Saturday, April 21st 1951,
at St James's Park.

FOREST AGAIN IN THEIR BEST FORM

Three Goals at Exeter in Eight Minutes

It was the case last season, a Nottingham side provided Exeter City to-day with their closing home game. On this occasion Forest were the visitors, and there was brilliant sunshine from a cloudless sky when they took the field, with Whare restored to the defence and Johnson to Inside-right. The wing half-backs were also changed over at the last minute.

Forest, who played in blue to avoid a clash of colours, restored Johnson to inside-right, and Whare recovered from injury, returned at full back. Another change was the switching of wing half-backs Morley and Burkitt, a last minute tactical move. City had three changes, Harrower moved to outside-right to allow Peter Fallon, a brother of Bill Fallon, the former Notts County player, to appear in the half-back line, while Smyth and McClelland were the newcomers to the attack.

Forest won the toss and played with the sun at their backs. It was soon evident that a light ball and bumpy pitch would trouble the teams. Exeter exerted immediate pressure, and Harrower receiving a fine pass from Fallon, got across a centre which Gager headed away. The danger was not properly cleared, and when the ball again came from the right, Walker punched away. Smyth got in a great shot which beat the keeper, but travelled just outside the far upright. When Forest relieved the pressure, Durkitt's attempt to find Collindridge failed. Exeter were supplying most of the football, and Whare made a smart clearance when Smyth was racing into position. Gager was a tower of strength in subsequent home pressure. When Burkitt held Harrower just over the half way line, Fallon centred the ball into the goal mouth where Smith connected with his head, but failed to beat Walker who cleared without difficulty.

Offside against McClelland held up the home side and led to Forest pressure, but so far Singleton had not been troubled.

A GOAL DISALLOWED.

So far there had been few thrills. Ardron was foiled by Doyle when in a promising position, and with the visitors playing better, Burkitt put in a high ball, Ardron bustling Singleton, who let it go into the net.instead of awarding a goal, the referee gave Exeter a free-kick, despite the protests of their opponents. After a brief visit by Exeter to the other end, Forest again had the ball in the home net, Johnson heading through, but time this the decision was offside. Exeter concentrated play almost exclusively on the right, where Harrower was showing up well in his accustomed position. In a duel with Thomas, he was awarded a free for a foul, but disappointed by being behind. The visitors deserved thd lead they gained after 25 minutes. Thomas found JOHNSON unmarked with a long clearance and the inside-right took the ball on a short distance before driving into the net out of the reach of Singleion. It was a splendidly obtained goal. Clever play by Morley put Forest on the attack, but Capel spoilt the move by over-elaboration. A mistake in the defence nearly let in Smyth, but Walker came out to narrow the angle and managed to turn the ball outside for a corner. This led to a hot assault on the Forest goal, and Thomas headed clear when Harrower got in a fine shot. The visitors became two up in 30 minutes. Johnstone made a faulty clearance with his head. Even then Doyle had a chance to clear, but he allowed ARDRON to dispossess him and to go on score with ease. Three minutes later, Forest were 3 up and it was the result of brilliant football.  After switching the focal point of attack from right to left, Capel gained possession, and as he swung the ball in front of goal, ARDRON, anticipating it nicely, left Singleton floundering with a good shot. Johnstone, the home right back, damaged his knee, and this caused a re-arrangement, Fallon dropping back into defence, with Harrower in the middle line and Johnstone on the right wing. Johnstone was soon in the wars again, and retired with a cut eye. A brief Exeter attack ended with off-side against Smith. Just after this, Collindridge was brought down in the penalty area, but appeals for a spot kick were refused. Capel got the ball in the net again just before the interval, and the offside decision against him seemed harsh, with a defender standing almost on the goal line. It made little difference however, for a minute from the interval Whate gave Ardron a grand pass, the centre-forward slipped it on to Johnson and the inside man netted his second and Forests fourth.
Half time 
EXETER CITY 0 NOTTM. FOREST 4

Exeter resumed their original formation for the start of the second half, and they were forced to defend. After a free kick for hands against a home defender had been cleared the home side made a brief visit to the Forest end where Mackay finished badly. Just afterwards he brought Walker to a good save with a header. Straight from this, Ardron broke away on his own but his long shot lacked power and in any event went wide. With the visitors so well in front the game had lost a lot of its sparkle. McCllelland spoiled some pretty approach work by Mackay by finishing badly. When the visitors next attacked Whare put the ball into the side net as Ardron was whistled offside. The game was held up when Fallon got a nasty kick in a duel with Collindridge, but after treatment he soon recovered. From the bounce up, Exeter went away, and Smith lobbed the ball over the top when well placed.

After breaking up a home attack Gager sent Ardron away and the centre-forward's step drive struck Johnstone and was diverted for a corner. Collindridge had two splendid drives cannon off defenders, and then in the next attack he brought Singleton to a clever save.

Forest went nap after 70 minutes when JOHNSON went through to beat Singleton from close range.
EXETER CITY 0

NOTTS FOREST 5 (Johnson 3, Ardron 2)

Attendance: 19028

Exeter City:- Singleton; Johnstone, Rowe; Fallon, Doyle, Davey; Harrower, Smyth, Smith, Mackay, McClelland.

Nottm. Forest. - Walker; Whare, Thomas; Morley, Gager, Burkitt; Scott, Ardron. Capel, Collingdridge. Johnson.

Referee: R. E. Tarratt. Suffolk.



Monday, April 23rd 1951, benefit for D.Regan and B.Singleton.

EXETER CITY 0
PORTSMOUTH 3 (Mundy, Reid, Harris).

Exeter City:- Singleton; Clark, Rowe; Fallon, Doyle, Davey; Hutchings, Harrower, Smith, Mackay, McClelland.