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.

LATE PENALTY ROBS GUILDFORD CITY OF WELL-DESERVED WIN

Monk's Goals Schemed by Sperrin

The second half of this Southern League game at St. James's Park, Exeter, was well advanced when Davey, the home centre-half, and Ellwood, the City's inside left, jumped together for a high ball. Their heads met. Both fell and lay prone. Davey quickly recovered after the trainer's attention, but Ellwood was carried off on a stretcher by St. John Ambulance men. An S.O.S. brought a doctor to the dressing room, where several stitches were inserted in a forehead gash. Within 15 minutes Ellwood pluckily went into action again, but this time on the left wing. Kay moving to the inside position. The score at that time was 2-2, and in the remaining minutes the home team went all out to snatch what would have been an ill-deserved victory, for Guildford had been by far the better side. They were stronger in every de- partment, especially in the first half, when they might have sealed the issue had they taken advantage of scoring opportunities. One gilt-edged chance came the City's way just before the interval, when they were leading 2-1.

Kay neatly beat Blood, the home left back, and placed his centre at Ellwood's feet. In- stead of steadying himself, the inside left tried a first-timer, and skied the ball high over the bar. It was his one mistake in a game in which he had given a sparkling display. Chief attacking honours, however, went to Sperrin, who was easily the best and most dangerous forward on the field. He paved the way for each of Guildford's goals. It was not long after the start that he wriggled his way through on the right. beating several defenders before centring. Hoyle came out and gathered, lost possession, and  in a flash MONK whipped the ball into an empty net. The City's lead was short-lived, how- ever. Ranson, probably troubled by the sun, miskicked, and SMART, the home centre forward, fastening on to the ball, had no difficulty in slipping it past Hales.

There was no doubt about Guildford's superiority, and it came as no surprise when In they scored a second goal. Again Sperrin was the architect. He put a perfect pass across to MONK, who took it in his stride, and banged the ball into the net almost before Hoyle had moved to intercept.

It was a great goal, and the City continued to pile on the pressure until the interval. The only goal of the second half came from a penalty kick, 'taken by W. FALION. The award was made against Wilkins for hands, and, al- though the City protested, Referee H. W. Sennington adhered to his decision. In summerlike weather, and on a ground which was in excellent condition, a fast pace was maintained throughout. Each team adopted "open order tactics, but  Guildford had much the better combination. Wilkins, who moved from right right half to displace Blackman in the centre, allowed the home centre forward little rope, and Collier was an outstanding left half, Little fault could be found with Gilson and Ranson, but Hales, al- though beaten only by the spot kick. was uncertain when the home team exterted pressure in the closing stages. He had some difficulty in clearing from a couple of corners, which he need not have conceded, and it seemed prob- able that he would have been beaten just before the end had the home team had a marksman.

About 2,000 spectators saw the game.

Teams
Guildford City.-
Hales; Ranson, Gilson; Ever- leigh, Wilkins, Collier: Lewer, Sperrin, Monk, Ellwood, Kay.

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