EXETER CITY'S UPHILL BATTLE.

BRISTOL SCORES WITHIN TWO MINUTES OF KICK-OFF.

Saturday, February 16th 1946.

BRISTOL CITY 3 (Thomas, Chilcott, Lovering)
EXETER CITY 0
Half-time score:- Bristol 3 Exeter 0.
Attendance 12,891.

Bristol City:- Cousins; Guy, Bailey; Morgan, Roberts, Thomas; Chilcott, Bentley, Lovering, Williams, Hargreaves.
Referee:- Mr Hawn.
Exeter City:- Singleton; Murray, Blood;
Jordan, Angus, Walker; Wardle, Hydes, Ebdon, Bowden, Regan.

From the moment that Bristol City scored their opening goal within two minutes of the kick-off Exeter City were fighting an uphill battle at Ashton Gate. The slope was too steep and the Grecians slid to a 3-nil defeat. All the scoring was done in the first half, a fact which conveys a wrong impression, because it was not until after the interval that Exeter were outplayed and outpaced.

• HYDES INJURED.
  Exeter's outstanding player was Steve Walker, once more in the half back line. He was always striving to rally his colleagues, and was just as fast as the man to whom he was opposed. Ebdon was energetic and with a bit of luck could have reduced the margin of defeat. Wardle was mercurial, flashes of cleverness being alternated by spells of ineffectiveness. Hydes was injured just on half-time and was literally out of the game for the whole of the second half.