Four Changes and still City lose 

Four changes were made by Exeter City for this afternoon's match with Gillingham, at St. James's Park. In the absence of Angus Mackay (injured), Eddie Murphy came in at inside left, being partnered by Bill Parker.
Charlie McClelland crossed to outside-right, and Norman Douglass was at left-back. There was a small attendance, and the weather was duil but dry.

Teams:
City: Kelly; Walton. Douglass: Booth. Davey, Dodgin: McClelland, Samuels, Donaldson, Murphy, Parker.

Gillingham: Evans, A.: Marks, Lewin: Boswell. Ayers, McKee: Durkin, Evans, W., Scarth. Morgan, Millar.

Referee: L. R. H. Burfield. Ilminster.

Kicking off towards the big bank, Gillingham were the first to threaten.
From a throw-in on the right Durkin was clear, but his centre was badly placed and there was no danger. But when the visiting side raided a second time Dodgin riskily passed back to Kelly. The goalkeeper had 10 advance in a hurry to block the ball as Scarth tore in.

Visitors impress
A breakaway by McClelland promised well until the winger's centre dropped behind. Then came Gillingham attacks from which the visiting side nearly went ahead. A perfect centre from Millar dropped in the goalmouth, where Kelly saved at point-blank range from Scarth

• "WEDDING MARCH" FOR FRED
  Fred Davey was married this morning and, to commemorate the occasion. he was honoured with the captaincy of the City team against Gillingham. He led the Exeter side out. and the Southern Railway Band played the Wedding March." 64

Later Scarth created an opening for Evans, who shot wide when favourably placed. Although the City repiled with a neat combined movement on the left, to gain a profitless corner, the more impressive football came from Gillingham in these early stages. The visiting side were keener and more accurate in their work. At length, however, the City got together. Dodgin and Murphy com bined to put Donaldson through. The centre-forward back-heeled the ball. deceived Lewin, turned, and shot from an oblique angle.
With the utmost difficulty Evans turned  Donaldson's drive over the bar for another fruitless corner.
Another good Interpassing movement, in which Dodgin, Donaldson, Murphy, Parker, and McClelland Shared, ended in Donaldson shooting into the net. The centre-forward, however, was standing offside when McClelland's pass came to him, and there was no goal. Just when it seemed that the City. were getting a grip on the game, Gillingham hit back again. Morgan, the visiting inside-left, was source of trouble. He went through with the ball strongly and used it well.
Davey deflected a shot from Mor gan, which looked like going places. A fierce shot from Scarth skimmed the crossbar, and further proof of Gillingham's dominance was soon forthcoming.

Rebound " gift"
In fact the City were a lucky side to escape when a shot from W. Evans hit an upright and came back into play.
Donaldson easily the City's best forward. tried to get his line going. in the main, though, Exeter were deficient in constructive arts, and poor finishers.
Good chances were lost through poor finishing by Parker. Samuels. and Murphy. A better effort was from McClelland who ran through and shot for Evans to save. Deservedly, on the run of play. Gillingham went ahead in the 42nd minute. Kelly came out and attempted to kick clear with an opponent on him. Unluckily the ball hit a defender and cannoned to MORGAN, who kicked into an empty net.
Half-time:
EXETER CITY 0-1 GILLINGHAM TOWN

Bad marking from a throw in added to Exeter's worries, and Durkin was able to centre at leisure for Millar to head a fraction wide. Slowness in the home defence let Gillingham through again, and Scarth and Lambert passed Intelligently to spreadeagle the home rearguard. When finally the ball came to Millar, the visiting outside-left shot for Kelly to smother the drive on the line. Exeter were panic-stricken,and their resistance was feeble indeed to the co-ordinated Gillingham attacks.
Eight minutes after the interval  Gillingham scored again. Scarth pushed the ball Inside and MORGAN ran slickly into position before beating Kelly, with a rising shot. Outclassed now, the City were a side without a virtue. Kelly's goalkeeping alone saved the City from further disaster during a fierce bombardment. On other occasions the home defence was unbelievably weak. and the mystery is that Gillingham's overwhelming superiority was not reflected in more goals. The visiting team were on top at every point. An example of the ridiculous ease with which they swept through the feeble home defence was when the ball was cleared from the goal area by Lewin. He dribbled his way out of the trouble, and started a movement which took play to the other end.

A bright spot
While the Exeter men looked on the Gillingham players passed and repassed, the attack ending when Miliar shot wide. After being outplayed for a long. period the City revived to reduce the margin 15 minutes from time. Walton started the attack with a pass to Booth. From Booth to Samuel's and then to McClelland. the ball travelled low and accurately. The attack was a reminder of brighter Exeter days. It ended with MCCLELLAND shooting low into the corner of the net. Near the end Parker came be latedly into the game by running through at top speed from the out side-right position. It was a good efort, but he was hemmed in at the crucial moment, and could not get in a shot.
Result:
EXETER CITY 1-2  GILLINGHAM

COMMENTS

Exeter City touched rock-bottom. Hardly a man in the side came through this match with a creditable performance, and the majority were just bad. The fact that the forward line was disorganised through an injury to Donaldson in the second half did not excuse the many mistakes that were made. Too many passes went adrift, and there was insufficient keenness in following up. McClelland did best in a disjointed and unenthusiastic line. At wing half-back the City suffered because Booth put very few passes right, while Dodgin was slow in defence.mThe full-backs were poor and often overwhelmed. A strong inside-forward like Gillingham's inside-left Morgan, might have made a difference, but it would have needed more than this to have converted Exeter into anything re sembling an average Third Division side this afternoon.
Attendance 7.948
Reciepts £671.6s.

KNIGHT GOAL SAVES A POINT FOR CITY RES.
By LIONEL WOTTON (Nomad)

Southern League 
Saturday 12th December 

CITY, Singleton; Doyle, Douglass; McLean, Harvey, Goddard; Priestley, Knight, Samuels, Murphy, Parker.

CHELTENHAM, Pickering; Anderson, Horder; Sherlock, Brown, Martin; McClatchey, Warne, Middleton, Kenny, Knox.

CITY RESERVES were soon on the attack at St. James's Park to-day, and the Cheltenham defence was in trouble when Murphy hooked a first-time centre across the goalmouth. The ball travelled just beyond the far post, and from the goal kick Cheltenham transferred play without being dangerous. Although the City Reserves showed more accuracy in passing there were few thrills until Samuels put Murphy through the middle. The inside-left tried a first-time shot, did not connect properly, and was off the mark.
Cheltenham forced the first corner and almost scored. The kick was accurately placed by Knox, and in the ensuing skirmish McLean blocked a point-blank shot from Middleton.

Pickering busy
Another corner to Cheltenham was followed by strong Exeter raids, in which Pickering punched away a centre from Parker and MacFarlane headed out a first-time shot from Knight. Two corners to the City were followed by a magnificent save by Pickering. who leapt across the goalface to gather a fierce Knight drive in immaculate style.
Knight looked the likellest man to score at this stage. He was dead out of luck with a first-timer which missed by a fraction with Pickering beaten.

Exeter were so much on top now that few were prepared for what followed. A long kick down the middle by Goddard was intercepted by Sherlock, who at once passed hard and diagonally to his left.