City Attack With Desperation: Clapton Get the Goals Weak Spots in Defence

EXETER CITY 0: CLAPTON ORIENT 3

Although the weather was fine, there was a very moderate attendance when the teams took the field. The earlier kick off time might have had something to do with this, for the turnstiles were clicking away briskly when the captains met in the centre, Lucas, the old Liverpool full-back, beating Davies with the toss. Clapton Orient had some famous names in their ranks, among them the former Swindon Town goalgetter, Dave Morris, and on the left wing was Arthur Rigby, who played for Blackburn Rovers in the two games with Exeter City in the F. A. cup competition of season 1927-28.

Exeter City. Davies; Gray and Miller; Clarke, Childs, and Hardie; Welsby, Poulter, Whitlow, Houghton, and Hurst.

Clapton Orient. Gill; Lucas and Crompton; Fogg, Fellowes, and Ware; Mayson, Taylor, Morris, Mills, and Rigby.

Clapton's play was in direct contrast to that of Exeter City. The ball was swung about vigorously and accurately, with the men in the half back positions giving wide passes to Mayson and Rigby. Exeter City, however, hardly deserved to lose by such a heavy margin. The Orient's superior half-backs, Fogg, Fellowes, and Ware, gave them a pronounced advantage. Exeter's forwards showed plenty of speed and dash, but were weak near goal despite the presence in the line of three centre-forwards, Poulter, Whitlow, and Hurst. They were also poorly supported by Clarke and Hardie, and good passes were rare.

BEST AT THE PARK THIS SEASON.

Morris led the Orient with skill, making the most of the service provided by Mayson and Rigby on the wings, and Taylor and Mills in the inside positions. The Clapton forwards in fact gave a dazzling display and were the best line seen at Exeter this season. Clapton led by a goal to nil at the interval, the goal, scored by Taylor, being the outcome of a misunderstanding in the Exeter defence. Exeter improved slightly in the second half but at times they beat themselves by rash and hurried shooting when a little coolness was needed. Hurst was dispossessed on the goal-line and Crompton was too quick for Whitlow. Then followed a whole series of missed goals by Whitlow, Houghton, and Hurst.

Morris and Mayson scored for the Orient, and when Exeter attacked the visiting defence was sound and unyielding to the end.

Southern League
NEWPORT COUNTY RESERVES 1
EXETER CITY RESERVES 3.

In this afternoon's Southern League match at Somerton Park, Exeter Reserves were a goal up within half a minute of the start, not one Newport player touching the ball before it entered the net. Barnes centred over McLaughlin's head to Scott, who scored. Barnes scored Exeter's second goal and Boundy the third. Millar scored for the Ironsides.

Exeter City Reserves:- Chesters; Hughes, Lock; Risdon, Ditchburn, Webb; Gumm, Scott, R. Boundy, Wrightson, Barnes.