Match 06
ECFC v Norwich City
05.09.1951

Southern League Cup
Hereford v City Reserves
06.09.1951

ECFC 2-4 Norwich City

Scorers: Mackay, McClelland Attendance: 8304

CLARK, LEAR BEST IN CITY'S 4-2 REVERSE

This Attack Will Not Win Matches,
Says Nomad:

Plucky Goddard


ANY hopes Exeter City had of saving a point against Norwich City at St. James's Park last evening faded when the team was disorganised through injuries. All hope went when sustained pressure after the interval failed to break down the sometimes suspect Norwich rearguard, writes "Nomad."

Norwich won by four goals to two, yet I would not rate them as highly as the side I saw last season. 

The attacking thrust and speed were manifest last night. So was the class of those wing hall-backs, Pickwick and Ashman, but the full-backs were prone to become rattled. For Exeter, this much can be said. Most members of the beaten side showed enthusiasm for the job, and none had greater determination than, Goddard, who, victim of an injury near the interval, resumed, injured, on the left wing. Such was Goddard's whole- heartedness and craftsmanship that, even in this strange position, he set an example to his colleagues in the value of first time low passes into the open spaces. It was, In fact, from the Goddard-Mackay wing that the majority of Exeter's second-half attacks emanated. 

While Exeter's defence did not possess collective steadiness, one member of the home rearguard stood out by virtue of a magnificent performance. Jim Clark tackled firmly, intervened intelligently, and remained unflurried and resourceful when others wilted. This was one of Clark's best games in the City ranks. He was grand, and Graham Lear was nearly so.
The young amateur goalkeeper was perfect in gathering high balls, He had a safe pair of hands, and the manner in which he cut out corner kicks could have been bettered by no one.
Where Norwich had a big advan tage was at wing half-back. Davey. even before he suffered a cut eye in the first half, could not vie with his opposite number, the hard-working accomplished Pickwick. Harrower, on the left flank before Goddard's injury and centre-half subsequently, was no more than average, while Fallon, who began as an inside-right and dropped to right nalf-back in the reshuffle of the City's forces, was weak in both positions.
Returning to the team at outside Fight, Smith did not Impress, but he was not alone among the home forwards in that respect Although the repetition may be wear some, the faet has to be stated again: this Exeter attacit will not win matches.
Smart, better than he was against the Orient, is not big enough for a centre-forward, and McClelland did not relish the stern-tackling opposition.
Dual Reply

The game did not lack incident, and three goals were crammed into thrill-packed three minutes early in the first half. The first went to Exeter when Mackay, ideally placed to receive a pin-pointed pass from Smart, raced to within ten yards of Nethercott before shooting past the Grcoming goalkeeper

Then came the sensational Norwich dual reply, A pass from Fallon was intercepted. The ball was driven to Hollis. Next came a shrewd transfer to Eyre, left-winger who showed pace and determination in a lightning solo burst of 30 yards and marksmanship of the right kind when he shot past the powerless Lear from close

Exeter kicked off. Another pass was intercepted, and away went the Jet-propelled Hollis. the Norwich centre-forward, who must be one of the fastest in the game to day. He was through a gap in the middle before the Exeter defenders could close their ranks, Lear came out, and Hollls beat him with a low shot which his the inside of a post and rolled over the line,

For a time we saw the real Norwich. The rhythm and confidence of last season were reflected in a series of movements that had all the essentials of accurate passing. keen postioning, and superb ball craft. A masterful full-length interception by Lear at the expense of Kinsey prevented an increase in the Norwich tally. Exeter were fortunate to suvive an Appeal for a penalty when Goddard handled the ball. Summers drove wide of an open goal.

City rallied and the crisis passed, and in an Exeter rally near the interval Mackay looked to be right through until Nethercott advanced to smother the ball. Prolonged raiding by the City kept
the game alive and the onlookers cheered and gasped in turn as Mackay
had a powerful drive safely gathered by Nethercott, A shot from Smith struck a defender, and a centre from McClelland flashed across a yawning goalmouth.

So strongly were Exeter pressing at this stage that the odds were all in an equalising goal,

The reverse happened. A chancey clearance by Morgan might have landed anywhere. It dropped just on the wrong side of Harrower, and Hollis was away with a yard start and not a hope of any Exeter player over hauling him

On went Hollis fleet of foot, cool in the head, he placed the ball away from Lear and into the net, and again the goalkeeper had no chance A near repeat effort followed within a few minutes. Another clearance went to the alert Hollis. Meantime, Gavin had dashed into the wide open centre, where collecting his colleague's pass, he ran on to shoot the fourth Norwich goal.
Even at this belated stage Exeter came back with renewed assaults, and were rewarded with a goal from McClelland, who accepted a pase from Smart before beating Nethercott from close in.

Teams:

Exeter City.-
G. Lear: Warren, Clark: Davey, Goddard, Harrower Smith Fallon, Smart, Mackay, McClelland

Norwich,
Nethercott: Morgan, Lewis: Pickwick Holmes, Ashman; Gavin, Kinsey, Hollis, Summers, Eyre,

Referee: P. Martin, Surrey

Attendance: 8,304.
Receipts: £609 2s.


Hereford kill the Bogey.
FIRST EVER HOME VICTORY OVER EXETER CITY RESERVES.


Hereford United on Thursday evening killed a "bogey" when, for the first time, they defeated Exeter City Reserves on their Edgar Street ground. The game was in connection with the Southern League Cup competition, the United having previously won 2-1 at Exeter in the first leg.

HEREFORD UNITED 3 EXETER CITY RESERVES 0.

Thursday, September 6th,
at Edgar-Street

Attendance 4,000.

A surprisingly fast and generally interesting game was witnessed by a large crowd. Hereford did most of the attacking for some time but could not supply a shot good enough to beat Singleton.


In the 35th minute Singleton suffered concussion, following a melee in the goalmouth, when he collided with one of his own players. He was assisted off the field by ambulance men.

Rowe went in goal, and soon afterwards Reid was injured and moved up to outside-right. The City defended valiantly despite these handicaps, but Sutherland headed a goal for Hereford before the interval.

Hereford: Letham; Pimbley, Hughes; Woods, Thompson, Watson;Bowen, Best, Sutherland, Crowe, McGeachy.

City Reserves:- Singleton; Reid, Rowe; Doyle, Carter, Hutchings; McGrath, Hancock, Brown, Booth, Howells.

After the interval Singleton returned at outside-right with Reid on the other wing, but when Sutherland scored again he returned to his usual position and made some grand saves during the remainder of the game. He was, however, eventually beaten by a clever header from Best. In the closing stages Letham made a brilliant save from a free-kick by Doyle from just outside the penalty area.

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