of the Grecians improving their already fine record as the result of this afternoon's meeting of the teams at the Lea Bridge Road Speedway. Since they lost at Luton five weeks ago, Exeter have won four matches off the reel, scoring 16 goals against 6, and the rapid rise up the League ladder is probably without precedent in the club's history. The Orient were so badly handicapped through injuries that it was impossible to select the team until shortly before the kick-off. Three changes were made, and Jack Fowler, the former Plymouth Argyle leader, was in a strange position, at centre half.

Orient:- Blackwell; Jones and Broadbent; Peacock, Fowler, and Bolton; Jack, Tricker, Fletcher, Mills, and Best.
City: Davies; Gray and Miller; Clarke, Angus, and Barber; Armfield, Varco, Whitlow, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Referee:- Mr W.E.Russell, of Swindon.

Owing to a clash in colours Exeter played in white shirts, but Miller gave the team a good start by winning the toss. Sunshine followed the early morning rain at Lea Bridge, and the attendance numbered six thousand at the start. From the kick-off the Orient broke away on the left, and from Best's centre Rollo Jack shot hard into the goalmouth, Miller clearing with a splendid header. The home side continued to press, and it was again Miller who stopped Fletcher with a good tackle when danger threatened. The game produced more fire and excitement than the skilful type of football, and if Exeter appealed more by their dazzling footwork, the Orient, by their more direct methods, were just as effective. In the second half Davies had more work to do than usual because the City backs were unsteady under pressure. The halves did well up to a point, but Clarke was not happy against the tricky left wing pair, Mills and Best, and Angus could never render sufficient help to the forwards because he had all his work cut out in checking Fletcher, a bustling and skilful leader of the home forwards. Barber was the best of the City half backs, and Varco and Whitlow the most conspicuous of the forwards. Tricker opened the scoring after 23 minutes, and two minutes later Whitlow with a fierce volley from Armfield's centre equalised. Twelve minutes before half time Houghton with a perfect header gave Exeter the lead, but the second half of the game ran mostly in the Orient's favour and Fletcher scored for them in the 23rd minute.

Western League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
BRISTOL ROVERS RESERVES 6.

Western League match at St James's Park. Dando took the right wing position in the Rovers team, rendered vacant by the transfer yesterday of Arthur Attwood to Brighton and Hove Albion. There were 1,000 spectators.

City Reserves: F.G.Grigg; Hill, Baugh; A.Johnson, Robinson, Bright; J.Gumm, Purcell, Woodward, Halliday, Keen.
Rovers Reserves: Berry; R.H.A.Golledge, Smith; Hodson, H.Blake, Muir; Dando, Stoddart, Riley, Findlay, Storer.
Referee:- Mr E.J.Smith.

The Rovers scored in their first attack, Findlay netting the ball from close range after Grigg had failed to clear from Storer. Rain commenced soon after the start, making the ball and ground slippery, and some of the players found difficulty in keeping their feet. Purcell was the "brains" of the City attack, plying Gumm with many excellent passes, and from one of the amateur winger's centres Halliday levelled the score, which at half time was a goal apiece. Rain fell heavily during the second half and a high wind sprang up, driving the spectators to shelter. Riley scored for the Rovers and Purcell for Exeter. From a free kick just outside the Exeter penalty area Muir gave the Rovers the lead, which was later increased by Findlay and Riley. Exeter fought back gamely, but found Berry in unbeatable mood, and Riley headed a sixth goal for the Rovers in the closing stages.

• BASTIN PLAYS FOR THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
  
  Clifford Bastin played for the Football League v the Scottish League on the ground of the Glasgow Celtic club this afternoon and scored two goals. He was at outside-left, being partnered by Bestall, of Grimsby Town, and was the best of the English forwards. The Scots won by 4 to 3, and England's other goal was scored by Jack Smith of Portsmouth.