CITY SCORE THREE TIMES BUT LOSE.

FORWARDS GOOD WORK ALL IN VAIN.
Saturday, December 17th 1949.

The scoring of three goals ought to be a high enough premium to in sure against defeat. But not where Exeter City are concerned! Smith and company shot three into the back of the Palace net, but all their good work was in vain because Exeter, slow in meeting the ball, and weak in the tackle, capitulated five times, and made their opponents look a lot better than they were in fact.

CRYSTAL PALACE 5 (Blackman, Kurz 2, Mulheron, Howells)
EXETER CITY 3 (Smith, Greenwood, Regan)

Half-time Palace 3 City 1.
Attendance 15,000.

Palace:- Graham; Delaney, Murphy; Chase, Watson, Ross; Blackshaw, Mulheron, Kurz, Rooke, Howells.
Exeter City: Hoyle; Johnstone, Clark; Fallon, Davey, Powell; Harrower, Smart, Smith, Greenwood, Regan.

Kurz, a veteran who has lost pace with the passing of the years, has had no easier game this season. He found progress easy through the unguarded middle of the spacious Selhurst Park pitch. Howells, who is a nippy young outside-left, was able to satisfy his roaming lust, and be a constant menace because he was allowed too much freedom. And in the second half Blackshaw on the other wing shone because he was not marked properly. The result "Crystal Palace 5 Exeter City 3" is another instalment of the serial which began months ago, and can fittingly be entitled "Bad defence loses points."

Friendly
CITY RESERVES 6
BRISTOL AND DISTRICT LEAGUE 0.

Exeter City Reserves had matters their own way against Bristol and District in the friendly match at St James's Park. McClelland 4, Rew, and Murphy scored for the Reserves.
Team:- Singleton; Warren, Doyle; Hutchings, Carter, Squires; Greenaway, Rew, Mitchell, McClelland, Murphy.

Transfer News  

• RAY GODDARD SIGNS FOR EXETER CITY. 
• RECORD TRANSFER FEE PAID FOR ARGYLE HALF BACK. 

Wednesday, December 21st 1949.

Exeter City paid their biggest-ever transfer fee (£6,000) today and signed Ray Goddard, centre-half and former captain of Plymouth Argyle. The deal was completed by Mr Jack Orchard, director, and Mr G. Roughton, manager. Goddard was on the Argyle's open-to-transfer list at his own request, made the day after Plymouth had secured Chisholm of Sheffield United for the centre-half position. He has been given the captaincy of the Grecians and will lead the side against Watford at St James's Park next Saturday. Goddard was transferred to the Argyle from Chelsea in the summer of 1948. Last season his youth and vigour made good the gap caused by the departure of the veteran John Oakes, and he was the regular first team centre-half and captain. He was only 17 years old when he joined his first club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, with whom he remained until joining the R.A.F. After some matches for the Services' Representative team in India Goddard was posted back to England and played in the Transport Command side of the R.A.F. He was transferred to Chelsea in 1945 and played many fine games for the Pensioners at wing-half and full back. It was when he joined Plymouth that he was converted into a centre-half. His record with the Argyle is 43 Second Division appearances.