Shrewsbury's goal had charmed life

By LIONEL WOTTON (Nomad)


ALTHOUGH large stretches of the Midlands were enveloped by fog to-day Shrewsbury was unaffected. The weather for the visit of Exeter City to the picturesque Gay Meadow ground was cloudy, but visibility was clear.

Before the match, Norman Dodgin told me that he had signed Bill Ellaway, the young Crediton inside-left, on a  professional form. 
Compared to the side which lost at home to Aldershot on Boxing Day City had three changes. These were in goal, where Hugh Kelly replaced Barney Singleton; at left-back, where  Norman Douglass succeeded Stan Rowe, unable to get time off from work; and at inside-left. where Angus Mackay returned after a month's lay off due to injury.

Line-up
Shrewsbury Town. McBride: Bannister, Parr: Bullions. Dickinson. Beynon: Fisher. Jackson. Hudson. Stamps. McCue.

Exeter City.-Kelly: Walton, Douglass: McLean, Davey. Dodgin: Priestley. Knight. Mitchell, Mackay. McClelland

Referee.-C. Curtis of Paulton 

On a heavy ground both teams tried unsuccessfully to make head way on the wings. The City were checked by Parr, and Shrewsbury by Walton in the opening minutes. More dangerous by far were the next attacks by the home side. A centre from an unmarked Bullion's was gathered by Kelly, with Hudson almost on top of him. Then the City goalkeeper was busy engaged in fisting out one centre from Fisher and fielding another from the same winger
Exeter replied with promising movements, and a well-placed centre from Mitchell was headed away by Dickinson. 

Near misses
Each goal survived when all seemed lost. The first escape was Exeter's, when Stamps fastened on to Fisher's centre and shot Inches over the crossbar. Then it was Shrewsbury's turn Mitchell created a perfect chance for McClelland, but the outside-left, hav ing closed in, shot wide of the near upright, with only McBride to beat.. Walton, Davey and Dodgin held un Shrewsbury, and then Knight craftly allowed the ball to run through his legs thereby starting a City attack. While this movement finally petered Out Exeter advanced again. From Mackay's pass. McClelland actually Ellded the ball past the advancing McBride, and was unlucky to see the ball travel on the wrong side of the near upright. When McLean was penalised for Obstruction, McCue crossed a dan gerous ball, and Davey blocked a shot from Hudson.

Walton was pulled up for a similar offence a minute later, and all that Shrewsbury gained this time was an unproductive corner, the first corner of the match in the 24th minute. Exeter were being hard pressed now and only Kelly's brilliant anti cipation saved them from being a goal down. McCue was clear on the left and his diagonal cross looked to be travelling to the waiting Hudson. when Kelly sprang forward to divert the ball with outstretched hands.

No advantage
Then the City suffered because Referee Curtis failed to apply the advantage rule. McClelland was going through, and was obstructed. but he recovered his balance, and Mitchell was following up with the home defence split. In these circumstances play should have been allowed to continue. The free kick availed the City nothing. As the interval approached. Exeter were enjoying far more of the game Their last attack for a long time took the form of a clever combined movement, and McBride was cheered for saving Mitchell's low shot at point blank range. McBride saved another shot from McClelland but Shrewsbury were fortunate to escape a few minutes later

Running inside to gather Mackav's pass McClelland showed perfect control. He worked the ball past the oncoming McBride and slipped it goalwards-only for Dickinson to double back and clear from the goal-line. This way a great effort by Dickinson. But the home centre half was not so accomplished a player as the city's Davey, who was in great form in this half.
Half-time:
SHREWSBURY TOWN 0-0 EXETER CITY 

Right-back Bannister led Shrewsbury's opening attack after the interval. He ran down the wing and his centre-a good one-was headed out by Davey, for Builions to drive a return outside. In ensuing play the City had the home defence in a series of tangles From Mitchell's pass. Priestley's shot was deflected for a corner.

