CHRISTMAS-TIDE FOOTBALL: CITY'S DEFENCE TIGHTER.

THREE POINTS FROM SIX SLIGHTLY IMPROVES LEAGUE POSITION.

• December 24th: Exeter City 3 Watford 1 at St James's Park.
• December 26th: Exeter City 1 Southend United 1 at St James's Park.
• December 27th: Southend United 1 Exeter City 0 at Southend.

The most satisfactory feature of the game against Watford apart from the scoring of three goals was the greater steadiness and tightening up of the City defence following the introduction at centre-half of Ray Goddard, who was making his debut as a "Grecian." Greenwood scored for Exeter in the first half and Smart and Fallon added a goal each after the change of ends. Cumner, a former Arsenal winger and a Welsh international, replied for Watford.

The game, the first of the Christmas encounters, was watched by 7,565 people.
The teams were:
City: Hoyle; Johnstone, Clark; Fallon, Goddard, Powell; Harrower, Smart, Smith, Greenwood, Regan.
Watford: Morton; Eggleston, Harper; Paton, Oliver, Drury; Hartburn, Thomas, Worthington, Brown, Cumner.

Referee:- Mr B.M.Griffiths, of Newport.

Southern League:-
Torquay United Res. v Exeter City Res.

In the absence of Reid, who is on the injured list, Kovandzich led Torquay United Reserves' attack in the Southern League local Derby match with Exeter City Reserves at Plainmoor. Thomas came in at inside-right and Hobbs, a young Plymouth amateur, figured on the left wing. Bury came in for Target at right- back. Exeter made one late change Davey replacing Johnstone at left- back. Both sides soon settled to fast, snappy exchanges, and play swung from end to end, clever approaches - probing deeply into the respective -defences. In the fifth minute the Exeter goalkeeper, Singleton, kept his charge intact at the expense of a corner when he flung himself across the goalmouth to push away a shot from Tiddy, who had received from Thomas. At the other end Milton, the young Brixham amateur, comfortably saved a lob from the Exeter centre-forward, Rew. A few minutes later Milton deserved the appreciation of the spectators when he dashed yards out, dived full length and took the ball from McClelland's feet.

EXETER SCORE FIRST.

Exeter took the lead following a corner kick taken by Mitchell in the 17th minute. The ball sailed across nicely and McClelland nodded it to the feet of MURPHY, who fired in a first-timer "along the carpet" which gave Milton no chance. The Torquay goal was saved a few minutes later by centre-half McGuinness when he kicked off the line after the ball had been put over Milton, who was fully ex- tended by the Exeter leader. Bury saved a dangerous move by Rew in a subsequent Exeter attack. Milton made a splendid save from McClelland in the 28th minute, rolling over in the effort with the ball safely clasped to his chest.

ANOTHER GOAL

Exeter, who were having things much their own way, now in- creased their lead in the 30th minute when MITCHELL fired in after accepting the ball from Rew. Exeter continued to press home their attacks in methodical fashion and the Torquay defence came in for a heavy pounding. Torquay broke away a few minutes before half-time, however, and reduced arrears. Kovandzich headed down a centre from Hobbs and NORTHCOTT, hitting the ball first-time, found the net with a 30 yards drive. This success seemed to have a tonic effect on Torquay, who livened up considerably. Tiddy headed into Singleton's hands just before the half-time whistle.

Half-time:
Torquay U. Res. 1-2  Exeter City Res.

Kovandzich made a nice dribble down the middle after the interval, but could only shoot tamely into Singleton's hands when tackled by two Exeter defenders. Torquay were coming into the picture more often this half, the forwards hammering hard at an Exeter defence which gave little away.

CLOSE SHAVE
The Exeter goal had a close shave in the 55th minute-Hobbs and Kovandzich went near from close in and then the ball was scrambled away from the line by two defenders. In a subsequent Torquay raid Kovandzich sent in a terrific drive which scraped the wrong side of an upright. This was a lucky escape for Exeter. MCCLELLAND increased Exeter's lead in the 74th minute. Northcott shook the crossbar with a terrific drive five minutes from the end.

Result:

Torquay U. Res 1-3 Exeter City Res.