Saturday, January 6th 1951.

F.A.CUP 3RD ROUND:

GRIMSBY v CITY.

Half a dozen goals, as many near misses, and a grand display by two determined teams made today's thrill packed Cup-tie between Grimsby Town and Exeter City one that will long be remembered by the loyal 250 City supporters who made the tedious journey to the cheerless North-east. From the first kick until the last, it was cut and thrust football in a match featured by dramatic fluctuations. Three times the lead changed hands. The level state of the scoring at the end of ninety minutes did neither side an injustice, for while Grimsby Town were a constant menace in a hectic final phase, the City's methodical play created the more favourable impression before the interval.

GRIMSBY TOWN 3 EXETER CITY 3.

Three minutes of the game had gone when Squires cunningly schemed an opening. In midfield he brought the ball under instant control, manoeuvred for position and sent a long pass out to Lloyd. A long diagonal centre came in, to which no City defender moved before it was too late. Exeter's rearguard was beaten by Mackenzie, who ran more than ten yards to head Lloyd's centre into the far corner of the net. It was a bad start for the City, but they recovered in a magnificent style. Half a dozen raids were repelled with difficulty, but a seventh brought an equalising goal against a defence which had no answer to a snappy combined movement in which Smith, McClelland and Mackay were the principal players. Smith lost no time in passing the ball to McClelland, and before the Town rearguard could close their ranks the goal-hungry Mackay had driven McClelland's low centre into the net. That was in the tenth minute.

THREE CASUALTIES.
Both goals were constantly threatened, but it was not until sight of the interval that Mackay played a real captain's part by going forward and darting into the thick of a fierce goalmouth skirmish to score from Regan's corner kick. The City merited their half-time lead, and though they lost some of their bite afterwards there was excuse for the decline because Mackay suffered an ankle injury which reduced the formerly expert inside left to a hobbling passenger on the right wing. Clark, kicked on the calf, and Smith, whose foot troubled him, were other Exeter casualties, and the effect of these misfortunes could be seen by the manner in which Grimsby gradually gained a territorial advantage. Grimsby levelled the score through Bloomer and the City regained it through McClelland. There were only five minutes remaining when an all-out Grimsby attack ended with Scotson shooting a spectacular equalising goal.

GRIMSBY TOWN:- Turnbull; Mouncer, Taylor; Scotson, Duthie, Barratt; Lloyd, Squires, Bloomer, Mackenzie, Maddison.
REFEREE: Mr A.Bond, of Fulham.
EXETER CITY:- Singleton; Warren, Clark; Fallon, Doyle, Davey; McClelland, Lynn, Smith, Mackay, Regan.

ATTENDANCE:- 13,233.

REPLAY:-
At Exeter on Wednesday, kick-off 2 p.m.

Southern League 
Exeter City Reserves 2 (Short, Dare) Llanelly 0.

Team:- Salter; Johnstone, Rowe; Dunlop, Carter, Hutchings; Short, Greenaway, Dare, Greenwood, Digby.

Attendance 3,202,receipts £110.10s.6d.