Surprise goal
Next, the Exeter left-wing excelled in a delightful Interpassing move ment. and McClelland's shrewdly placed low shot beat McBride and then rolled tantalisingly an inch or two on the wrong side of an up right Again the City struck, and this time they were successful. Dodgin slipped a pass through to MACKAY, who feinted as if to put McClelland through. but toe. ended the the ball goalwards. The low shot took McBride completely unawares. The goalkeeper went down, and the ball passed beneath him and into the net.
One goal ahead ten minutes after the restart Exeter deserved two more as they outclassed the opposition in successive well-planned attacks. The home defence had no answer but their goal bore a charmed life A great shot from Knight hit the crossbar and then a close-range drive from Mitchell struck an upright.

Each time the ball came back into play and was fortuitously cleared. when the rearguard appeared to have no chance, Recovering from these shocks. Shrewsbury hit back and Fisher centred for Hudson to head past Kelly. The linesman on the far side of the ground had already flagged for an infringement. however, and the referee awarded the City a free kick

The equaliser

Exeter were not playing with the brilliance which featured that earlier spell, and 22 minutes from the end Shrewsbury drew level through McCUE, who netted in a skirmish after Bulions had crossed the ball. Protests that McCue had handled the ball brought no favourable answer from the referee. Shrewsbury derived encouragement from this goal. They were not so clever as the City, but were just as dangerous Kelly made one superb save. turning over the crossbar flashing cross shot from McCue. Advancing to the other end by skilful passing. the City almost regained the lead. McClelland's pass found Mackay. but the inside-left was tackled by Dickinson in the nick of time. Shrewsbury forced several corners in desperate final onslaughts, but the City's defence stood firm.
Result:
SHREWSBURY 1-1 EXETER CITY

COMMENTS

Exeter did everything except make victory certain in the second half. In a series of lightning attacks the City scored once, and then hit the crossbar and an upright in quick succession.
Shrewsbury were not in the game at that stage. Then, as so often hap pens, the pendulum swung the other way.
A disputed equalising goal re warded the home side, and from then on the points could have gone either way
Davey and Walton were stalwarts in a sound City defence. the honours went to the Mackay/McClelland wing.


Southern League 
City Reserves v Bedford Town 

BEDFORD DOUBLE CITY RESERVES' SCORE

ON the whistle Exeter City Reserves attacked the Bedford Town goal, and Harvey came close from the wing.
Immediately Samuels tried and shot only inches wide with Burn stead beaten. Again Samuels tried from the edge of the penalty area. but visiting centre-half Wilkins just got his foot to the ball. For the third time Samuels went in and headed, but the keeper just got to it by the bar. After six minutes ELLAWAY scored for Exeter. The Bedford defence blundered a shot from Samuels, and the inside-left followed up to beat Bumstead. Setters, on Exeter's right wing, was a continual menace to Bedford. In the opening stages, at least, Bedford were an ineffective combination. A stroke of luck for Bedford prevented a second goal. The keeper fumbled a shot. Ellaway dash in but Adams happened to be in place to block the shot. From an innocent looking move ment Bedford equalised DUGGAN Pained possession and beat Singleton, who dived late in the 19th minute. Bedford were better after their goal, and Exeter's centre-half, Packer showed his mettie. Still the visiting defence was shaky and Fisher back-headed almost into his own goal, Bumstead just saving. Singleton only just saved on the line when the ball deflected from Storey. Bedford's defence suddenly went into panic when Exeter renewed their pressure, and the referee had to warn some players.
Half-time:
EXETER CITY RES 1-1 BEDFORD TOWN

Bedford got into gear after the interval and Exeter were lucky when Singleton got in the way of a ball he did not even see. But after six minutes the visiting left-winger, Holland, completely beat Storey, passed in to centre-forward DUGGAN, who put Bedford ahead with a low drive. Nine minutes later SAMUELS broke through to near the Bedford goal and shot across the ball struck Gray and deflected into the net to bring Exeter on terms. Bedford's centre-forward Duggan made two goals for his side just be fore the end. First he passed for WOODWARD to draw out Singleton and score, and then his pass to FAULKNER was headed past the keeper
Result:
EXETER CITY RES 2-4 BEDFORD TOWN