WATFORD 2 EXETER CITY 0.

Saturday, January 6th 1934.


Exeter City, beaten by two goals to nil at Watford this afternoon, must revise their tactics in away matches, or they will win very few of them. The whole team was yards too slow on the ball, and midfield skill and trickery got the players nowhere. Watford were by no means a good side, and Exeter were defeated by reason of faulty finishing and lack of speed. Miller was the best of the defenders and Webb the pick of the half backs, but none of the forwards really shone. The match, which was played in bitterly cold weather on a frost bound pitch, was attended by four thousand spectators.

Watford. McLaren; D. Lewis, Moran;
Findlay, Armstrong, Woodward; Chapman, Barnett, Carter, Lane, W.Davies.

Exeter City. Davies; Gray,Miller;Clarke, Webb, Hardie;Scott, Wrightson, Whitlow, Houghton, Hurst.

Referee:- Mr E.Pinckston, of Birmingham.

This proved a keen, fast game, with defences generally in command. Exeter City to a great degree showed indifferent marksmanship, and Whitlow, after last week's grand showing, had a poor match, though he was unfortunate not to score at least once with a well intended shot. Watford deserved their victory although the City defence could not be blamed. Barnett was prominent with some clever and effective missed a great chance in the first minute when Carter just failed inside-wing play, and he worked in harmony with Carter. Watford to drive home a good pass from Barnett. Whitlow failed to steady himself on two occasions, when his normal coolness would probably have brought him at least one goal. The only goal of the first half was scored by W.Davies from an opening worked out by Barnet. In the second half Exeter had more of the play, but Whitlow again failed to control the ball properly and shot wide when he ought to have scored. Watford were well on top in the closing stages, and the City goal only survived through the sterling work of Miller and Gray. Chapman broke through and crossed the ball for Carter to score the second Watford goal five minutes from time.

CITY RESERVES 2
TORQUAY UNITED RESERVES 3.

Ditchburn, the City Reserves' captain, played inside left at the Park today in this, the fourth meeting of these teams at Exeter so far this season. Harry Poulter, who was playing excellently for the first-team until he suffered a knee injury during the Christmastide matches, was given a try-out at inside right.

City Reserves. Chesters; Hughes and Lock; Angus, Childs, and Tait; Risdon, Poulter, Boundy, Ditchburn, and J.Barnes.

Torquay Reserves. Langford; W.H.Cassells and Rees; Hewitt, Grice, and E.M.Brown; Steele, Orr, Ryder, Mills, and Hutchinson.
Referee: Mr J.J.Hughes.

There were only two hundred spectators at the start. Torquay began crisply, opening the game out in attractive fashion, and Chesters saved from Hutchinson and a return shot from Brown. Torquay scored through Mills after ten minutes, and went further ahead very soon afterwards when a long centre from Hutchinson was met by Steele, who gave Chesters no chance from close range. Boundy scored for Exeter, from what looked like an offside position. In the second half Langford distinguished himself by saving a spo kick from Childs. Orr and Boundy completed the scoring.

Saturday, January 13th 1934.

EXETER CITY 6 CORINTHIANS 1.

Without a match in Cup or League, Exeter City were engaged in an attractive friendly game at St James's Park, where they took on the Corinthians, the most famous amateur side of all time. The referee was Mr F.J.Lovell, who is the former City Reserves and Topsham full-back. The "gate" numbered only 2,000 when the Corinthians kicked off but people were still coming in.

Exeter City. Davies (captain); Gray and Miller; Wrightson, Webb, and Hardie; Scott, Risdon, Poulter, Houghton, and Hurst.

Corinthians. L.Raven; W.T.Whewell (captain) and K.S.Duncan; W.H.Lister, J.Sutcliffe, and R.Stainton; H.Cooper, E.Barlow, C.A.Hardy, W.Webster, and R.Taylor.

After a short period of give and take play during which a shot by Hurst cleared the Corinthians' cross-bar, Raven saved a free kick by Hardie, and a header by Wrightson went over the bar, Barlow and Webster broke through for the amateurs, Davies saving from Webster, to kick well upfield and start another Exeter attack. This time the professionals were not to be denied, and a centre by Scott found Poulter, who placed the ball neatly to Raven's right. The goalkeeper was a fraction too late in falling and the City were a goal up in six minutes.

ANOTHER GOAL FOR EXETER.

The Corinthians were now finding their feet, and Barlow threatened the Exeter goal with a dangerous run and centre, Davies saving. In the next minute a centre from Cooper flashed right across the home goal with no-one in position to apply the finishing touch. Poulter scored Exeter's second goal from Scott's centre. Poulter's strong running and foraging were the features of the match, and his speed off the mark worried Corinth to the extent that they abandoned their studied style of play and kicked anywhere for safety. Another Exeter move in which Houghton fed Hurst and Hurst middled the ball resulted in Poulter banging the leather home from short range to complete the "hat-trick." Next a typical Houghton move split the defence, Scott running on to a beautiful through pass to find the net with a great first-time shot.
Half-time: City 4 Corinthians 0.

SECOND HALF.

The attendance had now increased to nearly 5,000, and there was a warm ovation for the Corinthians when they reduced the lead seven minutes after the restart. Webster beat three opponents and swung the ball out to Cooper, who drove a great shot into the City net, Davies being beaten to the world. The method of this goal should have acted as an example to Corinth, for obviously the open style of approach was the only means they had of getting past such an experienced pair of backs as Miller and his dashing partner. Hurst next scored for Exeter from Poulter's centre and Poulter obtained his fourth goal of the match after Houghton had rattled the crossbar. The City, by their victory, gained an ample revenge on the Corinthians, who won by 7-1 on their last visit.

Friendly
GUILDFORD 3
EXETER CITY RESERVES 1.

Douglas, after 10 minutes, and Wilson, one minute before half time, scored for Guildford in this afternoon's friendly match. At the start of the second half Exeter were awarded a penalty for "hands," but Angus shot wide from the spot. Jack Barnes scored for Exeter with a shot that went into the net off the goalpost, and the Guildford outside-left, Jordan, who is only sixteen, restored their two goals margin. Exeter gave a further trial at outside right to F.Smith, the Devon County and Friernhay player.