Plymouth Argyle v ECFC (L 2-1) Scorers: Mackay
Attendance: 25494

CITY WERE GALLANT LOSERS IN THE DEVON DERBY.

SUPERIOR STRENGTH AND CRAFT WON THE DAY FOR ARGYLE.

Although the crowd was slow in assembling a late rush brought up the
number of spectators to more than twenty thousand at the start of the Devon Soccer Derby at Home Park today. So great was the amount of road traffic that the spacious car-park was full with the kick-off half an hour away. There was an impressive tribute to the late Mr J.Orchard, a director of the City club, just before the start. The teams, wearing black arm bands, stood in the centre circle whilst a two-minutes' silence was observed.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 2 EXETER CITY 1.

Saturday, January 12th 1952 at Home Park.

Attendance 25,494.

Two minutes after the start the Argyle were shocked by a fast piece of combined football between Digby, Walton, and Smart, which culminated in Mackay giving Exeter the lead with a shot which went into the roof of the net at express speed. The Plymothians then settled down and it was only a fair reflex of the course of the game when Dews equalised after a shot by Govan had rebounded off Singleton's body. This was in the nineteenth minute.

Argyle: Shortt; Ratcliffe, Jones; Dougall, Chisholm, Porteous; Astall, Dews, Tadman, Rattray, Govan.

City: Singleton; Warren, Rowe; Armes, Doyle, Davey; Digby, Smart, Walton, Mackay, Hutchings.

Referee:- Mr N.C.Taylor of Westbury. Linesmen: Messrs W.E.Keel and H.C.Dowell.

The City's downfall was brought about seven minutes from the end when Rattray beat Singleton with a close-range shot from Tadman's centre. The Argyle deserved their narrow victory in a Devon Derby which both teams fought out with all the old-time keenness and rivalry. The City were gallant triers without however being able to match the superior craft and strength of Plymouth.

Singleton did yeoman service in a hard-worked defence, and every man in
the Exeter rear guard battled stubbornly on the heavy pitch.

Return Friendly 
City Reserves v Chudleigh 
Exeter City Reserves beat Chudleigh Athletic by 2 goals to 1, in the return "friendly" at St James's Park. In memory of the late Mr Orchard the City club's flag was at half-mast and all the players wore black armlets.