Saturday, December 15th 1934.

CITY RETURN TO FORM AGAINST CARDIFF 

Dryden a Strong Link in Thrustful Forward Line: Angus and Webb Brilliant Half-backs

EXETER CITY 2 CARDIFF CITY 1.

There was a welcome return to form by Exeter City at St. James's Park this afternoon, and a magnificent game ended with Cardiff City being beaten by two goals to one. Exeter fully deserved their victory, although the plucky fight by Cardiff right to the end won general admiration. Dryden, who came into the team at the last minute because of the inability of Poulter to play, was a big success. He was a strong and fast unit in an attack which showed far more thrustfulness and purpose than was revealed a week ago. The Exeter half backs all had a good game, Webb being the ideal link between defence and attack whilst Angus was brilliant in constructive work.

EXETER CITY
Chesters
Gray Miller
Clarke Webb Angus
J.Scott Wrightson Hurst T.Scott Dryden

Referee: Mr F. W. Reeve, of Devonport.

Jones Lewis Keating Riley Pugh
Moore Bassett Galbraith
Everest Lane
Leckie
CARDIFF CITY

Exeter admirers of Fred Whitlow were disappointed that he was not in the Cardiff team. He was dropped after a moderate display in a League match with Gillingham last week, and today turned out for the Reserves against Exeter Reserves at Ninian Park. There was  significantly, only a very small crowd at St James's Park this afternoon. Large numbers of City supporters were at Yeovil last week to witness Exeter's inglorious exit from the F. A. Cup competition for themselves, and no doubt decided to stay at home today. Consequently the attendance was barely 3,000 when Cardiff won the toss in dismal weather. Exeter pressed hotly from the start and the feature of the early play was the clever goalkeeping of Leckie, who has superseded Tom Farquharson, the Irish International, in the Cardiff team. Exeter took the lead in eleven minutes, through Dryden, who fired brilliantly into the net after Leckie had punched out a centre from J.Scott.

PENALTY SAVED BY LECKIE.

Leckie, who had already distinguished himself with half a dozen or more saves of real class, went one better in the next minute, fisting out a penalty kick taken by Webb after T.Scott had been impeded by a Cardiff defender. Cardiff were lucky, however, when a slashing drive by Wrightson rattled their crossbar with Leckie this time beaten, but Exeter City, who were playing as well as in any game for the season at last managed to score a second goal, a minute before half-time. A clever attack was developed by T.Scott and Dryden, and Hurst, securing, swung the ball out to J.Scott with the Cardiff backs badly positioned. Scott raced ahead, and shot powerfully, with Leckie this time well beaten, the ball entering the net just below the crossbar.

T.Scott scored for Exeter in the second half but was adjudged to have been offside. Cardiff then hit back to some extent, Pugh converting a centre from Jones. In the last few minutes Tom Scott was badly injured in a tussle with Galbraith and had to be carried off the field by ambulance men and the City trainer.

Western League
CARDIFF CITY RESERVES 2
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2.

McArthur and Tierney gave the Cardiff goalkeeper some work to do in the Western League match at Ninian Park, then Whitlow scored for Cardiff. McArthur equalised, but Cardiff regained the lead through Hill. McArthur scored for Exeter after the interval.