Match 26
29th December 1951
Leyton Orient (h)
Southern League
Tonbridge (a)
ECFC v Leyton Orient (W 6-1)
Scorers: McClelland 3 (2 pens), Walton 2, Armes
Attendance: 7363
McClelland's "Hat-trick" in Six One Victory.
Exeter Were a Transformed Side in the Second Half.
In gaining their biggest triumph for more than three seasons Exeter, with Doyle for Goddard the only change from the team which went down so heavily at Torquay on Boxing Day, were a transformed side in the second half of today's encounter at St James's Park with Leyton. A goal down at the interval the Grecians had frittered away several chances and the initiative looked to have passed to the Orient. The City, however, then took command and in no uncertain manner. Two goals from penalty kicks enabled them to secure the lead and from that point they were the only team in it.
EXETER CITY 6 LEYTON ORIENT 1.
Saturday, December 29th, at St James's Park.
Attendance 7,363, receipts €525. 10s. 3d.
Although not figuring on the score-sheet Mackay was the brains and the inspiration behind many of Exeter's movements. McClelland was a much changed player in the second half and indeed the entire City attack played finely in this period.
City: Singleton; Warren, Rowe; Armes, Doyle, Davey; Hutchings, Smart, Walton, Mackay, McClelland.
Leyton:- Groombridge; Evans, Banner; Blizzard, Aldous, Brown; Woan, Pacey, Bryant, Rees, Blatchford.
Lacking pace and strength in the muddy conditions Exeter City, before the interval, were rarely dangerous, and most of the play was in their half of the field. Leyton Orient took the lead when Bryant scored ten minutes before half-time.
But the entire picture changed in the second period when Exeter scored six times without reply. The first two goals were from penalty kicks, converted by McClelland. Walton headed the third, McClelland completed the "hat-trick" with a grand shot into the roof of the net from one of Hutchings's well-placed corner-kicks, Armes then beat Groombridge with the rebound off a free kick taken by himself, and Walton rounded off a splendid afternoon's work when he banged in goal number six!
Classic Match
Leyton Orient 1951
by Will Barrett.
Having just been beaten soundly by Torquay United on Boxing Day, the manager George Roughton made one change to the line up by bringing in Brian Doyle for Ray Goddard.
In the first half, this minor change had not seemed to have made any change at all to the effectiveness of the City team, and at the interval they found themselves one-nil down to a Bryant goal, as they trudged off the boggy pitch, muddy and dejected.
The home fans were no more enthused by what they had seen, although they were more animated as they vocalised their frustrations at the team for almost completely failing to get out of their own half for the first 45 minutes.
However, the second half was a completely different story. Roughton may have made only one change to the line-up coming into the match, but at half time it looked like he must have changed the personality of the whole team.
In the first period the City players lacked pace and strength, as they tried to cope with playing on the heavy turf, but in the second half they were a team reborn as they scored 6 (six) goals withouth reply.
The first two came from penalty kicks, each of which were converted calmly by Charles McClelleand. Now with a lead to work with, the players making light work of the conditions with slick passing and purposeful running.
The third came from the centre-forward, Richard Walton, who met McClellands cross with the middle of his forehead to give Groombridge no chance in the orient goal.
McClelland, who seemed to be benefitting most from Roughtons half-time team talk, then completed his hat-trick by meeting one of Dennis Hutchings well placed corners with a shot into the roof of the net.
Ivan Ames, making only his third appearance for the club since his pre-Christmas transfer from Norwich, added the fifth when he was the first to respond to the rebound from his own free-kick, and then Richard Walton rounded off the spectacular turn-around in the Grecians fortunes when he banged in goal number-six.
Final Score: ECFC 6 (six) LOFC 1
Exeter City: Sngleton, Warren, Rowe, Armes, Doyle, Davey, Hutchings, Smart, Walton, Mackay, McClelland.
Leyton Orient: Groombridge, Evans, Banner, Blizzard, Aldous, Brown, Woan, Pacey, Bryant, Rees, Blatchford.
Man of the match: Charles McClelland
Attendance: 7,363.
Written by: Will Barrett
Southern League
Tonbridge v City Reserves
Tonbridge on their own ground were held to a draw by Exeter Reserves in today's southern league match, each side scoring once, Howells in the second half neutralising an earlier goal by Stevens.
City Reserves : - Salter; Coley, Clark; Fallon, Carter, Booth; McGrath, Hancock, Mitchell, Wilkins, Howells.
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