ECFC 7-0 Crystal Palace

Scorers: Donaldson 3, Priestly, Mackay 2, McClelland

Attendance: 7382

City Romp it: 7-Nil.
Donaldson scores 3 against Palace

By LIONEL WOTTON (Nomad)

EXETER CITY, without Norman Dodgin for the firs time this season, had two changes from the team which drew at Shrewsbury last week. Against Crystal Palace, at St. James's Park, to-day the injured player-manager was replaced by Ray Goddard, while Andy Donaldson came back to lead the attack after a five weeks lay off.
Cold, frosty weather was followed by the milder and damp varlety during the morning. Conditions con tinued to be uninviting, and there was a small attendance at the start.
Line-up
City Kelly; Walton, Doug lass: McLean. Davey, Goddard: Priestley, Knight, Donaldson, MacKay, McClelland.
Palace Bulley; Choules, Edwards: Willard, Briggs, Simp son; Fell. Bennett, Andrews. Thomas, Hanlon.
Referee-A. Hill, Newport.
An Injured knee prevented one of the linesmen-Mr. J. Toms-from reaching the ground, and Mr. Eric Haydon, an Exeter referee, deputised, Goddard captained the City team. won the toss, and saw his colleagues. get off to a flying start. From Knight's pass, Priestley had a clear run, but his low centre was behind Donaldson, and so A favourable chance was lost. Neat passing by the Palace was effectively countered by a sound defence in which Douglass and Walton were prominent, Play, however, was without incidenti for a time, and both forward lines were taking too much time about their work.
Constructive
Goddard's constructive touches pleased the crowd. and his passes should have led to greater danger to the Palace defence. When the exchanges became livelier, Kelly, saved a header from. Andrews, and Bailey did likewise When Mackay connected with Knight's centre at the other end. A much bigger fright came to the City when the ball was lobbed Into the goal area from the right. Andrews headed in, and Walton partially cleared from the line for Thomas to drive a fraction over the crossbar. McClelland was within an inch of Donaldson's immaculate low pass, the left winger shot across the face of the goal with Bailey beaten. Then Mackay lobbed a long ball through the middle, and Choules doubled across, and kicked the ball behind for a corner after McClelland had run past the advancing goalkeeper.
Donaldson goal
The flag kick brought the City a goal. McClelland's cross was headed out by a defender. Knight's over head kick returned it into the goalmouth and DONALDSON'S head did the rest. The centre-forward's deflection, away towards the far post was only half checked by Bailey, from whose hands the ball passed into the corner of the net. Soon after this success in the 11th
minute, the crowd saw the unusual spectacle of Kelly being knocked sprawling by the onrushing Bennett as the ball flashed wide of an upright, City were much on top now, and the Palace defence was unsteady under heavy pressure. In contrast the Exeter rearguard allowed the visiting attack little scope, and Davey was in the picture with well-timed tackles. In the 28 minute the City increased their lead and again through DONALDSON, who headed Priestley's corner kick into the top near corner of the net. Knight almost made the tally three with a 25-yard low, going-away drive to which Bailey dived and saved dramatically.
Palace flaws
A cross-shot from McClelland missed the far post by inches with the goalkeeper beaten, and to these menacing attacks the Palace made few threatening replies. The visiting side combined neatly on occasion, but were not impressive in front of goal. Another phase in which the Palace were deficient was in wing half play. Willard and Simpson were nothing like so effective as McLean and Goddard, the latter a creater of many pleasing movements. From one of them the left wing triangle advanced, and McClelland
shot into the side netting.
Half-time:
EXETER CITY 2-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
Palace looked dangerous until McClelland's  headed interception broke up two attacks. Then the City switched the point of play, and Priestley's thrust and ball control nearly brought the maximum reward. He controlled Knight's pass, closed into the centre, and then deceived the defence by side-footing the ball to Mackay.
Third goal
The inside-left manoeuvred for an opening, but the ball stuck in the mud and his shot, lacking force, was stopped without difficulty by Bailey. In the ascendant for a brief spell. the Palace forced a corner which brought them no profit, and then Exeter took up the running again to score a third goal ten minutes after the restart. PRIESTLEY was the marksman, and his low-angled shot sneaked into the net Just inside the far upright. Bailey was ofter under fire and saved close-range shots from Mackay and Priestley. On the heavy ground the pace was naturally becoming slower. and Exeter temporarily had to wage a defensive battle while McLean was off injured. With the wing half-back's return play was soon back at the Palace end, and Knight passed delightfully for McClelland to drive a fraction wide.
This narrow Palace escape was counter-balanced when Walton headed a centre from Fell to safety The full-back was standing almost on the goal line, and he adopted the only safety measure possible. Exeter's form from now on was a revelation.
Perfect Play 
The City played like a perfect football combination and the unhappy Palace defence was bewildered.  The crowd roared when DONALDSON completed his "hat trick" from one of the cheeklest goals seen at St. James's for a long time. The Palace had been awarded a free kick inside their own penalty area. Edwards took it and passed back to his goalkeeper, thereby contravening the rules by "not kicking the ball outside the box." When the kick was retaken. Edwards tapped the ball outside the area and goalkeeper Bailey ran for ward and tried to scoop it within his grasp. but was floored by the quick-thinking, Donaldson. The ball ran nicely for the centre forward, who shot instantly and into the corner of the unguarded net. More thrills followed. The best goal of the match was to come when MACKAY went through on his own to score with a magnificent cross shot. A brilliant movement initiated by Knight was foiled only by a great by Balley, who parried McClelland's point-blank drive. Exeter's wing-halves were constantly interpassing to split the Palace defence and this manoeuvre brought the sixth goal. The ball was slipped through to Priestley, who outpaced the full backs and passed inside for MACKAY to score with a first-time low shot. The soaring tally was completed by MCCLELLAND, who shot past Bailey from close range. Result:
EXETER CITY 7-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

COMMENTS
No Third Division team would have held the City this afternoon. The Palace must have wondered what hit them! The City's biggest win of the season did not overestimate their superiority. In defence, the City had a solid look which the Palace did not possess, while in the forward line Exeter's live-wire marksmen were infinitely more dangerous. But the department which aided the victory more than any other was the half-back line. Goddard's return was a complete success, and McLean on the other flank was equally good. Both these wing intermediates gave grand support of which the attack took full advantage. Andy Donaldson is to be congratulated on his first "hat-trick" for the club. He did not, however, outshine his fronk-rank colleagues, all of I whom were in grand fettle-not the least being Jacky Knight, who although not among the scorers was a grand schemer at inside-right. particularly in the second half. Young Priestley had easily his best game since joining the City; it was good to see him playing with such complete confidence.

Attendance: 7,382; receipts, £612 14s 6d.

Exeter and District League 
Tiverton Tn. v. City 'A'
Exeter started in great style with a goal after two minutes when centre forward Toward broke through. After inter-passing with Caines TOWARD beat Luxton, the Tiverton 'keeper. Tiverton fought back, and Hall and Parsons both went close with shots. Little was seen of the Exeter at tack, and in the 9th minute WILLIS hooked in Hall's pass to put Tiver ton on terms. Ten minutes later TOWARD got a second goal for the City, against the run of play, when he cleverly drove home a pass from the right. McCLYMONT put Tiverton level once again with a drive just inside the posts from a free kick. COLLARD put Tiverton in front for the first time with a 30-yard drive.
Half-time:
TIVERTON 3-2 EXETER CITY "A"

Second-half scorers were HITCHMAN (pen.) for Tiverton, and BOLT and SAINSBURY (0.g.) for Exeter City "A." Result:
TIVERTON 4-4 EXETER CITY "A"