Saturday, March 13th 1948. 

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3 (Briscoe 2, Hughes) 

EXETER CITY 1 (Regan)

Half-time Northampton 1 City 1.

League 3rd Division South, at the County Ground. Attendance 7,000, receipts £504.

Northampton:- Ansell; Smalley, Barron; Lowery, Dennison, Coley; King, Heaselgrave, Briscoe, Hughes, Fowler.
Referee:- Mr W.E.Dellow, of Croydon.
Exeter City: Singleton; Johnstone, Rowe; Bartholomew, Gibson, Walker;Hutchings, Evans, Dymond, Mackay, Regan.

Northampton can be regarded as Exeter City's "bogey team" as far as the present season is concerned. In four clashes between the clubs the Cobblers have won two and drawn two. The small Exeter forwards may have been beaten by "inches" in today's match at the County Ground, but this does not excuse the subsequent fade-out. The City were unlucky when a shot by Dymond rebounded off the bottom of the crossbar to the goal-line. The score at that time was one all and the Grecians had made a praiseworthy attempt to gain the lead for the first time in the match. What happened afterwards entitled the visiting team to no sympathy and very little credit. The concession of a soft goal and the consequent loss of enthusiasm made the last 30 minutes a bad showing from the Exeter viewpoint. In that period the defence was overrun by the nimble Cobblers forwards. The scoring was opened by Briscoe from Dennison's pass after fifteen minutes. Pretty combination between Mackay and Regan ended with the last-named equalising with a right foot drive to give the City some hope for the second period, but this did not materialise, and goals by Briscoe and Hughes confirmed Northampton's superiority.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE.
City Reserves 2 Guildford City 2.

Team:- Hoyle; Warren, Blood; Jeffrey, Davey, P.Fallon; W.Fallon, Vaughan, Smart, Grant, Granville.


Monday, March 15th 1948.
EXETER CITY 1 (Ebdon) ....
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1 (Smith)
Half-time City 1 Argyle 1.
Friendly, at St James's Park.

Joint benefit for Jack Angus and Richard Ebdon.

Attendance 7,527, receipts £648. 19s. 9d.

City: Hoyle; Coles, Blood; Bartholomew, Angus, Walker; Hutchings, Wardle (Cardiff City), Ebdon, Mackay, Regan. Argyle:- Shortt; Ratcliffe, P.Jones; L.Jones, Warren, Davies; Mulholland, Smith, Hall, Murphy, Buist.

The City's goal was scored from a penalty by Ebdon, one of the two beneficiaries, given against the Argyle goalkeeper after he had been adjudged to have fouled Wardle in the fifth minute. The Argyle's quick equaliser was the outcome of a classic left wing movement which bore the hallmark of the brilliant Hardie Leslie Black left-wing triangle of the Argyle's golden era of the 1920s. An entertaining struggle between the Devon rivals was waged at a fast pace and a draw was a fair result. Although Plymouth were the more skilful combination the outstanding individual player on the field was George Wardle, the former Exeter forward, who had obtained special permission from his present club and the Football League to allow him to appear in this match. It was a sporting gesture by both Wardle and the Cardiff City club, and warmly appreciated by Exeter City, their players, and spectators. The receipts from the game will be shared by those two grand Exeter players, now veterans with years of loyal service behind them, Jack Angus and "Digger" Ebdon.

Wednesday, March 17th 1948.
Southern League:
City Reserves 0 Gillingham 0.

Played at St James's Park, attendance 2,000.

Exeter:- Hoyle; Warren, Blood; P.Fallon, Davey, Jeffrey; Granville, Grant, Smart, Wright, J.Gould.

Gillingham:- Collins; Dorling, Poole; Boswell, Kingsnorth, Piper; Warsop, Wilson, Russell, Briggs, Forester.