Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26th 1931.

EXETER CITY 3
(Houghton Woodward Whitlow)
SOUTHEND 0.

The Grecians were given a big cheer when they took the field this afternoon at St James's Park for the return Football League match with Southend United, the City's success at the Kursaal yesterday morning having greatly stirred up a deal of enthusiasm among the club's supporters. The weather was fine, and there was a splendid holiday crowd of about 12,000 at the start, and people were coming in so fast that the turnstiles could not cope. Eventually the crowd was officially stated to be 14,000.

Exeter City:- Davies; Gray and Miller; Clarke, Angus, and Barber; Woodward, Varco, Whitlow, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Southend United: - Moore; French and Robinson; Dixon, Wilson, and Oakes; Barnett, Jones, Shankley, Fitton, and Crompton.

Exeter City's League "double" against Southend was wholly satisfying. The game at the Park this afternoon was very keenly contested, the visitors being very anxious to turn the tables on the team which broke their ground record. So it was a full-blooded match, fought out on real "Cup-tie" lines, and as the City were quite obviously the cleverer combination, and strong in every position, the crowd had a very happy time. And what a crowd it was! The City, in front of a "promotion" crowd, settled down to play real "promotion" football. It is no exaggeration to state that Exeter's present team is the strongest and best ever to have represented the club. And after today's display there will be great hopes of another big F. A. Cup run, by the Grecians, commencing at Grimsby on January 9th.

Exeter opened this afternoon at a very fast pace, and Moore did well to save a ground shot from Whitlow, from Woodward's centre. Doncaster from a free - kick drove the ball into the goalmouth, and Moore saved again. Houghton scored the first Exeter goal after 25 minutes, driving the ball hard into the net from a pass by Woodward. In further Exeter pressure Moore had to throw himself across his goal to keep out a "cannonball" from Varco, but there was no denying the Grecians, for whom Woodward scored following a clever advance and a neat cross from Doncaster. Jones manoeuvred keenly for an opening but was crowded out, but Davies had to be alert to save a snap-shot from Donovan. The visitors were unable to drive home their attacks, for although individually clever they were nothing to compare with Exeter in the matter of combination. 

Exeter continued to dominate the game in the second half, playing towards the St James's Road end goal, and eight minutes from the end Whitlow scored their third goal after a great shot by Varco had shaved the crossbar. Another one of Whitlow's powerful and well directed shots was kept out of the Southend net by Moore, who made a wonderful save.

YEOVIL AND PETTERS 4
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2.

Return Western League match at Huish, Yeovil.

Attendance 4,000. After losing two goals in the first half the City Reserves staged a remarkable and praiseworthy recovery in the second, and scored four goals to turn the tables on Yeovil, who won at St James's Park yesterday in the same competition.

Yeovil: Pym; Day and McDade; Parkin, Pratt, and Jordan; Millington, Davin, Pemberton, Molloy, and Rankin.
Exeter: Grigg; Baugh and Bright; Ditchburn, Childs, and Robinson; Keen, Graham, Gumm, Halliday, and Courtney.

Yeovil and Petters went ahead after sixteen minutes, Molloy beating Grigg with a well aimed cross shot, and Davin increased the lead. Pemberton later rounded Baugh and sent in a terrific drive which left the goalkeeper helpless, but the ball struck an upright and rebounded into the field, where it was cleared. The opening of the second half found the City forwards in better form, and Pym was called upon to save several shots. It was not long, however, before the Yeovil forwards came into the picture once again, and Millington scored with a low shot. Yeovil next went further ahead through Davin, who scored from a penalty kick awarded for a foul on Millington. Exeter, however, scored just before the end when McDade headed back to Pym, but it was at very close range and Pym could not reach the ball, which went in to the net. Jimmy Gumm got Exeter's second goal a minute from "time."