Saturday,
September 23rd 1933.
CARDIFF CITY 2
EXETER CITY 1.

It was more like football weather than it has been when the City team left Exeter for Cardiff this morning. The players observed the rain and dull conditions with satisfaction, and there was no gloom in the ranks of either the team or their supporters. Exeter City, in the role of League leaders, were very confident of retaining their position at the head of affairs, although it was realised that Cardiff would be a difficult proposition at Ninian Park. Hurst was at outside-left in place of Barnes (injured). There were leaden skies and drizzling rain at Cardiff, though the playing pitch looked to be in perfect condition. The spacious areas of banking around the ground were thinly populated, the crowd at the start numbering less than ten thousand. Crowds of 60,000, and more, have been accommodated at Ninian Park in Cardiff's "palmy days" in the First Division. Davies won the toss and Exeter had the breeze at their backs in the first half.

Cardiff City. Farquharson; Calder and Russell; Maidment, Galbraith, and Jenkins; Marcroft, Paget, Henderson, Jones, and Hutchinson.

Exeter City. Davies; Gray and Hughes; Clarke, Angus, and Webb; Welsby, Walters, Whitlow, Houghton, and Hurst.

Early Exeter attacks were beaten off, and then Jones made headway for Cardiff, eluded Clarke's tackle, dribbled across, and passed down the centre, too hard for Henderson to reach the ball. Davies came out and cleared without difficulty. Exeter resumed the attack and Walters shot across the goalmouth but no other forward was in position to improve upon this chance. Gray and Clarke were prominent in clearing Exeter's lines, but the home side continued to hold the mastery and Davies made a great save in the fifteenth minute, jumping high and fisting over the bar a goal bound header by Henderson. It was some time before Exeter weathered the storm, and then Houghton attempted a solo dribble, but after beating two men he was dispossessed by Calder. Farquharson saved a header from Hurst underneath the crossbar. Walters, who was playing a forcing game for Exeter, shot against the side of the net, and in another attack Whitlow shot in his stride but put the ball wide. Exeter had a good chance of taking the lead when Welsby beat Russell and flicked the ball inwards to Whitlow. Whitlow tried to get past Calder before shooting, but was bundled over when not more than six yards from goal. He tried to tap the ball through when on the ground but Farquharson came out and smothered the shot. Hurst from corners twice put the ball behind, and also drove a foot over the bar from a nice pass by Clarke. Half-time: No Score.

SECOND HALF.

The most gratifying aspect of the first half from Exeter's point of view was the return to form of Houghton, and those critics who claim that he is a back number would have had to revise their opinions in this afternoon's game. Six minutes after the interval Gray failed to reach a high centre from Jenkins, and Hutchinson sprinted up the wing and gave the ball to Henderson, who, instead of doing the expected and shooting, put the leather out to Marcroft. The Exeter defence was deceived by the manoeuvre, and Marcroft, unmarked and eight yards from goal, made no mistake, finding the net with his shot, driven in at lightning pace. Exeter fought hard to get back to equality and forced a couple of corners, which came to nothing. Walters after a good start had faded out, and the forwards were not well together as a line, Houghton alone being really impressive. Nine more minutes had elapsed when the unexpected happened. Maidment, never happy in his endeavours to check the dazzling Houghton, made a bad mistake, passing direct to the feet of Angus. Angus tapped the ball on to Whitlow, who, though inconspicuous for the greater part of the afternoon, showed a real touch of class by hooking over his head to Welsby. Russell was out manoeuvred by Whitlow's clever pass, and Welsby had a clear run in towards the Cardiff goal. He cut in and shot, Farquharson partially saved, and the ball ran loose. With the goalkeeper on the ground, Welsby followed up and drove low into the net.

SCENE IN EXETER'S GOALMOUTH.

