Gillingham 1-0 Exeter City
Attendance: 13763

EXETER CITY IN SPASMODIC FORM: BEATEN ONE NIL.

FORWARDS FAIL TO SCORE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Saturday, September 13th 1952. GILLINGHAM (Scarth) 1 EXETER CITY 0

Half-time no score.

In summerlike weather the City kicked off facing the sun but they were soon in action, and a left wing attack looked promising as Regan and Murphy advanced cleverly to send Mitchell away. The move broke down, however, when Mitchell's return pass was intercepted.

Gillingham:- Rigg; Blake, Lewin; Boswell, Niblett, McKee; Sowden, Hall, Scarth, Lambert, Long.

City: Kelly; Anderson, Rowe; Booth, Goddard, Davey; Mitchell, Knight, Dailey, Murphy, Regan.

Referee:- Mr Mann of Worcester.

It turned out to be a poor game, and Exeter's forwards, who failed to score for the first time this season, never really got going. Dailey was closely watched by Niblett and received few chances. The defence stood firm until 24 minutes from the end, when centre a from Lambert was met by Kelly. In going up to cut out the centre Kelly was impeded by Hall, the ball running loose to Scarth, who, from six yards out and facing an empty net, had no difficulty in scoring. Exeter's trouble on a hard pitch was that they neglected to to go in and meet the ball first-time, which was courting disaster. They asked for trouble and got it, although the opposition was seldom more than moderate.

Attendance 13,763.

Southern League 

CITY RESERVES 1 KETTERING TOWN 2.

For the third time this season Exeter Reserves lost at home, although fortune was not in their favour when first Fallon and then Singleton had to go off with injuries.

The deciding goal, by Middlemiss, was also dubious, the scorer being. well offside when he received the ball. Earlier Powell had given the visiting team the lead in four minutes and Mackay had equalised with a penalty kick.

Reserves:- Singleton; Walton, F.Gidley; Harvey, Doyle, Fallon; Digby, Rose, Howells, Mackay, McClelland.

Kettering: Pickering; Johnson, Barron; Scott, Waddell, Whent; Gray, Powell, Middlemiss, Reynolds, Inwood.

Referee: Mr W.H.Davey of Torquay.