BIG CROWD AT ST JAMES'S PARK DISAPPOINTED.

CITY'S UNBEATEN RECORD GOES.

Saturday, September 14th 1946.

EXETER CITY 1 (Wardle)
BRISTOL CITY 3  (Clark 3)

Half time City 1 Bristol 2.

City: Hoyle; Murray, Blood; Cutting, Hanford, Walker; Wardle, Hammond, Ebdon, Wright, Regan.
Bristol City:- Ferguson; Guy, Bailey; Morgan, Roberts, Jones; Chilcott, Thomas, Clark, Williams, Hargreaves.

Attendance 15,000.

The loss of two points to Bristol City was a big disappointment to the largest crowd seen at St James's Park since the cup-ties of the 1930-31 season, but the onlookers saw in Bristol a "team" in every sense of the word. No-one could complain of the 3-1 margin by which the Robins won. Indeed, it might have been wider, so dominant were the winners, and so superior were they in speed, cleverness, and craft. Exeter were a disjointed side whose members toiled hard, yet ineffectively, because they failed to put into operation any real method, or plan of campaign. The home men were beaten to the ball nine times out of ten, giving the Bristolians ample time to work out their moves. Ebdon as usual had the qualities of pluck and willingness in plenty without being able to accomplish very much. Unsupported, he had a hopeless job against such a powerful centre half as Roberts. Yet Exeter opened the score, Wardle getting a goal in the first two minutes of the game.


CITY RESERVES TOP OF SOUTHERN LEAGUE.

Exeter City Reserves beat Bath City at Bath by 5 goals to 2 and are top of the Southern League as a result.

Bath City were defeated on Saturday in the Southern League at Twerton, and met Exeter for the first time since the outbreak of war. The Exeter team included Mustard, who last season played for Bath City, and he proved a lively forward. After an early attack by Bath City, the visitors soon tested the home defence, and 10 minutes from the start Mustard netted, followed just afterwards by Lee. The home forwards never really got going, though Franklin, Tanner, and Merritt individually played good games, but did not get the support they needed. Before half-time Jones netted for Exeter and though on the resumption Bath City played better and after five minutes reduced the arrears through Stevens, the visitors went further ahead through Challis Towards the end Tanner beat Singleton to get Bath City's second goal, but Jones replied for Exeter.

Team:- Singleton; Gingell, Long; Angus, Coles, Fellowes; Mustard, Lee, C.Jones (Heavitree United), Vaughan, and Challis.


Exeter City have signed on another new player. He is Harry Holcroft, an 18 years old wing half-back, from Southport.