CITY UNLUCKY TO LOSE IN SEMI DARKNESS

LOWTON, ROBINS ON AND RISDON EXCEL
Watford Flattered but Grecians Too Slow

Wednesday, September 11th.
WATFORD 1 EXETER CITY 0.

A dramatic goal six minutes from the finish, when the light was so bad that it was impossible to follow the game, was the means by which Watford completed the double over Exeter City. Exeter were as good as the opposition, taking the game all through and were unlucky to lose, especially as the defence played so well. As a spectacle this game, which was played on Wednesday evening at Vicarage Road, Watford, was not very good. Stern defensive tactics featured the play of both sides, and the contest was mainly of an obstructionist character. Furthermore, there was too much high kicking, and the exchanges, which were over vigorous at times, did not please the connoiseur of good football. The only goal of the game came unexpectedly. There appeared no likelihood of a score, then six minutes from the end Watford forced a corner on the right. Jones's kick was placed into the goal area, and in the gloom Lane rushed the ball into the net. Thus did Watford gain the points which they were on the run of the play scarcely entitled to. The home side were nothing like as convincing as they were when they played at St James's Park last week. The precise attacks which had marked their play on that occasion were missing, and a lot of wild play was on this latter occasion indulged in by a team which placed robustness before skill.

SLOW AT POSITIONING.

The City had enough chances to have at least drawn. Twice in the first half and again after the interval opportunities were lost through slowness to run into position. This was Exeter's worst fault in attack. Dunn and McLean played too far back. There was too great a gap, and the plan of campaign which Exeter adopted never appeared really convincing. The elements of forcefulness and driving power were not there. The City's main strength was in the full back department, where both Lowton and Gray were top class. Lowton's long clearance kicks were most useful, and his clean and well-timed tackling was always suggestive of strength and resource. Gray, who was very quick in recovery, made Lowton a staunch partner. The most gratifying feature from Exeter's viewpoint was the form of Robinson, and the anxiety which has existed over the centre half position will disappear if he continues in this vein. Towards the end of last season Risdon appeared to be a player who was bound to develop into a good wing half-back. Risdon's display at Watford was virile and tenacious, and he compared favourably with any wing half-back on view.

Watford. McLaren; Brown, Moran; Findlay, Armstrong, Woodward; Jones, Barnett, Lane, O'Brien, Wright.

Exeter City. Chesters; Gray, Lowton; Risdon, Robinson, Fantham; J.Scott, Dunn, McArthur, McLean, McArdle.


DAWLISH TOWN v
EXETER CITY RESERVES.
Exeter and District League

A record attendance of nearly 1,000 assembled on Wednesday at the new Dawlish ground, which was officially opened during the summer, to witness the Town's first home match of the season, in which they were beaten 2-1 by Exeter City Reserves. Bluck, the home skipper, won the toss and elected to play with the strong on-shore breeze that was blowing. Bolt, the Dawlish left-back, was injured midway through the first half and resumed on the left wing ten minutes later. He distinguished himself by scoring the opening goal, converting a centre by Taylor. Hoyle and Ebdon scored for Exeter after the interval, when the Grecians dominated the game. Angus was a tower of strength at centre half and Ebdon a dashing and lively centre-forward.

Thursday 12th September 
OLD CITY "PROS" VERSUS OLD EXETER AMATEURS.

Soccer's 'Halycon' Days Recalled.

Sporting memories were revived at St James's Park, on Thursday evening, September 12th, when a team of old Exeter City stal warts, one of whom was playing in the very first professional team in 1908, helped to recapture the era when football was a more leisurely business and the play was more scientific. A team of ex-City professionals, captained by Billy McDevitt, the present manager, opposed a side of old Exeter amateurs in a special match which had been arranged to augment the Exeter City Supporters' Club funds. And just to show that they had not forgotten how to play these rival teams delighted the onlookers by frequently introducing classier movements which belonged to an era of the old offside rule, a period in which craft and precise passing were not sub servient to dash and speed.

COPESTAKE THE CROWD'S FAVOURITE.

The old professionals, with Hemingway and Alf Matthews looking as fit and active as in their heyday, and with Newman dropping across those inviting centres for which he used to be famous, scored seven times. Hemingway claimed four goals and Matthews the remainder. There is football left in these players yet!
The most popular figure of the match was Levi Copestake, who was the City's left winger 27 years ago. Wearing a jersey which was so long that it stretched almost down to his knees Copestake gave an amazingly virile display for one of his years. He knows how to beat a man even now, and he was not very often outpaced. All the spectators rose to a gallant veteran, at the finish, and nothing would have pleased the crowd better than to have seen him score. Partnering Copestake was John Dockray, in his day a wonderful outside-left, and probably the best player for that position the Grecians have ever had. Dockray of the twinkling feet can still work the ball with much of his old cunning and trickery, as he proved on Thursday night. It used to be said of Billy McDevitt that he never put a foot wrong. He retains the faculty for accurate distribution, but he refused to be tempted into having a pot at goal in spite of the crowd's clamourings. That was never Mac's strong suit. At wing half-back it was easy to detect the expert touches of Crawshaw and Ditchburn, while at full-back "Darkie" Potter and Duggie Livingstone were strong defenders. Behind them "Pincher" Pym, one-time idol of Exeter football enthusiasts, kept goal. He wore his England International jersey for the occasion and his play was of course faultless. He brought the house down on one occasion in the second half when he fisted around the post a scorching oblique drive from eight yards' range. Yet he said after the match that this particular save was bad goalkeeping, and that he should have caught the ball instead of conceding a corner. Jack Sanders, the old Exwick and City Reserves player, scored the only goal for the amateurs from a penalty, which followed an offence which the referee was the only person to see!

OLD PROFESSIONALS. R. Pym; D.Livingstone, A.E.Potter; J.Ditchburn, W. McDevitt, A.W.Crawshaw; F.Newman, A. Matthews, C.Hemingway, J.Dockray, L. Copestake.

OLD AMATEURS. Brooking; Tooze, Snape; Waldron, B.Perry, Glanville; Sanders, C. Perry, Troke, Fenwick, Lincoln..

Referee:- Charlie Miller.
Linesmen: Jimmy Dunn and Jack Scott.

• After the match, which the Professionals won by 7 goals to 1, the teams and officials were entertained to dinner at the Queen's Hotel. Guests were welcomes by Mr George Gilbert, Chairman of the Sports Committee of the Supporters' Club, who alluded to the sportsmanship of the players in providing this most attractive match. Those contributing to the entertainment programme were Messrs W.Crawshaw, W. Whitburn, and F.H.Kelly.