Crystal Palace 2-0 ECFC
Attendance: 4808

League 3rd Division South.
Wednesday, April 15th 1953.

Selhurst Park, London.
Attendance 4,808.

CRYSTAL PALACE 2
Simpson 2
EXETER CITY 0

Half-time 0-0

CITY HAD NO SHOTS

The match was a real slog on a sunny afternoon with a lively ball. Palace had a good last half hour in this stern duel, Centre forward Simpson hit a brace of goals in the 60th and 75th minutes, and with a great header that just passed over the bar almost completed a hat trick. The Exeter side in which Murphy and Knight were impressive did not possess anyone who was prepared to shoot, Dailey was particularly unimpressive in this respect. Both City wingers had a good match. McClelland positioned himself splendidly and Mitchell was good in patches. Although their were flaws in the City defence there were also some very good performers, Kellys Goalkeeping was patchy, often uncannily spectacular. He dropped the ball thrice after catching it and in the second case it cost Exeter a goal and allowed Simpson to get the 2nd Palace goal cheaply. The two best players in the City defence were Doyle and Wood. Had Exeter had a sharpshooting forward, they might not have been beaten for they had a lot of the play in and around the Palace penalty area.

Scorers Crystal P. Simpson 2. attendance 4,806.

PALACE
Bailey;
George, Edwards;
Grimshaw, Briggs, Andrews;
Fell, Rainford, Simpson, Thomas, Downs.

CITY
Kelly;
Walton, Doyle;
Fallon, Wood, Davey;
Mitchell, Knight, Dailey, Murphy, McClelland.

Referee: Mr H.Ball of Worcester.

Thursday, April 16th 1953.
Southern League.
Lovells Athletic 2 City Reserves 0

at Newport.

Lovelis Athletic, after losing four consecutive games in the Southern League, showed improved form when defeating Exeter City yesterday. The attack, led by Ted Gorin, who had been absent for several weeks, was more penetrative, and Hawthorne and Ridsdale formed a strong left flank. They played clever combined football, and when Exeter conceded a corner kick Hawthorne headed the opening goal after seven minutes. Soon after the interval a good movement by Ridsdale resulted in Gorin receiving the ball close in. and he increased the lead with an oblique drive which gave Singleton no chance. Rose was a lively leader for the visitors, but he lacked support, and in defence Clarke played a sound game at centre-half until he retired near the end through injury.

Exeter Team:-Singleton; Anderson, Rowe; Harvey, Clark, Marsh; Bolt, Goddard, Rose, Black, Howells