ECFC 1-0 Watford
Scorers: Wright
Attendance: 5500


Wardle At Best;
Halves' Strength

(By NOMAD) 

An only goal scored by Wright from a corner kick gave the City victory over Watford at St. James's Park to-day.

THE TEAMS

City: Hoyle; Thompson, Blood; Cutting. Hanford, Walker; Mustard, Wardle, Ebdon, Wright, Regan.
Referee: Mr G. Reader, Southampton

Watford: Rigg: Morgan, Malpass; Ross, Farnen, Harper; Chase, Davis, Dunderdale, Williams, Harris.

The margin, one goal to nil, however, should have been larger, for Exeter controlled the game for long periods. They were cleverer than Watford in approach, but lacked snap near goal. Wardle, back to his best form, was the outstanding forward in the game, but much of the credit for the City's success goes to the half-back line in which Hanford was a rock-like defender, and Cutting and Walker tireless workers on the flanks. The home defence was seldom overworked, and on the few occasions when Watford threatened. Hoyle, Thompson, and Blood were equal to the occasion. Conditions could not have been much worse. Driving rain and a bitterly keen wind reduced the attendance to about 5,000, and the playing pitch was waterlogged when the teams came out. There were no late team changes. In a stirring attack, the City forced a couple of corners in the first minute. The visiting defence was badly rattled when Ebdon, Wright and Wardle, keeping the ball moving quickly, advanced down the middle.

CITY DANGEROUS
Ebdon turned the ball into the goalmouth, and it cannoned away for a corner, which Mustard placed per fectly, Although Rigg fisted away, the City were back again in a flash to make renewed bids for an early goal. Several times Rigg had to come out to clear dangerous situations and it was not until the game had been in progress for nearly ten minutes that Watford crossed the halfway line. Then they almost scored. A square pass to Harris caught the City defence wide open, and when the Watford winger centred Hoyle had to leap and punch away from. over Dunderdale's head. Sparkling combination! between Wardle and Mustard changed the scene of activity. Wardle, showing. perfect control on the mud, outpaced the opposition, but his centre flashed across the goalmouth-a dramatic escape for a Watford team which had. been overplayed in the early stages apart from breakaways.

ESCAPES FOR BOTH
Mustard lost a possible chance. through hesitating, and so allowing the opposition to recover, while at the other end Blood kicked away from the goalmouth when Harris had lobbed in a menacing centre. Wright and Wardle playing the right type of game by using the hall first time, set a number of problems to the Watford rearguard, but Ebdon was being closely watched. A grand first time drive from Walker was the next thrill meetng the ball en the half volley nearly 30 yards from the goal, he forced Rigg to fall full length to save near the base of an upright, Rigg again distinguished himself when he caught a terrific shot from Ehdon, who turned and hit the ball with his left foot.

LET-OFF FOR CITY
Then came a big let-off for the City, Following a series of defensive slips, Williams was left with an open goal, but he shot wide with Hoyle out of position. Even this miss was no worse than that which followed within a minute. for when Ebdon lobbed the ball low into the goalmouth Regan was left with an ideal chance A first time tap would have sufficed, but Regan delayed and was crowded out.
CUTTING'S WORTH
Hanford and Thompson were out. standing defenders for the City, with Cutting a clever attacking half back. It was Cutting who came through with the ball in a 30 yards run just before the interval, but his parting pass perfectly  placed, was wasted because Mustard ran into an offside position.

Half-time
CITY 0-0 WATFORD

City had a fright when the second half started. Dunderdale darted through the middle and his shot brought out the best from Hoyle, who fell full length to smother the ball. When Exeter retaliated and forced a corner, Regan's kick deceived Rigg but flashed across the goalmouth.
WATFORD SNAPPIER
Watford were hard pressed, and Wardie once looked to be through. Instead of shooting, however, he side Tooted the ball to Mustard. whose effort, lacking in strength, was flelded by the watchful Ring City were infinitely better than Watford in approach work, but there was not enough snap about their work near goal. With fewer opportunities, Watford were the more dangerous. and Dunderdale was only inches too high with a first-time shot after Hoyle had advanced and misfielded the free kick
ALL CITY NOW
There was only one team in it after this and that was Exeter. City went through time and again in forceful style, but the Wat ford goal underwent a series of remarkable survivals. Wright just falled to connect after Mustard had swept the ball low into the goal area. Wardle was only a fraction too high with a shot from the edge of the penalty area. Regan and Ebdon, in quick succession were checked within a few yards of the visiting goal.
Just as I was despairing of the City scoring in this game, they did the trick
WRIGHT IT WAS
The long-awaited goal came when WRIGHT headed a model corner kick from Regan past the helplessly placed Rigg. A 30 yards run by Wardle was followed by an ideal pass to Mustard
but the outside right falled to bring the ball under control and was beaten by Harper. Watford made a spirited attempt in the last few minutes, but the visiting forwards were well held.

Result
Exeter City 1-0 Watford