ECFC 0-3 Northampton Town
Attendance: 7848

EXETER CITY, NO "ZIP" AND LITTLE METHOD, BEATEN THREE NIL.
COBBLERS' FIRST HALF GOALS DECIDED THE DESTINY OF THE POINTS.

Faulty defensive work by Exeter City and opportunism by Adams, with two scoring shots, and Staroscik, with one (who each had a "gift" goal) saw a helpless Exeter City team beaten three nil at home by Northampton Town this afternoon after making the early running. Norman Kirkman, the new player-manager, made his debut in Exeter City's

colours, taking over the left-back position from Stan Rowe. Howells, scorer of ten goals in five Southern League matches, which in cluded four against Barry on Wednesday, was given his promotion. He led the attack in place of Walton, who was dropped.

EXETER CITY 0 NORTHAMPTON TOWN 3.

Saturday, March 15th 1952,
at St James's Park.

Attendance 7,500.

Exeter City:- Singleton; Warren, Kirkman; Harrower, Doyle, Davey; Digby, Smith, Howells, Mackay, McClelland.

Northampton:- Feehan; Collins, Southam; Davie, Candlin, Hughes;
English, Payne, Adams, Ramscar, Staroscik.

Referee:- Mr R.Hall of Harrow. Linesmen:- Messrs E.C.Browning and C.Curtis.

Exeter City touched rock-bottom in this match. Not only were some their methods crude, but several members of the side were lacking in of determination. This was particularly notable on the left flank, where McClelland seldom braved a tackle and Mackay did little of note. Leading the City attack for the first time Howells had not much of a chance. Not only was he opposed to one of the best centre halves in the Third Division in Candlin, the Cobblers' captain, but he received the worst possible support from his colleagues. Kirkman made his debut under unhappy circumstances, and must take some responsibility for the letting in of the third goal. The three goals scored by Northampton in the first half were sufficient to decide the result with 45 minutes of the match still to be played.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE.

Bedford Town 5 (R.Rooke, Woodward 2, E.Rooke, Summers) City Reserves 0.

Team:-
Salter; Walton, Clark; Booth, Goddard, Coley; Hutchings, Wilkins, Brown, Mitchell, Regan.

YEOVIL TOWN v EXETER CITY RESERVES.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20TH 1952,
AT HUISH, YEOVIL.

An unusual feature of the Southern League match between Yeovil Town and Exeter City Reserves was the fact that two of the three goals were put through by defenders against their own sides.

After twenty minutes of indifferent football Exeter were given a gift goal by Saville, the Yeovil right-half, who put through his own net. Two minutes later, however, Yeovil had the consolation of seeing Reid, Exeter's left-back, do the same thing. Within five minutes Lowthorpe, centre-forward, gave Yeovil the lead.

YEOVIL TOWN 2 CITY RESERVES 1.

These quick goals had a stimulating effect on both teams, but Yeovil's combination was superior, and it was only the blocking tactics of Ray Goddard and the support he received from his backs that prevented the "Glovers" from increasing their lead.

After the interval a feeling of stalemate crept into the game as both teams tried hard but in vain to score. Spoiling tactics were then resorted to by both defences. Exeter City Reserves showed a better distribution of the ball with Smart prominent in the forward line.

Goddard left the field to receive treatment for a knee injury midway through the second half and returned, limping, five minutes later.