Saturday, December 19th 1931.

CRYSTAL PALACE 3 EXETER CITY 0.

Now that Crystal Palace have no further interest in the F. A. Cup competition, having been knocked out by Bath City, and they are but three points behind the leaders of the Third Division, Brentford, it is the intention of the Glaziers' management to concentrate all their energy in an attempt to win their way back to the Second Division. At Selhurst Park this afternoon, the Palace met Exeter City with an unbeaten home record, and the match had an especial attraction as a City win would place the Grecians above their opponents in the League chart.

Palace: Callender; Crilly, Charlton; Turner, Wilde, Greener; Harry, Murphy, Cropper, Butler, and Clarke (G).
City: Davies; Baugh, Miller; Clarke, Angus, Barber; J.Gumm, Varco, Whitlow, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Referee:- Mr L.E.Gibbs, of Reading.

In spite of their Cup-tie defeat at Bath last week panic does not reign in the Palace camp, and except that Greener was preferred to Lloyd at left half, and that Simpson (pulled thigh muscle) was forced to drop out, the side remained unchanged. To some extent the City entered upon this game at a disadvantage, for not only did they have to take part in a hard mid-week game, but with the injury to Armfield on Wednesday, and Gumm occupying his place at outside right, a successful attack had to be disturbed. The City officials and players made the journey to London yesterday, and attended a show in town last night.

Fog threatened to interfere with the game, and it was so thick that it had a serious effect on the attendance. Not more than 8,000 people were present when Miller won the toss. From the kick off the Palace made immediate progress on the right, but Miller neatly checked Harry. The Grecians retaliated and when Angus gave a pass to Whitlow a clever interception was made by Stan Charlton, who in his time wore the Exeter City colours with great distinction. Barber recovered the ball but failed to keep it in play. Baugh then cleared on the goal-line from G.Clarke, and Davies saved from Cropper. A splendid "hat trick" by G.Clarke in the second half gave Crystal Palace the victory, which they just about deserved on the run of the game. The absence of Armfield from the City attack was no doubt felt, and Varco did not inspire any degree of confidence in his passing and shooting. Angus was the best of the half-backs, Barber and Clarke (R) being inclined to hold the ball too long. Miller and Baugh played excellently in defence, as did Davies, although he was at fault with at least one of the three goals.

• JIMMY TROTTER TRANSFERRED.
  Watford, who were defeated by Exeter City at the "Park" on Wednesday, on the following day signed Trotter, the Torquay United centre-forward, for a small fee.

CITY RESERVES v MERTHYR TOWN.
WELSHMEN STRANDED AND MATCH POSTPONED.

Exeter City Reserves' home Southern League match with Merthyr, this afternoon, was postponed, the visiting side having been delayed so long en route that it was decided at Bristol not to come any further, but to get back home as soon as possible. The Merthyr team and officials left the South Wales town at 8.20 this morning to fulfil the fixture, their train being due at St David's Station at 2.18 p.m. This was cutting things rather fine, but it was hoped that by changing in the train and rushing to the ground in taxis that the kick-off would not be late. News came to hand soon after two o'clock that the train by which the Martyrs were travelling was delayed by fog, and a telegram, handed in at Temple Meads Station, from the Merthyr Town manager, was received to that effect. In the meantime the City Reserves and the referee and linesmen had changed in readi ness for a punctual start.