ECFC 1-3 Reading
Scorers: Smith (pen)
Attendance: 11116

BETTER SIDE WON, BLACKMAN GEM
By NOMAD

Heavy rain before lunch kept hundreds of country customers away from the City and Reading match at St. James's Park to-day, but there was a late rush and the gate looked to be the biggest since the opening day of the season.
Leaden skies remained as a reminder of an afternoon more in keeping with mid-November than late Autumn. The crowd did not number more than 5,000 with just under half an hour to go to the kick off. While the City's team, unchanged from that which defeated Argyle last week, played as advertised, Reading made two late alterations. Norman Dodgin, son of the Fulham manager. and a former Newcastle United half back, was replaced by McLean while Hutton came in at inside-right for Brooks.

The Line-Up
City: Singleton: Doyle, Rowe: Fal lon, Goddard, Davey: Harrower, Smart, Smith, Lynn McClelland.
Reading-McBride: Moyse, Kinsell: McLean, Brice, Johnston; Simpson, J. Hutton, Blackman, Davidson, Parker.

Referee.-W. J. Edwards, Yeovil.

Only six members of to-day's teams. played in the corresponding match last season. They were Doyle, who led the City attack on that occasion, Rowe, Davey and McClelland, of Exeter; and Brice and Blackman, of Reading. Exeter kicked off, and there were early thrills at the Reading end, where a low shot from McClelland was turned around the post for a corner.

Visitors Extended
McClelland's flag kick, grandly placed, was headed by Lynn and the ball sped across the goalmouth and just wide with McBride beaten. This was a sensational escape for Reading, whose defence continued to be sorely tried until Brice relieved pressure with powerful clearances. When the visiting attack did get moving. Doyle was in position to intercept before any real danger threatened. Brilliant combination by the City forwards, in which Lynn and the Wingmen excelled, kept the visit. ing defence fully extended, and Reading certainly owed much to Brice, their tall centre-half. Brice was getting everything in the air and was a big stumbling block to the City.

In only two phases were Exeter on top. The City opened brightly, and the quality of their play indicated that the Berkshire foe would be beaten. But once the Reading machine had warmed up into top gear the Grecians had to play second fiddle for a long spell until near the end of the contest. Blackman, who scored two goals, is the best centre-forward to be seen in the Third Division this season, and he may be king-pin among the Section leaders of attack now that Tommy Lawton has moved up to a higher sphere of competition. Blackman has all it takes to be a menace to any defence. He is quick off the mark, gathers the ball well and knows how to use it. He also has a stunning shot with either foot and can head the ball properly. Smith scored to give Exeter a lead which was surrendered immediately. BLACKMAN shot an equalising goal after a brief bombardment in which several attempts were blocked. The score accurately reflected the first half exchanges. 

Half-time:
EXETER CITY 1-1 READING 

A corner to the City was not im proved upon and Reading combining neatly, looked the better team-better knit and faster. Hutton missed his second good opening of the match when he headed Parker's centre over, after the winger had given Goddard the slip. Working over to the left, Smith pulled the ball back in face of a strong Reading challenge but it was. the same old story. None of his col leagues had moved up in support. McBride afterwards punched Mc Clelland's shot into the air and a defender completed the clearance.
Blackman Again
Then Reading regained command. and the home defence lacked its normal steadiness against a fast moving, purposeful attack. It came as no surprise when BLACKMAN gave Reading the lead 12 minutes after the restart. A great goal it was! Blackman, meeting a cross from the left, shot low and first-time with the left foot, and the ball rocketed into the corner of the net. Singleton was not given a sight of the ball. Exeter were all at sixes and sevens at this stage and Reading. piling on the pressure, might easily have increased their lead. A belated City rally came at threequarter time and Harrower's hard, driving centre was missed by three other City forwards. Too much fiddling was Exeter's trouble. The home side were nothing like so direct or determined as their rivals. Though Exeter tried hard, their forwards were not good enough to beat the strong Reading defence. McBride saved from Smart and Smith, but a few minutes from the end SIMPSON scored Reading's third goal with a shot which went between Sngleton's legs.
Result:
Exeter City 1-3 Reading 


Friendly
Dawlish v City Reserves 
In recognition of the Dawlish club's last season find, Digby, who was signed by Exeter City, an open date for both clubs was filled with a friendly game be tween Dawlish Chiefs and Exeter City Reserves, on the seaside ground. Dawlish fielded their Exeter and District League unbeaten Premier Division side: City Reserves in cluded Clarke, Warren, Regan, Dun lop and Greenwood, with Digby playing on the left-wing. Digby found Dawlish's right-back Leach on form and seldom got clear, and the Dawlish defence held the City forwards with good covering. Dawlish were close to scoring when Clarke headed clear a strong shot from Sandys.

Offside Trap

City Reserves forwards, fell into the offside trap easily, and Short was often flagged for offside. When Cann had to leave the fleld with a cut eye City Reserves scored through DUNLOP, who hooked the ball past Taylor from a free-kick Just outside the penalty area. Dawlish fought back and Hole and Woolacott, on the right-wing initiated many attacks that were the dangerous. Hole skimmed crossbar and from a Woolacott centre Avery headed over from under the bar. Leaman held the young Exeter centre-forward Blackmore, who had one good scoring chance but shot wide.
Half-time:
DAWLISH 0-1 CITY RESERVES
In the second half the City Res were the more dangerous, but the home defence kept their goal intact. Shooting was poor from the visiting forwards, of whom Greenwood was the more dangerous. Sandys, for Dawlish, had a strong header turned round the post by Mayne.
Result:
DAWLISH 0 EXETER CITY RES 1

Wednesday, October 4th 1950.

MEDIOCRE SHOW BY CITY RESERVES. BEDFORD GET THEIR FIRST "AWAY" POINT FOR TWELVE MONTHS.

Exeter City Reserves, who are usually a team worth watching, were in their home match with Bedford Town a side without much life, and they could do no better than draw with a team which has not picked up an "away" point for nearly a year.

EXETER CITY RESERVES 1(Dare)
BEDFORD TOWN 1. (Wallbanks)

Half-time City 1 Bedford 0.
Attendance 1,093.

Exeter City:- G.Lear; Warren, Clark; Hutchings, Carter, Greenwood; Short, Smyth, Dare, Greenaway, Regan.
Bedford: Coleman; Potter, Hayes; Capstick, Turner, Comerford; Wallbanks, Hall, Cumming, O'Hagan, Moorhouse.

Two goals were scored. Dare gave Exeter the lead with a close range low shot 30 minutes after the start. Wallbanks netted an equaliser near the end, tapping the ball into an empty net after Hall's cross drive had beaten Graham Lear. Bedford might have easily come off the field with two points, for a minute after Wallbanks had scored O'Hagan, formerly of Exeter, shot against an upright, but the ball came out again. The City Reserves should have made the game safe in the first half, but several chances were missed, including a penalty from which Dare shot again an upright. Both teams finished with ten men. Cumming, another former City player, who led the Bedford attack, went off with a pulled thigh muscle midway through the first half. Smyth suffered a dislocated collar-bone 25 minutes from time.

• REW NOW AT GLASTONBURY.

Exeter City's former reserve centre-forward, Ronald Rew, is playing for Glastonbury this season, and still scoring goals. Last Saturday he got four for his club against Bideford in the F. A. Cup, first round, qualifying competition.