A USEFUL POINT- GRECIANS RECOVER AFTER SHAKY FIRST HALF 

Houghton's Beautiful Goal

Saturday, February 25th 1933
BOURNEMOUTH AND BOSCOMBE 1 (Russell)
EXETER CITY 1  (Houghton)
Half-time: Boscombe 1 City 0.


The Exeter City team travelled by motor-coach amid Christmas card scenes, the snow lying thick in the higher parts of East Devon and West Dorset. Bournemouth was reached in convenient time, and here there was no snow, but the weather was cold and raw. The playing pitch was, however, sodden with rain. Two changes were made in the Exeter City team, Welsby and Miller returning at outside-left and left-back to the exclusion of Hurst and Hughes. Exeter wore white jerseys and navy blue knickers.

Bournemouth
Coen
Trim Parker
Miller Coxford Richmond
McGowan White Russell Whitehouse Webb

Referee:- Mr E. G. Walliker, of Salisbury.

Welsby Houghton Whitlow Kennedy Scott
Barber Childs Clarke
Miller Gray
Davies
Exeter City

A useful point was obtained at Bournemouth, and Exeter were well satisfied with a division of the spoils, but they were perhaps a trifle fortunate. For the first half hour there was only one team in the picture and that was Bournemouth, whose half backs were in top form, and as a consequence the City's attack could seldom get within range of the home goal. Exeter owed largely to Davies, Gray and Miller the fact that they were able to keep a clean sheet during this period. Davies made fine saves from Webb and Whitehouse, who were the pick of the home attack. Four minutes before the interval Russell marked his appearance in his one hundredth League match for the Cherries by giving his side the lead. Only four minutes of the second half had elapsed when the City drew level, and it was a beautiful goal by Houghton which did the trick. The City's inside left shot the ball into the net over the heads of several players after Coen had punched out from Whitlow. Exeter were a vastly improved side in this half, and gave the home defenders a busy time. These players, however, and particularly the two eighteen years old backs, Trim and Parker, never faltered, and Whitlow, the City's crack marksman, was easily held by Coxford. The chief danger to Bournemouth came from Welsby and Scott, whilst a whole lot of smart scheming was carried out by Kennedy and Houghton.

Southern League
EXETER CITY RESERVES 4
BATH CITY 1.

Both Exeter City Reserves and Bath City were strongly represented in this vital Southern League match at St James's Park, when it was essential that the Grecians should win in order to maintain their position as championship contenders. A notable personality in the visiting eleven was Cowan, a Scottish International, formerly of Newcastle United, whilst Howson was of course operating amid very familiar surroundings.

City:- Ince; Ditchburn, Hughes; E.Keefe, Angus, Robinson; Gumm, S.Risdon, Hurst, Connaboy, Higgins.

Bath:- Prout; Howson, Sambridge; Hall, Hicks, Lloyd; Butt, Cowan, Coombs, Trotman, McCartney.

The shivering spectators waited patiently for the sides to put in an appearance, and meanwhile the word went round that the Bath team had been delayed by snow on the railroad. The scheduled time of the kick-off was 3.30 o'clock, but there was no sign of the visitors at 4.15 p.m. Exeter City Military Band, working overtime, and taxing their resources and their repertoire almost to the utmost, did all they could to relieve the monotony of waiting, but the spectators lapsed into a despondent mood when the discouraging half time news from Bournemouth was displayed on the score-board. One hour after the match should have started Bath City were still "somewhere in England." The Somerset men had not turned up, and the spectators were becomg somewhat restless when an ingenious touch of humour saved the situation. The incident, which caused hilarious laughter, concerned the carrying round the ground of a display bill advertising this week's show at the Theatre Royal. And the name of the entertainment is "Stay the Night."

BATH ARRIVE AT A QUARTER TO FIVE.

At 4.45 p.m. Bath City arrived, having changed in the train and then commissioned several taxis to bring them to St James's Park. Although Bath had lost time they won the toss, but Exeter quickly settled down to serious business, and Hurst rattled the cross-bar with a typical shot. Risdon gave Exeter the lead after five minutes, but Cowan equalised with a grand left-foot shot. Good though that goal was the next one by the City was even better, Hurst crashing the ball into the top left-hand corner of the net after brilliant combination between him self, Connaboy, and Gumm. Connaboy was Exeter's most accomplished player, and he frequently outshone Cowan, the Scottish International of Bath City. Splendid centres from Gumm enabled Hurst to score the third and fourth City goals with good headers.