CITY'S DEFENCE TOO GOOD FOR NORTHAMPTON.

COBBLERS FIND EVERY ROUTE TO GOAL BARRED.

Monday, September 2nd 1946.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 (Morrall)
EXETER CITY 2 (Regan, Wright)
Half time Northampton 1 City 1.

Northampton:- Jones; Smalley, Barron;
Sankey, Dennison, Blunt; Roberts, Smith, Morrall, Heaselgrave, Fowler.
Referee:- Mr L. Brown, of Barnes.
City: Hoyle; Thompson, Blood; Cutting, Hanford, Walker; Wardle, Hydes, Ebdon, Wright, Regan.

Attendance 11,000.

Few teams will enrich their goal average at the expense of Exeter City if the defence maintains the solidarity on which the 2-1 away win over Northampton was built. The watch that Blood and Thompson kept on Roberts and Fowler just about nullified the Northampton attack and played a very big part in the victory. The rigidity of Exeter's defence was best demonstrated in the last half an hour when the Cobblers made an all-out effort to equalise. Time after time they stormed the Exeter goal but were never at any time permitted to finish off their moves with a score. In a last-minute energetic effort the whole Northampton side closed up to besiege the goal. Hoyle, however, safely withstood the test. After Morrall had opened the score in the seventh minute Regan beat Jones with a tricky 30 yards drive which was misjudged by the goal keeper as the ball curled into the top of the net. Resuming at a great pace after the interval Exeter gained the lead through Wright following a clever left-wing movement, and although Northampton monopolised the play in the final half hour they found every route to goal barred to them.

Thursday, September 5th 1946.
CITY RESERVES WIN THEIR FIRST MATCH. FORWARDS IN GOOD FORM

HEREFORD UNITED 1 (Edwards)
EXETER CITY RESERVES 3 (Mustard, Challis 2)
Half time Hereford 1 City 3.

Hereford:- King; Paterson, Whitehouse;
Driscoll, Marsh, Reed; Regan, Roberts, Keating, Grange, Edwards.
City Reserves:- D.Todd; Murray, Long; Holcroft, Coles, Fellowes; Mustard, Hammond, Smart, Vaughan, Challis.

Attendance 2,700, receipts £203.

Exeter City Reserves started off their Southern League fixture at Hereford, which they won 3-1, as though they intended business. Their fast moving forwards had the home defence all at sea, and in four minutes Mustard scored, Challis following with a second goal in 15 minutes. A quarter of an hour later Challis got a third and then Hereford lost Paterson, who was off the field for the remainder of the game. Exeter then lost their sparkle and Edwards reduced the lead. In the second half King gave a great display in the Hereford goal, but Hereford had plenty of the play. Their forwards, however, were right out of luck. Edwards and Grange both hit the posts with good shots. Mustard and Challis were always threatening danger on the Exeter City wings, but after their brilliant opening Hammond, Smart, and Vaughan fell away.