ECFC 0-0 Nottingham Forest

Attendance: 11680

CITY HOLD ARTISTIC FOREST TO A DRAW 

Clarke Misses A Penalty At Park

By Nomad

HEAVY rain during the night and morning left pools of water on the playing pitch at St. James's Park to-day, when Nottingham Forest made their first visit, The ground was drying out rapidly, however, and, though heavy, was in fair condition as the kick-off time approached.
City were unchanged, while the Tore had Hutchinsen for McCall at
Line up

City: Singleton: Johnstone, Clark: Fallon, Goddard, Davey Mackay Smart Smith, Greenwood, McClelland

Forest: Walker Whare Hutchinson Anderson, Gager, Morley: Scott, Love, Ardron, Capel, Kaile.

Borrowed Coin
There was an early laugh for the crowd. The referee, Mr A. Bond, forgot to bring a coin with him, and he had to borrow, penny from Linacre, the Forest twelfth man, before the captains could toss.

Kicking off towards the big bank p end the City made ground on the lett, ang timith's centre hit the out side of the near upright, the ball re bounding for a goal kick.

Anderson next initiated a Forest raid with perfect pass, low and diaconally to the watting Kalle. The winger transferred inside, but Singleton came out and cleared. The balance of play was with the Forest, and Singleton twice had to deal with shots from Love. The goalkeeper showed grand judgment in fisting out a swerving cross shot and was equally safe when Scott drove in powerfully from long range.

Missed Penalty
The first real scoring chance, however, came to Exeter 23 minutes after the start Mackay, threading his way towards the goal, had the Forest defence momentarily entangled. He passed to Smart who, sandwiched by Hutchinson and Gager, fell headlong a few yards inside the penalty area. Mr. Bond unhesitatingly pointed to the penalty spot. To the dis appointment of the big crowd, Clark shot a foot wide of Walker's left-hand upright. "Offside" tacties foiled both attacks, but the Forest gained an unexpected advantage when & clearance kick hit the referee and rebounded to the unmarked Scott.The winger took deliberate aim and drove towards the far corner, but it was poetic justice that the ball sped inches on the wrong side of the post.

In Goddard's Grip

Goddard, playing storming defensive game, was the master of Ardron. Easily the most dangerous Forest forward was the well-built and classy Capel, a brilliant ball player, who found the heavy going very much to his liking. It was Capel who went through and shot narrowly wide. Johnstone and Clark were giving little away in their frequent duels with the Forest wingers, and the game was fast resolving itself into a test of stamina as much as skill.

Walker Won
Strong Forest pressure was effectively countered, and Exeter, breaking away just before the interval, almost scored. The ball came across the field from the right, and Walker had to advance to almost outside his penalty area as McClelland came in. The winger looked to have won the race, but was unable to force his way past the goalkeoper. The ball ran awkwardly for him, and Walker was able to get back and deal with the subsequent centre,
Half-time: CITY 0-0 FOREST

Goddard's powerful tackling was soon in evidence and he swiftly turned defence into attack by passing to McClelland who was penalised for an infringement. The crowd did not take kindly to the decision and the Forest got away with it, a second time when Smart was whistled up for offside-the nearest of near things.

City Pressure
Aided by the wind, City piled on the pressure and from Mackay's cross Gager kicked hurriedly to touch. From the second of two successive corners the ball came from McClelland to Fallon. The half back shot low, but
Hutchinson cleared from the goalline, Forest recovered and Love wasted a good chance, shooting over from an acute angle, when a centre to Ardron would have paid better.

Promising Switch
McClelland and MacKay changed places, and the beneficial effect was soon seen, for McClelland raced through on his own, to shoot low a fraction wide from just in side the penalty area. Gager afterwards conceded a corner when no danger threatened, and from Mackay's flag kick, Smith headed strongly for Walker to make. a great save. He fisted over with one hand, but the second corner produced no excitement. Ardron, shooting wide as Single ton advanced to narrow the angle. missed a golden opportunity. At the other end, Smith drove into the side netting.Forest combined stylishly at times, but finished badly, Capel "spooned" the ball over when standing almost beneath the cross-bar. The game ended in a whirl of ex citement as the City forwards, swarming around the Forest goal, made dramatic efforts in the last few minutes.

Result

EXETER CITY 0-0 NOTTINGHAM FOREST


COMMENTS

Although goalless this game was full of incident and was a hard struggle between well matched sides under gruelling conditions. The Forest were the more artistic in attack and their constructive play at times was of the highest class, due chiefly to the brilliant scheming of Capel. The City attack had no such out standing personality, but Smart and McClelland showed clever touches and were the chief danger to the Forest defence. Both teams were strong at centre half, Goddard, for the City, was a grand defensive pivot. Exeter's defence was steady. Singleton made no mistake and the fullbacks Johnston and Clark came through a severe test with credit.

Attendance 11,680.
Receipts £838 5s 6d.





KIDDERMINSTER  V. CITY RESERVES

SOUTHERN LEAGUE 
Exeter Reserves rearranged their attack for their visit to Kidderminster with Harrower and Hutchings forming the right-wing, and Rew moving to inside-left. Winning the toss. Exeter had a strong wind with them, but Kidderminster were soon on the attack and in the first minute Salter was fortunate to scramble away a shot from
Tatum. Keeping up their attack, Kidderminster were unlucky again when Mitchell got to a centre from Johnson. Shortly afterwards Tatum shot wide with only Salter to beat. Exeter forced the first corner, but it was wasted and when Rew tried a shot he was much too high, Kidderminster continued to dominate the exchanges and Salter saved well from Johnson, following this up by diving to the shot of Paton after Mitchell had broken through on the right. Exeter's first effort came when Harrower cut inside to shoot from 20 yards, but Crowther saved well. Salter was soon in action again, and did well to prevent a long shot by Mitchell finding the net. As the game progressed Exeter were enjoying more of the play, and following good shots from Rew and Rowe they should have taken the lead when Durrant shot over with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Half-time:
KIDDERMINSTER 0-0 EXETER RESERVES
Salter saved brilliantly from Hicklin's penalty kick, awarded when Rowe handled five minutes after the interval. Mitchell went through in the next minute, but was given off side, and only Salter prevented Kidderminster taking the lead.

Result
KIDDERMINSTER 0-0 CITY RESERVES

Thursday, March 2nd 1950. LOVELL'S ATHLETIC 5
EXETER CITY RESERVES 0.

For their Southern League match at Newport against Lovell's the City Reserves included at right half-back A.Whittle, an amateur who was offered a trial by Bradford Park Avenue but who signed for Exeter instead. He is also a musician who plays in the Black Watch band.

Lovell's:- Williams; Fisher, Edmunds; Evans, Clarke, Bye; Holland, Wood, Hodder, Griffiths, Noakes.
City Reserves:- K.Salter; Doyle, Rowe; A.Whittle, Carter, Squires; Mitchell, Harrower, Walker, Hutchings, Murphy.

Exeter spent so much time in defence that there was little opportunity to assess their attack. But in their occasional raids Harrower caused Lovell's some anxiety and Walker tried to bustle his way through the centre but found Clarke too good and too quick for him. At half-time the score was 1-0 in Lovell's favour, Griffiths having beaten Salter with a clever shot. The Welsh team monopolised the play after the interval and for most of the second half there were twenty-one players in the Exeter part of the field. Four times in this increasing onslaught the ball ended up in the City's net, goals coming at regular intervals from Hodder, Noakes, Holland, and Holland again.
Attendance 1,000.