GIFT GOAL COST EXETER THE POINTS

CITY A BETTER SIDE IN SECOND HALF

Saturday, November 5th 1949.

BRISTOL CITY 1 (Rodgers)
EXETER CITY. 0

Half-time 1-0  Attendance 18,880. Referee: Mr R.C.Carter, of Swindon.

Bristol City:- Coombs; Guy, Mitchelson; Bicknell, Roberts, Edwards; Boxshall, Lowrie, Rodgers, White, Rudkin.
Exeter City:- Hoyle; Johnstone, Rowe; Doyle, Davey, Greenwood; Hutchings, Smart, Smith, McClelland, Murphy.

The only goal of a keen and often entertaining West-country "Derby" at Ashton Gate was a gift from Exeter City to Bristol City, and it was made in the 22nd minute. The Bristol left wing attacked, and White drove in a low slant-wise shot to which Hoyle fell forward. There appeared to be no danger. Hoyle had the ball well covered, but allowed it to rebound from his chest to the waiting Rodgers. A low return from the Bristol centre-forward had little pace behind it and Rowe, standing on the goal-line should have kicked clear. He lifted a leg for the expected bounce which never came and the ball passed beneath his foot and into the net. Exeter's best efforts were delayed until the last 20 minutes. Smart and McClelland then had the home defence in all manner of tangles, but nothing went right in front of goal. Murphy, Exeter's new signing from Stirling Albion, had an unlucky debut. A pulled thigh muscle in the early stages reduced him to be a limping passenger for the rest of the game. Murphy, however, tried to use the ball intelligently and his signing may solve one of the City's problems. To avoid a clash of colours Exeter turned out today in blue jerseys and white knickers.

Southern League

CITY RESERVES 5
(Greenaway 2, Rew, Walker, Harrower)
HASTINGS 1.

DEFENCE WAS UNDER FIRE

Hastings started off in top gear in their match with Exeter City Reserves at Exeter on Saturday, and an early goal appeared to be the match-winning Allip they needed. Exeter were not to be denied, however, and the visitors' defence came under heavy fire from the home team's fast-moving resource- ful forwards.

Hastings hopes faded fast as Exeter got goal after goal, and by the interval the home team had gained a sound lead of 4-1. The exchanges worked out more evenly in the second half, with Hastings fighting back grimly, but ultimately Exeter made victory doubly sure with a fifth goal.

The visitors began with some neat constructive play, and Ellwood's goal ☐ resulted from a brilliant forward movement which had the Exeter defence running the wrong way. In- comprehensibly Hastings could do nothing right for the remainder of this half, and it was only for the last 20 minutes of the second half that the -forwards moved more in unison again. The scoring potentialities of Moore remained largely unexploited.

The two wingers, Crowther and Ell- wood, were occasionally in the picture with sporadic bursts, but the soundest form was produced by Booth, who worked valiantly to get the best out of his colleagues. He was tireless, and one dazzling run of his in the first half would have produced a goal but for the brilliance of Singleton- deposed this day from the Exeter first team custodianship by Hoyle-who parried his shot.

Stan Risdon, the former Exeter City player-he began his league career with the Grecians in the early thirties --was the pick of the half-back line, and Walker, the Exeter centre-forward -recently "converted " from half- back-rarely got the better of him. Riddell and Rogers had a gruelling game at back. and it was the sound- ness of their defence in the second half that kept Exeter in check. Workman did many good things in goal to atone for a few mistakea.

Two of Exeter's goals were scored by their newly-signed local amateur, Albert Greenaway, playing on the right wing. After Walker had headed the equaliser following a free kick, Greenaway scored a smart goal to give Exeter the lead. Rew who hails from Bristol, got the third, and then Greenaway from 30 yards out returned a bail straight into the Hastings ret, with Workman out of position.

Another long-range effort concluded the scoring-but that was five minutes from time, when Harrower beat a couple of opponents before shooting through from 20 yards.

Exeter Team:- Singleton; Warren, Clark; Squires, Walker, Powell; Greenaway, Rew, Carter, Harrower, Mitchell.