Saturday, September 2nd 1933.
EXETER CITY 3 WATFORD 1.

The City's first half display was as good as their second half form was poor. Exeter was a subdued force after the interval, and it was a tribute to the defensive tenacity of Gray and Hughes, together with Arthur Davies, the new captain, that Watford were kept from scoring. Whitlow had his best match of the season so far, and Webb showed a marked improvement on earlier form. Welsby had a great first half, but did not see so much of the ball afterwards.

EXETER CITY
Davies
Gray Hughes
Clarke Angus Webb Welsby Wrightson Whitlow Houghton Barnes

Referee:- Mr E.Pinckston, of Birmingham.

McPherson Irvine Lane Barnett Ritchie
Woodward Elkes Findlay
Moran Brown
Slater
WATFORD

Exeter City put up a characteristic performance when they won by three goals to one against Watford. They were much the better team, especially in the first half, and Watford, whose new players have not yet settled down, did not shape too well against the thrustful moves of Whitlow and his front line colleagues. Barnett and Ritchie combined well for the visitors, but Barnett's shooting was wild. Davies tipped a header from Lane over the bar, and cleared a shot from McPherson. When Exeter pressed the Watford defence was at sixes and sevens and Whitlow scored a neat goal from Barnes's pass. A few minutes later Moran failed to clear Barnes's centre, which was lobbed beautifully into the goalmouth. Wrightson, Whitlow, and two opponents jumped, and the ball came back to Houghton, just inside the penalty line. "Happy" lost no time in bringing the leather under control. First he trapped it perfectly, pushed it along a couple of paces and in the next second crashed in a gem of a shot, low, fast, and into the near corner of the net. It was a winner all the way. A misunderstanding between Davies and Gray let in Irvine to reduce Watford's arrears, but Whitlow added Exeter's third goal eleven minutes before the interval. Welsby worked into the centre of the field and was fouled by Brown, but managed to retain his footing. He next drew Slater out and passed across to Whitlow. With Slater sprawling on the ground Whitlow easily ran the ball into the empty net.

SECOND HALF.

Watford re-started strongly, Davies clearing from Ritchie. From a pass by Woodward, Lane rattled the cross-bar, and then Exeter took a turn at attacking but Slater proved equal to all demands.
Watford were much better for a time, and McPherson was unfortunate not to score. Lane received an ideal opening right in front of the Exeter goal, but found Davies prepared. Back came Exeter again, and they might have scored if Barnes had shown more steadiness, or if a shot from Welsby had been just a few inches lower. Davies saved a veritable "pile-driver" from Lane, and got injured when punching away a corner kick from McPherson. Play was held up while the goalkeeper received the ministrations of Reg Loram, and when operations were resumed Barnes and Welsby made ground with a rapid transfer of crossfield passes, Barnes finally shooting over the Watford goal. Ritchie shot wide in a final Watford rally, and Lane was again foiled by the ever-alert Davies. Webb was Exeter's most accomplished half-back in these stages, but Clarke and Gray were both feeling the effect of the buffeting they had received in the mid-week match against Coventry City. Whitlow gave Wrightson a beautiful pass down the centre, but the City inside-right shot feebly and too soon into Slater's hands.

CITY RESERVES BEATEN AGAIN BY PLYMOUTH.

Southern League match at Home Park, Plymouth. Exeter started with an attack on the right wing which was checked, and after about five minutes Demellweek beat two defenders and gave Simpson the ball in front of the Exeter goal, and Plymouth were one up. Five minutes later Hurst levelled the scores, beating Cann with a typical shot.

Indications that the game would produce many goals were evident in the next few minutes, when Bird and Bungay netted, making the score 3 to 1 in the Argyle's favour. The Exeter right wing of Gumm and Scott was the most dangerous part of the visiting attack, and a rising shot from Gumm was stylishly fielded by Cann. Vidler scored for Plymouth, who led by 4 to 1 at half-time. Cann made a partial clearance right on the goal-line from a fast centre by Scott, and Hurst dashed in and put the ball smartly into the net. Despite the goals against them Ditchburn and Lock, together with Chesters, played finely in the City defence, but in the closing stages Bird obtained the Argyle's fifth goal.

Result:-
Argyle Reserves 5
Exeter City Reserves 2.