Match 23
2nd January 1932
Third Division
Exeter City v Thames
Southern League
Plymouth Argyle Res. v Exeter City Res.

BABES OF THE LEAGUE OUTPLAYED AT ST. JAMES'S PARK 
But Houghton and Whitlow Were Injured

Saturday, January 2nd 1932.
EXETER CITY 4 THAMES 1.

The visit of the "Babes" to St James's Park this afternoon on Football League business was regarded locally as affording an excellent opportunity for Exeter City to close up with the Southern Section leaders. Thames made two alterations in their forward line, Dimmock, the old Tottenham and England outside left, standing down on account of an injury, while Brown, the other winger, has influenza. Bailey and Handley deputised. The afternoon was mild and the air damp, but the ground looked in excellent condition. In marked contrast to the big Boxing Day "gate" there were only about 4,000 spectators when the teams came out, Thames wearing quartered jerseys of red and navy blue. Davies (Thames) won the toss, and Exeter kicked off towards the goal at the St James's Road end of the ground.

Exeter City:- A. Davies; Gray and Miller; Clarke, Angus, and Barber; Woodward, Varco, Whitlow, Houghton, and Doncaster.
Thames:- McDonough; Graham and Smith; Kemp, Pritchard, and Woosnam; Handley, McCarthy, L. Davies, Bailey, and Mann.
Referee:- Mr A.Milsom, of Bristol.

On the chances they received Exeter City should have put up a double figure
score against Thames. There was no comparison between the teams once Exeter had settled down, but a long time was spent before they did, and at one time it seemed that the points would be captured by the visitors. The City had one spell of marked superiority before the interval. Later, they were irresistible, and the variety of their forward moves was altogether too much for the opposing halves and backs. There were a tremendous number of offside decisions, the Thames backs being specialists in this department. The result in the end was satisfactory, but at the cost of injuries to Houghton (leg) and Whitlow (thigh), and it is to be hoped that the crippled Grecians will be fit and in good trim in plenty of time for next Saturday's big Cup-tie at Grimsby. Exeter's first goal this afternoon was netted from a penalty, for pushing. The City inside left was dashing after a ball which had been put through by Varco when he was pushed yards by Pritchard. Thames disputed the penalty award, but the referee was unmoved. Thames showed a certain amount of enterprise in their attack, and equalised in the 33rd minute through Handley, after a shot by Mann had been tipped against the crossbar by Arthur Davies. Two goals by Doncaster and one by Whitlow settled Thames's fate in the second half.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE RESERVES 0
EXETER CITY RESERVES 1.
Southern League
match at Home Park, Plymouth.

Conditions could not have been more unpleasant than they were at Plymouth this afternoon, where drizzling rain was falling and a strong wind blowing from the Devonport end. Despite the weather there was a good attendance, the benefit of the covered accommodation being helpful. Argyle won the toss, and after a scrimmage in the home territory Mantle broke away, but Baugh cleared the danger. The score sheet was still blank at half-time, but as the game progressed the City took up the attack, and ten minutes from the end Halliday scored in an empty net after Stanbury had run out but lost the ball.

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