Port Vale 2-1 ECFC
FA Cup R1

CITY LOST A CUP TIE OF MISSED CHANCES.

DEFENCE WAS SHAKY: PORT VALE A BETTER BALANCED TEAM.

Saturday, November 22nd 1952.

PORT VALE (Mullard, Griffiths) 2 EXETER CITY (Murphy) 1.

Half-time Port Vale 1 Exeter City 0.

In this first round F. A. Cup tie, Exeter City, slow in moving to the ball, shaky in defence, and giving the home wingers too much scope, lost by 2 goals to 1, against Port Vale at Burslem today.

Port Vale: Hancock; Turner, Potts; Todd, Cheadle, Sproson; Hulligan, Mullard, Hayward, Griffiths, Bennett.

Exeter City:- Kelly; Walton, Rowe; Davey, Goddard, Armes; McClelland, Mackay, Dailey, Murphy, Regan.

Referee:- Mr N.C.Taylor of Westbury.

Today's cup-tie was lacking in the customary "bite" which is always associated with the competition and was bo no means a classic. Port Vale, the better balanced team, deserved their narrow victory, and were two goals ahead before Murphy got Exeter's solitary point late in the game.

DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY ALL ROUND.

In the Exeter team, which gave a disappointing display all round, the backs were often badly positioned against the home wingmen, and had Bennett and Hulligan made better use of the ball the Vale's triumph must have been more pronounced. The city started on the wrong foot and rarely looked the part.

Occasional advances down the middle could have brought a couple of goals had Regan been his usual self in the matter of accurate and hard shooting. To him fell three relatively easy chances, each of which he failed to make use of.

Exeter's half backs did not impress, and the trio did not use the ball with the same precision and method as their Port Vale counterparts. The Vale looked a more than useful Third Division side. Their inside forwards were clever in approach work and had in Griffiths the most accomplished player on the field.

The team will, however, need to improve in finishing if they are to advance any distance in the Cup Competition. Today's match was played on a firm ground in fine but cold weather.

Attendance 14,586, gate receipts £1,399. 5s. 0d