Next there was a scene at the other end of the ground. Maidment had fired in a quick shot, and Davies, obstructed by Henderson, who was offside, made no attempt to save. The whistle had sounded before the ball had entered the net. The referee, Mr F.W.Reeve, of Devonport, could have given either a free kick to Exeter or a goal to Cardiff, but strange to relate did neither. He bounced the ball down twelve yards from the goal, and Gray hastily booted clear. A few minutes later, however, Gray handled the ball in the goalmouth, and Cardiff were given a penalty. Henderson took the spot kick but drove the ball straight at Davies, who saved easily. Exeter, who were relying too much on defence, lost the game with only a few minutes to go, Henderson heading through following a free kick taken in midfield.

NOTES ON THE GAME.

Exeter would not have lost this match but for getting rattled just at the critical period. While the Grecians were on level terms in the second half they fell back on the defensive instead of going all-out for the lead. These tactics played into the hands of the Cardiff attackers, who, being encouraged by a wildly excited crowd, played inspired football in the closing stages. Exeter's forwards, Houghton apart, became too laboured in their methods against a side which did not stand too much on ceremony.

Davies again gave a wonderful display, but Gray and Hughes were not so confident as usual. Exeter City have lost their position at the head of Division Three (South), and Norwich, with eleven points, take the lead. The City, Crystal Palace, Aldershot, and Charlton all have ten points.

Southern League
CITY RESERVES 5
TAUNTON TOWN 1.

The weather at Exeter was just as dismal as that at Cardiff, and the rain which set in at mid-day adversely affected the attendance for this afternoon's Southern League match at St James's Park. Taunton were reputed to be a stronger force than they were last season.

Exeter City Reserves. Chesters; Ditchburn, Miller; S.Risdon, Childs, E.Tappin; Gumm, Wrightson, Poulter, Kennedy, Scott.

Taunton Town. Packer; E.Curtis, Sullivan; Hutchings, W.Curtis, C.Curtis; Boddy, Webber, Thomas, Brace, Murley.
Referee:- Mr C.J.Pound.

The City Reserves set up a series of dangerous attacks, and Packer was bombarded with shots. Eventually Poulter opened the score with a nicely placed shot from Kennedy's pass. Within half a minute the ball was placed down the field by Risdon to Gumm, from whose centre Poulter headed Exeter's second goal. Clever combination between the players on Exeter's left wing resulted in Poulter heading Exeter's third goal. With the game only twenty-five minutes old Wrightson dribbled through and left the defence floundering before completely beating Packer with a flashing shot to the top of the net. Murley against the run of the game scored for Taunton, but Scott quickly got another for Exeter. Just before half-time Gumm rattled the bar with a typical drive, and from the rebound Scott fired over.
Half time
City Reserves 5 Taunton Town 1.

Taunton's position at the end of the first half was disappointing, and almost hopeless. They came more into the picture in the second half, but they had to contend with "two men" in Childs, who seemed to dominate the centre of the field.

Wednesday, September 27th 1933.

THE DEVON PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

The shades of night were falling fast when Jack Leslie, a brilliant forward in spite of advancing years, headed the winning goal in the Devon Championship match at St James's Park on Wednesday evening. Ten minutes remained for play when the Argyle captain, meeting a corner kick taken by Black, headed past Chesters to give his side the victory over Exeter City by the odd goal of five. The score is a true reflection on the run of the play, but Exeter, much below strength, did well enough to make their opponents fight hard all the way.

Exeter City. Chesters; Gray, Miller; Clarke, Angus, Webb; Welsby, S.Risdon, Whitlow, Walters, Hurst.

Plymouth Argyle. Cann; Roberts, Rae; Mackay, Bland, Reed; Demellweek, Briggs, Cookson, Leslie, Black.

Indeed the City held the lead twice during a game which was always interesting and quite often cleverly contested, and the crowd of 5,000 spectators derived plenty of entertainment from the re-union of the old Devon rivals, who do not naturally meet so often since the Argyle's rise to the Second Division. Exeter led at the interval by two goals, both scored by Whitlow, to one by Leslie for Plymouth. Black scored the Argyle's equaliser in the second half. Exeter City were captained by Clarke in Davies's absence, the goalkeeper being laid up with a severe cold.