Newport faster, but missed chances

By LIONEL WOTTON (Nomad)

RAY GODDARD, who suffered a punctured toe during training this week, was declared fit early to-day, so the City fielded an unchanged side against Newport County at St. James's Park. They took the lead in the fifth minute through Mackay.
The County, unbeaten at Exeter since the war, are the most improved team in the Third Division. In their last nine League matches they have lost only once. and Graham, the Newport inside-eft, has been among the goalgetters regularly! Although dry the weather was bitterly cold, and there was only a moderate crowd to welcome the teams. 

The line-up
City: Kelly: Walton. Douglass: McLean, Davey. Priestley Goddard: Knight, Donaldson. Mackay, McClelland.

Newport: Hughes: Haines, Hayward: Thomas. Wilcox. Witcomb: Birch, Lucas. Saward. Graham, Shergold.

Referee: A. H. Blythe London.

City made a promising start, and forced a corner in the first minute, when Douglass slipped the ball through to McClelland. The winger was tackled hy Hayward, and from the resultant corner kick Davey's shot rebounded from Wilcox into the goalkeeper's arms. A free kick for an infringement in the goalmouth closed the attack.

Claims-and jolt
The wind was playing queer tricks. and the City had a fright when a high cross from Birch hung decentively: Again the goalmouth skirmish ended with the award of a free kick to the defending side. A grand pass by Knicht rent Priestley clear but the ball was running fast, and Wilcox came across to clear. Newport's neat. first-time methods appealed, and there were claims for a nenalty when the ball struck Douglass on the arm. Referee Blythe Ignored the an appeal, and the City dashed to the other end to take the lead in the fifth minute. Priestley passed into the middle and MACKAY went through the gap across came Hayward, but the inside left resisted the challenge and beat Hughes with a rising slantwise  shot from 15 yards. Exeter were in command now, a second goal seemed imminent when Knight. Mackay. and Donaldson combined perfectly. The final pass was from Donaldson to McCle!land who dribbled too close to the goalkeeper thus giving Hughes the chance to advance and deflect the ball for a corner.
County escapes
A first-time 25-yard drive from Goddard missed the far post by a foot. and thrill followed thrill as the City exerted tremendous pressure. Twice the County's goal survived sensationally. A header from Mackay was nodded from the goal line with Hughes beaten pointless. Then, with the goalkeeper nowhere on hand a Priestley shot was similarly deflected by a defender. Donaldson's shot, on the half turn sped over the crossbar and the City maintained the attack for a long spell. The home forwards could not strike again, however, and as the interval approached it was the nippy Newport team who called the tune.

Resourceful defence in which Davey and Walton constantly shone. held the County at bay. Yet the visiting side looked bound to equalise when the ball was passed and re-passed in front of the goal.

Graham's error
From only a few yards Graham ought to have made no mistake. He tapped the ball too gently and Davey intervened to clear at the expense of a corner. Walton next saved the City in similar fashion when a low cross drive from Birch looked to be destined for the far corner of the net. Breaking the stranglehold at last. the City went away to force a corner and Hughes gathered Priestley's accurately-placed kick in impeccable style. In the next attack, Donaldson had bad luck with a header which kept low and missed the far post by the inches.
Half-time:
Exeter City 1-0 Newport 

Mackay had the misfortune to run the ball out of play after tapping it past Haines, and Newport were swiftly back at the other end. Partially unsighted Kelly had all his work cut out to turn Saward's fast rising shot over the crossbar. From the resultant corner, taken by Shergold, the ball went across the field to Birch, whose raking drive sped beyond the far post.
Chances go
Newport soon forced another corner and like those before it brought the County no profit. Priestley was tripped by Wilcox and from the free-kick the City had a chance until McClelland drove over. When Newport struck back Graham drove behind, and the story of wasted opportunities continued. After McClelland had again missed the target Newport were several times within an ace of scoring. The County were better together and faster, especially in the attack. Exeter, who had lost the initiative completely,were being penned in, but a breakaway could easily have brought the home side a goal. Priestley pushed the ball to Mackay and Donaldson finally gained possession a few yards out only to shoot weakly into Hughes hands. Knight, the most methodical City forward tried hard to get the line going. Desperate defence. good luck, and brilliant goalkeeping by Kelly alone saved the badly overplayed City. How Newport did not manage to gain an equalising goal is a mystery. They certainly deserved one and and more  so completely were they in the ascendant now. Kelly, constantly in action. made one save when the odds were all against him. It was at the expense of Lucas and the ball was fast travelling away from the goalkeeper whow Hoy dived to beat it down. Newport continued well on top and forced several corner kicks in quick succession.
Result:
Exeter City 1-0 Newport 

