"Horses for Courses"  

GRECIANS HAT TRICK 

Three Away Wins in Succession at Gillingham

Exeter City achieved a hat-trick in football victories when they beat Gillingham at Priestfield Road this afternoon. On their last two visits the City had won this match. each of

Saturday, October 22nd 1932.
GILLINGHAM 1  (Nicol)
EXETER CITY 2 (Higgins Houghton) Half-time 0-2.


Gillingham: Holland Jackson Lester Darling Collins Bethell Armfield Purcell Nicol Cropper Liddle
Referee:- Mr J. M. Wiltshire, of Sherborne.
Exeter City: Davies Gray Miller Robinson Childs Clarke Scott Higgins
Whitlow Houghton Welsby

"Horses for Courses" would appear to apply to football was well as to racing. Exeter City completed a hat-trick of victories at Gillingham, and very well deserved to. The Grecians played great football in the first half, when their two goals were scored, and continued the more impressive side after the interval. Gillingham, with three former Grecians in the side, were made to appear a very poor combination for a long time, but fought back to make a keen contest of the second chapter. With all three Exeter half-backs playing consistently well throughout the game, the City were a well-balanced side. Under Whitlow's clever leadership the forwards gave a really smart performance all along the line. Miller's coolness and skill were particularly valuable in holding in check Nicol, who was a great trier, and whose wholehearted play eventually rewarded him with a goal, late in the second half.

In the last few minutes when Miller was checking Nicol, a penalty was given against Exeter, but Davies made a masterly save from the shot, which was taken by Nicol. Whitlow then netted for the City but was given offside. Exeter's goals were scored by Higgins and Houghton in the 18th and 25th minute respectively.

Southern League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 3
MERTHYR TOWN 4.

In common with most Welsh clubs, Merthyr Town, who visited Exeter this afternoon in search of Southern League points, have suffered largely because of industrial depression. The Welsh side therefore contained many young players in the course of development for the transfer market, whereas the Grecians included with the exception of Ince and Hurst experienced performers.
City Reserves: Ince; McJennett, Hughes; Ditchburn, Angus, Barber; J.Gumm, Connaboy, S.Hurst, Kennedy, Courtney.
Merthyr Town: Wall; Williams, Rogers; F.D.Jones, Smith, G.Jones;
Alders, Murphy, Baggott, Phillips, Lowry.

The game almost took a sensational turn, for Alders, fastening on a to Williams's clearance kick, centred strongly from difficult angle. The ball came to Phillips, whose shot was miraculously kept out of the Exeter net by McJennett. Hurst with a header from Gumm's centre scored for Exeter after ten minutes play, and followed up with a second goal in a further ten minutes. Merthyr rallied well, and Alders and Lowry scored. Hurst completed the "hat-trick" when the second half started, and Murphy scored for the Martyrs. Exeter's play became ragged, and it came as no surprise when Alders scored the winning goal.

The Southern League Cup 
FIRST ROUND:
EXETER CITY RESERVES v
BATH CITY

at St. James's Park
Wednesday, October 26th 1932.

EXETER CITY RESERVES 2
BATH CITY 3.

For the first match in the new Cup competition the City Reserves fielded a strong side, every one of the men having had Football League experience. The Bath City eleven included the two former Grecians, Howson and Woodward, and Greenwell, the old Swindon and Norwich centre half, who was signed on Monday.

City Reserves: Davies Ditchburn Hughes Robinson Childs Clarke J.Gumm Connaboy S.Hurst Kennedy Welsby
Bath City: Densley Howson Sambridge
Lloyd Greenwell Hall C. Thomas Woodward Trotman Hicks McCartney

Exeter won the toss and had the assistance of a strong wind. In the opening minute Kennedy almost caught Densley napping with a surprise shot, but the goalkeeper steadied himself and tipped the ball over the bar just in time. In the next minute Courtney shot against the post to the goalkeeper's left. Bath retaliated, and Woodward initiated a strong attack in which from McCartney's low square centre Trotman easily steered the ball into Exeter's net for the opening goal. Hurst netted for the City but was given offside. In the twentieth minute Kennedy equalised with a beautiful header following a corner kick taken by Welsby. Early in the second half Welsby made a brilliant run and passed to Hurst, who drove the ball against the crossbar. After twenty minutes a mistake by Robinson gave Woodward a simple chance and he restored the lead to Bath. Eight minutes before the end Hicks scored with a strong cross-shot, and in the next Exeter attack Kennedy replied for the Grecians.