Saturday, February 7th 1948.

SOUTHEND UNITED 2 (Thompson, Lane)

EXETER CITY 0

Half-time Southend 1 City 0.
League 3rd Division South, at Grainger-road.
Attendance 9,500.

Southend:- Nash; Beach, Linton;
Goodyear, Sheard, Jackson; Bennett, Dudley, Montgomery, Thompson, Lane.
Referee: Mr L.E.Gibbs, of Reading.
City: Singleton; Thompson, Johnstone; Bartholomew, Gibson, Walker; Hutchings, Mackay, Sutherland, Granville, Regan.

Southend United made the daring experiment of choosing Montgomery, their centre half, to lead the attack against Exeter City, a move which came in for a certain amount of criticism. Montgomery, who at 6ft 3ins is one of the tallest players in the game, joined Southend from Newcastle United after previous service with Hull City. On a heavy pitch Exeter were beaten 20 by a team which employed the direct methods the conditions called for. Exeter were too dainty, and too slow, and made the tactical error of slavishly adhering to the close passing game on a ground which was practically a morass of mud.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE.
City Reserves 5 (Dymond 2, Smart, Wright, W.Fallon)
Yeovil Town 0
Played at St James's Park, attendance 3,500.

RESERVES SCORE FIVE

Yeovil's Defence No Match For Exeter Forwards

Though beginning slowly and taking the lead against the run of play. Exeter City Reserves settled down, played brilliant football and beat Yeovil Town 5-0, at St. James' Park.

Yeovil fell away after a bright start and their defence, hesitant and often faulty in positioning, was no match for speedy raiders who exploited every opening and deadly in finishing. Best were Exeter attacker was Dymond (outside-right) who scored twice, and Smart (centre- forward) and Wright (inside-left) were other effective forwards. Davey (centre-half) was always too good for the Yeovil leader, Swinfen.

Smart. Wright, and Fallon (W.) were other Exeter scorers and, but for fine goalkeeping by Hall, Exeter would have won by a bigger margin


Exeter:- Hoyle; Coles, Rowe; P.Fallon, Davey, Jeffrey; Dymond, Grant, Smart, Wright, W.Fallon.
Yeovil:- Hall; Hickman, Davis; Sibley, Doyle, Collins; Gore, Merritt, Swinfen, Charles, Rogers.

• The City Reserves, who have not lost a single match since the one at Torquay on October 4th 1947, are now top of the Southern League. If they succeed in winning the championship it will be the first time they have done so since the 1930/31 season.