Match 29
3rd February 1934
Third Division
Exeter City v Cardiff City
Western League
Taunton T. v Exeter City Reserves
Saturday, February 3rd 1934.
EXETER CITY 4 CARDIFF CITY 0.
At St James's Park today Exeter City were expected to make short work of Cardiff City, for the "Bluebirds," winners of the F.A.Cup and runners-up for the First Division championship since the war, have slumped so badly that they are now numbered among the weakest of the Southern Section teams. The era of Cardiff greatness has been followed by a decline which forms one of the most amazing chapters of modern football. Industrial depression has had much to do with the change of fortune which has overtaken the Ninian Park club, and shortage of money had been the cause of the replacement of the old stalwarts by players of considerably inferior ability.
Exeter City. Chesters; Gray and Miller; Clarke, Webb, and Barber; Scott, Wrightson, Whitlow, Houghton, and Hurst.
Cardiff City. Farquharson; Calder and Russell; Molloy, Galbraith, and Duthie; Rogers, Postin, Henderson, Curtis, and Hutchinson.
There were 6,000 spectators present at the start, and Barber, who was making his first appearance at St James's Park this season, was loudly cheered when he was quickly in the limelight, making a nice crossfield pass to Scott. Following some lively headwork in the Cardiff goalmouth a corner was won, and when the ball was centred by Hurst the agile Farquharson was there to beat out a rising shot by Houghton close to the upright. A beautiful ground pass by Houghton put Hurst through, but hustled by Calder the City winger ran the ball over the goal-line before he could get himself in position to centre. Play had been in progress thirteen minutes when the Grecians opened their scoring account, and the goal was obtained by Houghton, who, meeting a backward pass by Hurst on the half-volley, crashed an unstoppable shot into the back of the Cardiff net, the pace of the ball being too fast for even the brilliant Farquharson, who is, with Curtis (back at Cardiff after a few seasons with Birmingham) the only surviving member of the Cup winning team of 1927. The second half commenced with Cardiff the more aggressive side, and Chesters made a daring clearance from Henderson, coming out of his goal and pouncing on the ball as the Cardiff leader was about to shoot. Then Exeter resumed the sort of attacks which had been much in evidence throughout the first half, and two quick goals accrued, Hurst and Whitlow finding the net. The Cardiff defence was riddled by another clever Exeter attack ten minutes from the end, Whitlow taking up a pass from Houghton and coolly beating Farquharson from the edge of the penalty area.
Western League
TAUNTON TOWN 1
EXETER CITY RESERVES 3.
A heavy fall of rain before the start of the City Reserves' Western League match at Taunton made the ground slippery. The City made two forward changes, Gumm being brought in at outside right for Jasper, while J.Purvis, the Wonford amateur, played centre-forward. It was his third appearance with the "Stiffs." Exeter completely dominated the play for the first five minutes on the heavy ground, showing splendid combination. Taunton made their first dangerous advance when Mason got the better of Hughes only to shoot straight at Davies from a good position. The opening goal was scored by Hutchings for Taunton, but two goals by Purvis and one by Barnes eventually won the points for Exeter.
EXETER CITY 4 CARDIFF CITY 0.
At St James's Park today Exeter City were expected to make short work of Cardiff City, for the "Bluebirds," winners of the F.A.Cup and runners-up for the First Division championship since the war, have slumped so badly that they are now numbered among the weakest of the Southern Section teams. The era of Cardiff greatness has been followed by a decline which forms one of the most amazing chapters of modern football. Industrial depression has had much to do with the change of fortune which has overtaken the Ninian Park club, and shortage of money had been the cause of the replacement of the old stalwarts by players of considerably inferior ability.
Exeter City. Chesters; Gray and Miller; Clarke, Webb, and Barber; Scott, Wrightson, Whitlow, Houghton, and Hurst.
Cardiff City. Farquharson; Calder and Russell; Molloy, Galbraith, and Duthie; Rogers, Postin, Henderson, Curtis, and Hutchinson.
There were 6,000 spectators present at the start, and Barber, who was making his first appearance at St James's Park this season, was loudly cheered when he was quickly in the limelight, making a nice crossfield pass to Scott. Following some lively headwork in the Cardiff goalmouth a corner was won, and when the ball was centred by Hurst the agile Farquharson was there to beat out a rising shot by Houghton close to the upright. A beautiful ground pass by Houghton put Hurst through, but hustled by Calder the City winger ran the ball over the goal-line before he could get himself in position to centre. Play had been in progress thirteen minutes when the Grecians opened their scoring account, and the goal was obtained by Houghton, who, meeting a backward pass by Hurst on the half-volley, crashed an unstoppable shot into the back of the Cardiff net, the pace of the ball being too fast for even the brilliant Farquharson, who is, with Curtis (back at Cardiff after a few seasons with Birmingham) the only surviving member of the Cup winning team of 1927. The second half commenced with Cardiff the more aggressive side, and Chesters made a daring clearance from Henderson, coming out of his goal and pouncing on the ball as the Cardiff leader was about to shoot. Then Exeter resumed the sort of attacks which had been much in evidence throughout the first half, and two quick goals accrued, Hurst and Whitlow finding the net. The Cardiff defence was riddled by another clever Exeter attack ten minutes from the end, Whitlow taking up a pass from Houghton and coolly beating Farquharson from the edge of the penalty area.
Western League
TAUNTON TOWN 1
EXETER CITY RESERVES 3.
A heavy fall of rain before the start of the City Reserves' Western League match at Taunton made the ground slippery. The City made two forward changes, Gumm being brought in at outside right for Jasper, while J.Purvis, the Wonford amateur, played centre-forward. It was his third appearance with the "Stiffs." Exeter completely dominated the play for the first five minutes on the heavy ground, showing splendid combination. Taunton made their first dangerous advance when Mason got the better of Hughes only to shoot straight at Davies from a good position. The opening goal was scored by Hutchings for Taunton, but two goals by Purvis and one by Barnes eventually won the points for Exeter.
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