COMMENTS

City were lucky to win. They were on top in the first 20 minutes. but thereafter the faster and better co ordinated Newport side were in the ascendant. Apart from Knight, the City attack again disappointed and the left wing was completely out of the picture.
Davey did grand work in defence. and so did Walton, but the stalwart of the City side was Hugh Kelly whose resource and judgment were mainly responsible for Newport's. failure to get the ball in the Exeter net. City will need to play much better than they did to-day, and the attack definitely needs more ginger



SOUTHERN LEAGUE 
CITY RESERVES LOSE 3-1 TO LOVELLS
THE ground was on the heavy side for the match at Rexville, Newport, between Lovells Athletic and Exeter City Reserves this afternoon. When Lovelle attacked. Harvey stopped Kemp at the expense of a corner, which Singleton cleared. A good pass through by King sent the ball to Samuels, who crossed to Ellaway, but Sillett made a good clearance.
Cook made an attempt to break through but Morgan dispossessed him. Exeter were persistent, and Cross diverted a shot by Cook against the crossbar, while, following the re bound, Ellaway struck an upright. Play went to the other end, where Paul drove against the crossbar. A good move by Setters and Cook promised well for Exeter till Edmunds made a neat clearance. King placed a nice pass for Ella way, who tested Cross with a strong shot, but the goalkeeper had the ball well covered. After 11 minutes Lovells took the lead Paul crossed from the right. and KEMP beat Storey and Harvey to score. Exeter retaliated quickly and Cross held a close-range shot from Ellaway and a little later stopped a point blank drive from Cook.
After 22 minutes' play LOWRIE in creased Lovells' lead when he sent in a high shot which was deflected into the net from under the crossbar. Seven minutes later LOWRIE netted again, this time from just outside the penalty area. Exeter were not dismaved. From a good centre by Setters, Cook put in a hard drive. but Cross held the ball Wood handled in the penalty area, but Samuels shot wide from the "spot."
Good work by Parker ended dis appointingly when the ball ran too fast for Setters. Then a nice solo effort by Samuels ended with a shot over the bar. Just before the interval Singleton saved a shot from Paul and a header from Kemp.
Half-time:
LOVELLS ATHLETIC 3-0 CITY RES.
After the interval Lovells rearranged their attack; Hawthorne. was limping and went to outside right. Ridsdale, Kemp and Lowrie, combined well and made ground but Singleton made a timely advance from his goal to take the ball from Lowrie's feet. Exeter then broke away, and a centre from Setters resulted in COOK netting with a header in the 54th minute. The City Reserves played confident. football hereabouts, but from another of Setter's useful passes Samuels shot over the bar. Cook shot wide, following a well organised Exeter attack. Wood transferred to Lowrie, who shot well. but Singleton cleared. In closing play. Sillett beat off several Exeter attacks. and the Athletic, in a final flourish, came near with a shot from Kemp which, how ever. King intercepted.
Result:
LOVELLS ATHLETIC 3-1 CITY RESERVES. 

Wednesday January 27th 1954.
Friendly match (floodlit).

EXETER CITY 0-0 BARNSTAPLE TOWN 

St James's Park, Exeter.

CITY:- Kelly; Storey Douglass; Owens Davey Dodgin; Priestley Knight Donaldson Mackay McClelland.

BARNSTAPLE:- Scott; R. Godbeer Hammond; Venus  Carter Hutchings; C. Godbeer Skinner Howells Dymond Rowe.

Referee:- Mr. B. Shorland.