September 15th 1948.

ALDERSHOT 1 (McNicol)
EXETER CITY 2(Regan, Harrower)

Attendance 6,500.
Half-time Aldershot 0 City 0.

Although Exeter City missed a penalty in the first minute of the return match at Aldershot, they were not discouraged, and holding the initiative for the greater part of the game, won deservedly.

ALDERSHOT: Reynolds Rogers Sheppard Sherwood Rowland Cropley
Hobbs Sears Rawcliffe McNicol Sinclair

EXETER CITY: Hoyle Clark Rowe
Bartholomew Walker Evans Dymond Mackay Smith Harrower Regan

In a dramatic opening Exeter attacked from the kick-off and Cropley handled inside the penalty area. Bartholomew, however, shot straight at Reynolds, who parried the ball low and cleared. The opening goal, fifteen minutes after the interval, was scored by Regan, who beat Reynolds at the second attempt after Mackay flicked on Dymond's centre to make the opening. Exeter increased their lead ten minutes from the end, a brilliant high shot by Harrower from a narrow angle finding the net well out of the reach of Reynolds. Not until the last moments in failing light were Aldershot able to beat the City's resolute defence. Then Rawcliffe scored following a corner taken by McNicol.