Saturday, February 1st 1936.

NEW CENTRE FORWARD SCORES TWO GOALS.BUT EXETER HELD TO A DRAW AT GILLINGHAM.

Gillingham 2 Exeter City 2.

In a sensational opening Merrie, the City's new Scottish centre forward on trial, scored in the first minute of the match at Gillingham this afternoon. It was a perfect goal. Clarke started the move, T.Scott carried it on, and his accurate ground pass between the backs went to the feet of Merrie, who advanced two or three yards, steadied himself and placed the ball calmly into the far corner of the net. Merrie displaced Poulter, who was wisely given a further rest. Another change in the Exeter team was the substitution of the captain, Charlie Miller, by Crompton. The omission of Miller has been the subject of considerable comment since Thursday, when the change was announced. The absence of Miller, and McLean as well, meant that the City had to find another captain for today's match. The choice fell on Reg Clarke, who skippered the side quite often last season. Gillingham fielded the same eleven as ousted the City from the Cup earlier in the season.

GILLINGHAM
Whitelaw
Turton Lester
Randle Barrie Hopkins
Tadman Watson Baldwin Duncan Doncaster

Referee:- Mr G. Dutton.

Hurst Dunn Merrie T.Scott Ebdon
Angus Robinson Clarke
Crompton Gray
Chesters
EXETER CITY

In the fast exchanges which followed Merrie's goal Gillingham made a strong bid to equalise, but Tadman, who was left with only Chesters to beat, failed to hit the ball truly. Rapid wing to wing movements enabled the City to maintain the advantage earned by that early goal, and Merrie continued to impress by reason of his workmanlike methods. Then Doncaster, the ex-Grecian, who had not been prominent so far, at length came into the picture with a smart dribble and a cunning pass to Tadman, who once again made poor use of the ball, shooting weakly. Gillingham, who lost the services of Hopkins through injury, took a long time to settle down, and a nice bit of combined play between T.Scott and Merrie completely deceived the home rearguard. The two Exeter players cut through at top speed, and Merrie taking over the final pass shot past Whitelaw into the net. It was a perfectly good goal, for Merrie was behind the ball when it was last played, but the referee whistled up for offside.

MERRIE SCORES AGAIN.
Ebdon doubled back and robbed Lester. He centred accurately, and the ball was kicked away from the goalmouth by Barrie, and Ebdon, gaining possession a second time, shot just wide. Then Merrie with a deft flick of the head sent Ebdon away, and from that player's centre Hurst chested the ball down before piling in a fierce shot towards the near upright. Whitelaw dived full length but missed the ball, which grazed the post and went over the goal-line. The City were not going to be denied, however, and strong and aggressive attacking work brought its reward ten minutes before the interval. Again Merrie was the scorer, and again he owed his chance to Scott, who pushed another delicious pass through the centre for Merrie to run on to. This time Merrie had to battle hard for possession, but he shook off the challenge of Barrie, drew Whitelaw out, and then kicked past the advancing goalkeeper into the back of the net. A sudden raid brought Gillingham a goal, Baldwin scoring after clever play between Lester, Doncaster, and Tadman. Then another quick passing movement culminated in Tadman, with a powerful shot from twelve yards, beating Chesters, and at the interval the scores were level, two goals all.

SECOND HALF.
Gillingham attacked, and Chesters fumbled and then dropped the ball from a shot by Watson, but Gray cleared. At the other end Angus kicked hard across the field to Merrie, who passed back for Clarke to shave the crossbar with a drive that Whitelaw never even saw. Exeter continued to be the main attacking force, with Merrie, Ebdon and Hurst all contributing to harass the Gillingham defence. Barrie was far from confident against Merrie, and a great deal of work was thrown upon Turton and Lester. The feature of the game was the brilliant debut of Merrie, the new Exeter centre-forward.

Exeter and District League
CITY RESERVES v
NEWTON CORINTHIANS.

Recollections of the days when the old Newton Great Western Railway team was one of the strongest sides in the district were stirred by the visit to St James's Park this afternoon of Newton Corinthians. The mid-Devon market town had a team before professionalism was adopted in Exeter or Torquay, or even Plymouth, and in Exeter City's official programme today the writer spoke affectionately of such celebrities as Jack Frost and Trooper Daw, the latter a goalkeeper of more than average ability. The heyday of Newton G.W.R. was in the 1890's and the early years of the present century. However, times have greatly changed, and the present Newton XI were no match for the professionals of Exeter City. Leading by two goals to nil at half-time, the City Reserves ran out winners by no fewer than ten nil, the goal scorers being McArthur (2), McCambridge (4), Barnes (1), Pope (1), Aplin (2), one being with a penalty kick and the other a long drive from many yards outside the penalty area.

Exeter's team was:- Kirk; Aplin, Lowton; Risdon, Bamsey (capt)., Barnes; J.Scott, Pope, McCambridge, McArthur, and Hoyle.

Wednesday, February 5th 1936.
CITY RESERVES v U.C.S.W.

After holding the City Reserves for forty minutes, the "Rams" were unlucky to fall into arrears in the Exeter and District League match at St James's Park this afternoon. The Reserves, showing superior combination, had the better of the game territorially, but were foiled by a sound defence until just before the interval when Dingley turned into his own goal a header by Jarrett. Earlier on the College had missed several opportunities through weak shooting.
Half-time:
City Reserves 1 University College 0.

Following a corner well placed by Hoyle, McArthur scored a second goal for Exeter after the interval.

CITY RESERVES
Kirk Risdon Brooking Barnes Bamsey Tappin Jarrett McArthur McCambridge Pope Hoyle
Referee:- Mr A. Martin.
Captains:- Bamsey and Tonkin.

U.C.S.W. Climo Grimsdell Dingley Davies Williams Tonkin Skinner Cook Sweet Johnson Greenaway

Result:
Exeter City Reserves 2
University College 0.