Saturday, August 21st 1948.

EXETER CITY 5 (Johnston, Regan 3, Smart)
NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 (Fowler)

Half-time City 3 Northampton 0.

Attendance 9,586,
receipts £687. 2s. 6d.

Not for years has an Exeter attack possessed such pace, power, and penetration as Ron Johnston and his henchmen had today. These City forwards pulverised the Cobblers' defence. In a devastating display of attacking football none did better than Regan, who was speedy and resourceful and led the scoring with three goals. Johnston made a 100 percent debut, being the leader of the line in the true sense and the scorer of the opening goal.

EXETER CITY Hoyle Johnstone Rowe Bartholomew Gibson Walker Hutchings Smart Johnston Mackay Regan

NORTHAMPTON TOWN Williams Smalley Aldridge Lowery James Coley Roberts Smith Freiman Hughes Fowler

Apart from a spell in the first half when the Cobblers threatened to make a fight for the points the Exeter defence had a very easy time. The visitors' defence was always outclassed when the Exeter forwards got going.

Southern League
DARTFORD 1
EXETER CITY RESERVES 2.


"If this is your reserve team, then the first eleven must be exceptional." -These are the words of an exiled City supporter who saw Exeter' Southern League team win at Dartford. 

He added that Jeffery was the man of the match, and had a good word for Smith, who was too nippy and clever for Turner, the old Charlton centre-half, Powell  pleased and so did the full-backs Warren and Clarke, behind whom Singleton gave a flawless display. The Reserves' victory was a fitting reward for a team below strength through injuries and still further handicapped by some hard knocks sustained during the game, writes our Dartford correspondent.

Fallon was never more than a passenger during the second half. he having sustained a shoulder injury. After Walker gave Dartford the lead in two minutes the City defence was inclined to panic under pressure. Singleton alone denied Dartford further success. But when Exeter settled down they always looked the better side and after Smith had equalized in 28 minutes they were never in danger.

Smith a leader with ideas, was always outstanding: Jeffery (whose winner was a clever goal) also had a good day. Half-back superiority. however, was the secret of Exeter's success. They gave the Dartford attack little scope.


City team:- Singleton; Warren, Clark; Evans, Coles, Powell; Fallon, Cutting, Smith, Jeffery, Grant.

Scorers: Smith and Jeffery.