F. A. CUP ROUND 1. CITY'S ROUSING FIGHT AT SOUTHEND

Forwards' Fine First-half Football DEFENCES EMERGE WITH HONOURS

Saturday, November 26th 1932.
SOUTHEND UNITED 1  (Morfitt)
EXETER CITY 1  (Whitlow)
Half-time Southend 0 City 1.

Morfitt's goal ten minutes before the end stirred both teams to really bold efforts, and the closing play was intensely excit ing. The Exeter defence came off the field with honours. The City forwards played splendidly in the first half, but did comparatively little after the interval. With ground advantage the Grecians should make no mistake, on Wednesday, in the replay.

SOUTHEND UNITED
Whitelaw Hatfield Robinson (D) Dixon Randle Donovan Barnett Jones Morfitt Lewis Robson
Referee: Mr J.G.Holmes.

EXETER CITY Davies Gray Miller Robinson (C) Childs Clarke Scott Higgins Whitlow Houghton Welsby

Having regard to the persistence of the home attack during the second half Exeter City were lucky to force a cup replay. Two goals were shared, but Southend United had ample opportunity to make victory certain. It was the familiar story of skilful and painstaking approach work being spoiled by poor finishing. A mistake by Whitelaw gave Exeter their interval lead. A shot from Scott was fumbled by the Southend goalkeeper, and Whitlow dashed in to score, bundling Whitel aw and the ball into the net and in his rush finishing up in the goal-net himself. This goal came after play had been in progress for 35 minutes. Up to this time Southend, playing against the wind, had defended their goal very well. The wind blew in strongly from the sea, causing the players many anxious moments. The ball curled into the goalmouth at the slighest touch, and before Whitlow scored Whitelaw had made several good saves, chiefly from Higgins. To make matters worse for the players a heavy shower of rain came on five minutes before half-time and continued throughout the remainder of the match.

THE SECOND HALF.

For ten minutes after Whitlow's goal Southend made great efforts to get on terms, and they were forcing the pace when half - time arrived. The City defence was severely tested after the interval but Gray and Miller, who had opened shakily, played up strongly and covered Davies well. In spite of fine approach work Southend's touches were usually tame, and in strong contrast to the finishing of the City, whose forwards on the few occasions that arose in the second half shot with strength and purpose. Many corners came Southend's way in this period, but Exeter always had their goal well guarded, and Davies was on top of his form. Morfitt scored the equaliser in the 36th minute following a combined move between Jones and Dixon. The wonderful goalkeeping of Davies undoubtedly robbed Southend of victory in the last five minutes.

EXETER CITY RESERVES 4
TORQUAY UNITED RESERVES 0.

An away Cup draw was not so much of a handicap to the City Club, because there was a fair attendance at St James's Park for the Western League game between the reserve sides of the Grecians and Torquay United.

City Reserves. Ince; Ditchburn, Hughes; E. Keefe, Angus, Connaboy; J.Gumm, S.Risdon, Poulter, Kennedy, Courtney.

Torquay Reserves. Milsom; Fowler, Webster; Gray, Flavell, E.M.Brown; M.Owens, Mills, Davis, Avey, H.F.Rogers.

Poulter, who was making his first appearance at St James's Park for many weeks (due to injury) kicked off against the wind. Exeter were soon dangerous, Gumm closing in to meet a splendid first-time pass from Angus before firing in an unexpected shot, which Mills om beat down and cleared. Kennedy beat Gray for possession and placed a nice pass down the centre of the field to Poulter, who beat Millsom with an oblique shot. Exeter went further ahead when a long pass from Angus reached Courtney, who ran in and scored with a low cross-shot. Nearly all the play was at the United end, and Millsom had to save two shots from Poulter and one from Angus. Risdon put the City attack on the move again, and Poulter cleverly beat Gray before going on to score the City's third goal.

Second Half.
The biggest cheer of the afternoon greeted the half-time news from Southend. The second half began with a period of aimless kicking, but at length Poulter brought a bouncing ball under control with almost the skill of Whitlow, rounded Webster and beat Millsom all ends up with a beautiful drive, to register his "hat-trick" and Exeter's fourth goal.