TOP OF THE LEAGUE. OF THE LEAGUE. ANOTHER FIVE GOALS FOR EXETER CITY.

Saturday, September 8th 1945.

EXETER CITY 5 (Ebdon 2, Kernick 2, Challis)
READING 1 (McPhee)

READING CONCEDE FIVE-GOALS AT EXETER

TRAIN JOURNEY TIRED DEPLETED TEAM

A much depleted team, a tedious Journey lasting nearly five hours- during the greater part of which the players had to stand in the corridor- and injuries, had a dire effect on the Reading team, so that it was not surprising that the home club, Exeter, gained the victory, although perhaps the big margin was hardly expected.

Neither Maurice Edelston nor Busby was able to get away in time to travel, whilst the two Fishers were both keps at home nursing injuries. Three of the reserve team, Bishop, Summerfield and Sturgess, occupied vacancies, but of these only Summerfield-despite a cut head sustained midway through the game-played anything like up to standard.

Mediocre play was not confined to newcomers, however, for of the "regu lars". only Purvis and Layton did really well. In fact, Niblett has rarely played a less talented game, and it was due to his failure to hold the opposing centre forward, Ebdon. that Exeter were able to score four goals in the opening half-hour,

Exetey look the lead after only five minutes when Ebdon beat both Bishop and Niblett and crossed the ball for Kernick to score. A few minutes later Ebdon himself went through and scored with a shot which went in off the post. The centre forward's work enabled Kernick to put his team three up inside a quarter of an hour, and then Challis had a shot deflected into the Reading net. The first time Rear- ing looked really dangerous the referee pulled the attack up for offside through a bad signal by a linesman, but even- tually a corner on the left enabled Reading to get an "orphan" goal, Chitty's centre being headed into the net by MacPhee.

Late in the first half Sturgess, Summerfield and Niblett were injured in turn, and the two last-named were seen by a doctor during the interval. This meant that Readinit started the second half with ouly nine men, but both Summerfield and Niblett were back on the Beld inside a quarter of an hour, Niblett to play in turn on either wing, with a consequent reshuffling of the Reading players. It was not until the end was in sight that Exeter ob- tained their fith goal.

Attendance 10,000.

Referee:- Mr F.J.Lowe, of Bristol. Half-time score:- City 4 Reading 1.

Exeter City:- Goodfellow; Murray, Brown; Walker, Blood, Jordan; Challis, Kernick, Ebdon, Mitcheson, Lewis.
Reading:- Duke; Bishop, Purvis; Pattison, Niblett, Layton; Fisher, Sturgess, McPhee, Summerfield, Chitty.

After four matches, three of which have been won, Exeter City are top of the 3rd Division League, South of Thames Section.
The City fielded three "guest" players today, namely Goodfellow (Sheffield Wednesday), Kernick (Torquay), and Mitcheson (Plymouth Argyle).