Nottingham Forest 2-2 Exeter City 
Scorers: Regan, Mackay
Attendance: 24240

CITY'S FIRST BEST FORM
Fine Goalkeepers

By NOMAD

Exeter City, with Fallon at inside-right and Mackay at inside-left, began promise-right and clash with the Third Division leaders, Nottingham Forest, to-day, but were held up for offside four times in the early stages. Fast, end-to-end exchanges thrilled a crowd of more than 20,000, in fine but dull weather.

Teams:
Notts Forest: Walker: Whare. Thomas: Morley, Gager. Burkitt; Scott, Johnson, Ardron, Capel, Collindrige.

Exeter City: Singleton: Clark, Rowe: Harrower. Doyle, Davey: Mc Clelland, Fallon, Smith, Mackay, Regan,

Referee: R. Parraft, Horsham.

Attacking in the first minute, the City threatened the Forest defence with a dashing raid, which, however, petered out when McClelland shot over. Changing the scene of activities. the City raided on the left, and Regan was often prominent in the early minutes. When the Forest attacked. Single ton held a hard drive from Capel, and afterwards the City defence successfully crowded out Ardron when the home centre-forward was seeking a chance to break through. Then came another City spurt, and McClelland, weaving into the centre, beat three defenders only for his parting shot to strike the bar and rebound to safety.

Frights-And Goal
An even bigger fright came the way of the Forest when Mackay, eluding the offside trap, went through on his own.
It looked all odds on a goal as the inside-left ran to within shooting range, but the ball bounced awk wardly and his shot bumped wide of a gaping net.
The City were playing their best football of the season, and a quick tackling defence gave the Forest no opportunity until Singleton dropped the ball when charged by Ardron. The first corner of the match re suited, but it was soon cleared, and Exeter, replying with plenty of dash and no little skill. went ahead 16 minutes after the start.
Attempting to check a pass down the middle, the Forest defenders once more resorted to the offside trap, but Fallon beat it and raced through on his own.
His first shot was blocked. The second was miraculously saved by Walker. But REGAN was there to get the rebound, for the third time and score the opening goal for City. The lead was almost surrendered in the next few minutes, and only a magnificent piece of work by Singleton saved the situation. The goalkeeper flung himself to the left and fisted Collindridge's hard drive around the upright. Another fruitless corner to the Forest was followed by an Exeter breakaway, but nothing tangible resulted. Then the Forest were back at the other end and Singleton had to dash nearly to the edge of the penalty area to kick the ball away almost from the foot of the onrushing Scott. Doyle and Singleton did veoman work at this stage and the City recovered from their anxious period to force a corner.

Crowd Excited

Regan placed the kick dangerously, but the ball swung and dropped just beyond the far post and out of play. Shots from McClelland and Collindridge kept the crowd excited. Walker saved well from the Exeter winger, while the subsequent effort by Collindridge rose inches above the crossbar. Exeter were unlucky to lose Fallon, who limped from the field. But even during his absence the team had plenty of fight, and the Forest had another shock when Smith raced through at top speed to test Walker with a shot from just inside the penalty area. Again the honours were with Walker, who made a great save, diving almost full length to turn the ball away with one hand. It was cut-and-thrust football, and the still depleted City did not lose the lead until Capel went through and passed to JOHNSON, who beat Singleton from close quarters
Regan, playing with his old fire and showing a useful turn of speed constantly threatened the Forest, and Exeter's hopes revived when Fallon returned before the interval. Fast even exchanges continued and both goals survived dramatically. A shot from Ardron was knocked on to the bar by Singleton, and at the other end Harrower, who had moved up in support of his forwards, almost caught Walker napping with a cunning low cross-shot,

Kind To Forest
The golkeeper could not clear his lines properly, but the danger passed when MacKay shot outside from no more than eight yards range. Smith afterwards shot just wide of a gaping net. Another let-off for the Forest! The game continued to be a fast and entertaining spectacle. The valiant  Singleton was a secondity casualty, when, in making a flying leap to fist away a stinging shot from Capel, he fell awkardly on his shoulder. A big cheer greeted the goal keeper's recovery. Half-time arrived with the City richly deserving to be on level terms. Their wing half-backs had given grand support to their attack, and the forwards were every bit as good as their Forest counterparts. Indeed, I've seen no better display since the war than the City were giving agains this strong opposition today. Half-time 
NOTTS FOREST 1-1 EXETER CITY

Thomas had to pass back to his goalkeeper to stem Exeter's opening. raid after the interval, but the City came again, and a smooth down-the centre pass by Fallon was the prelude to a great bid on the part of the City.  Smith was on to the ball in a flash, but Gager, who had doubled back, tackled the forward as he was in the act of shooting. The ball rose, and Walker was fortunate in being in the right place to gather and clear a dangerous situation.

Fraction Wide
Clever combined play in which Mackay, Regan and Davey excelled, had the Forest defence worried again, and Walker made a clever interception when he came out to gather the winger's centre, In the next Exeter attack Regan was fouled just outside the penalty area, and from the free kick Mackay hooked the ball a fraction wide with Walker beaten. With the Forest defence inclined to take matters too casually. Smith worried Thomas into conceding a free-kick. The Forest were soon at the other end, and Burkitt's quick pass to Collindridge was fraught with danger. The outside-left was away and the City defence was momentarily too far upfield. But Davey doubled back and headed behind for a corner kick the only thing he could do to check a menacing situation.

Strong Defence

Strong defensive measures by the City countered the now desperate Forest side, and then McClelland led a raid which nearly regained the lead for Exeter. The outside-right deceived Burkitt and then cut inside the challenging Thomas, and his hard cross-shot sped no more than a foot over the crossbar. The ever-watchful Singleton was not to be caught unawares when, in the thick of a goalmouth skirmish, Ardron headed in low and unexpectedly. Singleton fell and caught the ball on the goal-line-a magnificent save in a game notable for accomplished work by both goalkeepers. Exeter had a fortunate break just afterwards. Norley, who had advanced until he was for the time being a sixth forward, shot from the edge of the penalty area, and the ball, swerving hit the top of the crossbar before bouncing behind. Forest were pressing hard now, but again Exeter replied with one of those lightning raids which had several times looked like bringing them a goal. From Mackay the ball went to Regan, who drew his man before lobbing a cunning pass to McClelland. The movement had the defence slithering. and the crowd were
relieved when McClelland's first time shot missed the near post by inches, with Walker beaten.

Level In Dark
In the gathering gloom it was impossible to follow the play near the far touch-line, and the Forest were wisely changing their tactics and giving the ball plenty of boot, Sixteen minutes from the end the Forest forced a corner, and Scott returned the ball for COLLINDRIDGE to score. Within five minutes the City were on level terms once more. Walker had fisted over a shot from Mackay, but Regan's flag-kick landed in the goalmouth and there was a brief sharp skirmish. Walker appeared to drop the ball, and MACKAY was there to force it into the net, For a time it was touch and go whether the game could be finished, but play continued, and the match resulted:

NOTTS FOREST 2-2 EXETER CITY

COMMENTS

This was Exeter's best display for several years, and they earned their point against the strong Forest side.
The City were every bit as good as the Third Division leaders and everyman in the side pulled his weight. Singleton was brilliant in goal, and the defence as a whole showed no signs of wilting under the Forest's strong pressure. Fallon's inclusion at inside-right strengthened the attack, but the best
player in the line was Mackay. The wingers, Regan and McClelland, also played a prominent part, and Smith was a persistent leader.

Attendance: 24,240. 

• The Southern League match between the City Reserves and Chingford at St James's Park was cancelled, Chingford having disbanded.