Crystal Palace 0-0 ECFC

Attendance: 5535

(by Lionel Wotton-Nomad)
ALTHOUGH there was no snow in the Croydon area, the weather was bitterly cold for the Crystal Palace and Exeter City match to-day, and there was only a small crowd to welcome the teams.

The line-up
Crystal Palace: Bailey, Choules. McDonald: Willard, Briggs, Simpson; Fell, Bennett, Thomas, Devonshire, Hanlon.
Exeter City: Kelly: Walton. Douglass; McLean, Davey, Goddard: Priestley, Knight. Donaldson, Mackay, McClelland.
Referee: A. Hill (Newport)
The pitch was as hard as concrete and heavily sanded as a protective measure against frost and ice. City fielded the same side as that which defeated Newport County last week, while the Palace had Bob Thomas, formerly with Plymouth Argyle, leading the attack. Ray Goddard won the toss and the City, who wore yellow and black jerseys, were attacking in the first minute.
Controlling the light ball neatly. Donaldson beat McDonald and shot on the half-volley from long range. It was a good effort, but the shot went too high. To this early City attack the Palace made a speedy reply, and Davey headed out a dangerous centre from Fell. Keen anticipation by McLean enabled him to break up the next Palace attack before setting his own forwards in motion, to force the first corner of the match. The wind increased in intensity and snow began to fall ten minutes after the start to add to the discomfort of the shivering onlookers.

Dazzling run 
After a spell of Palace aggression Mackay started a City movement. His cross pass to McClelland brought the winger into prominence and the home goal almost fell. Beating Choules and Briggs in a dazzling run, McClelland put the ball low into the middle, and it was luckily intercepted and scrambled away from the goal area. Exeter, the neater side, continued to attack, and Mackay just failed to beat Bailey in a race to the ball. A minute later the home goal keeper punched away a dropping centre from Priestley. Yet the Palace launched one dangerous counter-attack, and almost scored, when Devonshire went through at top speed.

He had intercepted an attempted clearance by Davey, and went on to resist a challange from Walton before centreing hard across the field. Fell was in position to meet the ball, and so was Kelly to save the winger's low header.
Midway through the first half the Palace were showing signs of getting on top. Hard shots from Thomas flashed over the crossbar, and another menacing situation developed when Hanlon's diagonal centre landed in a crowded goalmouth. Kelly fisted the ball away. and a return shot from Willard was blocked and cleared by Goddard.

City hit back
After defending stubbornly for a while the City revived, and Knight, who was the City's best forward, initiated the cleverest raid of the game so far. He drew the defence before passing to Mackay, from whose centre McClelland headed inches outside with the goalkeeper beaten. This was followed immediately by a quick cut through by Devonshire. The City defence was in difficulty when he passed inside to Thomas. The centre-forward shot first-time, and Kelly fell full-length to punch the ball away for Douglass to complete the clearance. City's goal survived a fierce attack just before the interval. and a number of shots were parried without Kelly being tested.
Half-time:
CRYSTAL PALACE 0-0 EXETER CITY
Bailey, the Palace goalkeeper, almost fisted Priestley's curling centre into his own net. The ball skidded away for a corner. which, like another flag kick forced a few minutes later, brought no reward to the attacking side. Considering the treacherous state of the pitch, this was by no means a bad game, and when the Palace hit back they were countered by a steady defence in which Douglass was often prominent.

Palace escapes
It was again the intelligent Knight who raised the City's hopes. He controlled a pass from McClelland and then changed the point of the attack by kicking hard across the field to Priestley. A quick return from the outside right dropped just in front of Mackay, who was floored as he was. in the act of shooting. Palace were in desperate straits when Bailey ran out and was for tunate to see the ball rebound from his knees as McClelland shot. Kelly held a close-range rising shot from Bennett, and the City were hard pressed when Thomas ran out to the left and centred to the waiting Willard. From 12 yards range, Willard looked a certain scorer, untii McLean raced across to block his shot.
The next thrill was at the other end, where Priestley's fast, low shot had Bailey diving at full stretch to save by the far upright.
Result: 
Crystal Palace 0-0 Exeter City 

COMMENT 
The conditions were against good football; the frost-bound ground im posed too great a handicap. Under the circumstances the teams did well, and this was an entertain ing game. evenly contested. Jackie Knight showed splendid ball control and was the best forward on view. He and Mackay presented presented the greatest danger to the Palace defence.


CITY RESERVES v. GUILDFORD
By REX WILLIAMS

BOTH teams were slow from the kick-off in the City Reserves v. Guildford match at St James's Park, but eventually Exeter managed a movement and Mitchell gained possession on the right. He passed in and Murphy shot low. Drinkwater just got his fingers to it and pushed round for a corner. Mitchell came close twice in the next few minutes, once from near the goal-line and again from well out when the ball just skimmed the bar.
The players found some difficulty in keeping their feet on the hard snow-covered fround. Not until the 17th minute did Guildford look dangerous. Then Singleton foiled right-wing advance and play went Immediately to the other end. Murphy was closest when he tried from the right. His shot curved slightly and glanced off the far upright with Drinkwater out out of position. It was all Exeter-Guildford had only, been inside the Exeter penalty area twice and then dangerous. were not
HIT THE UPRIGHT
Cook slammed in a close-range shot which hit the upright and went out. The same player brought the Guildford keeper to a dive when be ahot just after.
Guildford pressed harder but could make little headway, Ellaway shot for Exeler and Drinkwater saved well. Parker twice kicked over the bar. The smallest crowd this season were watching the match and every good move was accompanied by a foot warming stamping of feet. Several promising moves came to grief because of the sluggishness of the ball on the pitch. Mitchell tried a shot, but it went well wide.
Half-time:
CITY RES 0-0 GUILDFORD CITY

The second half started with Exeter still on top, although the cold weather seemed to slow down both teams. When Ellaway put Cook through, the centre-forward shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. Murphy brought Drinkwater down with a low shot, but Guildford never came near the Exeter goal.
Result:
EXETER CITY 0-0 GUILDFORD CITY