Donaldson winner after gallant work by defence
By LIONEL WOTTON

Snow had been cleared from the Carrow-road ground, but the pitch remained bone-hard and slippery for the Norwich City and Exeter City match to-day.

The line-up
Norwich City: Oxford: Morgan, D., Lewis McCrohan, Foulkes. Ashman: Gordon. Hansell, Johnston, Brennan, Gavin.
Exeter City: Kelly; Walton, Rowe: McLean, Davey. Goddard; Priestley, Knight, Donaldson, Mackay, McClelland.
Referee: R. H. Hall, Harrow.

A crowd numbering in the region of 20,000 gave the Canaries a welcome befitting side which had ousted Arsenal from the F.A. Cup competition a week ago. Such was the enthusiasm in the East Anglian capital that long queues were waiting outside the ground when the game started. Cup-tie tickets for the next round were a big attraction.

Many League scouts were at the game, and they included a representative from Leicester City, who are Cup opponents of Norwich in the next stage. City had no late changes. which meant that Stan Powe deputised for Norman Douglass, who suffered a broken wrist-bone in the match with the Palace.
Norwich fielded the same side as defeated the Arsenal. Both teams experienced difficulty in the treacherous surface at the start, and the first attack of note came from Norwich, for whom Johnson veered out to the right and shot. The bail, however, struck Ray Goddard and rebounded to safety. After this, Davey tried to set the City attack in motion with a pace to Priestley, who eluded Ashman and was unlucky to see the ball run into touch. When Goddard and McLean combined accurately a chance came the way of Knight, but the inside-right, working towards the wing, was outnumbered and roboed.
Next followed two strong Norwich bids, and either might have resulted in a goal.
In the first instance Gordon got clear and centred hard across the face of the goal to Gavin, whose wild first-time shot flew yards over the crossbar.

By a fraction
A determined raid in the next minute ended in Hansell missing the objective by the merest fraction from point-blank range.
Exeter tried to counter by close passing manoeuvres, but Norwich were strong in defence, and the home side were soon back again to force the first corner of the match through good work by McCrohan. Gavin's kick was cleared, and within a minute Exeter had forced a corner at the other end. This was fraught with great danger to the home defence, and from McClelland's well-placed kick Donaldson headed a foot wide. Defences on both sides were expierencing difficulty in maintaining a foothold, and when Davey over balanced Walton had to double across and rescue his side by kicking behind.
This was the first of two fruitless corners forced by Norwich in a short space. While Norwich were doing the bulk of attacking, threatening movements had been few. At length the City raised the siege when, from a free kick near midfield, Donaldson sipped the ball in side to Mackay, whose pass to the right skidded out of Priestley's reach, the ball finally going behind. Norwich were getting a grip on the game, and a fierce skirmish inside
the penalty area was checked only by desperate defensive measures. Kelly, often in action made one grand save by fisting out a point blank shot from Gordon, and other Norwich attacks were successfully staved off.

Exeter in front
Then in the 25th minute Exeter were in front. Walton, following up in support of the attack fed PRIESTLEY with a perfect pass, and the winger's centre Skidded from the head of Foulkes into the net, leaving goalkeeper Oxford not the slightest chance of saving, Oxford was taken complete'w by surprise, and the luckless Foulkes held his head in despair. Heartened by this unexpected success, Exeter nearly scored a second goal when Mackay went through and drove across the goalmouth, with Oxford scrambling on all-fours and unable to reach the ball, which bounced out of play beyond the far post. A long shot by Mackay was safely gathered, and when Exeter returned to the attack Goddard lobbed a long pass into the goal area. This brought Oxford dashing from his charge, and although the goal keeper misfielded the ball at the first attempt he recovered in time to beat off McClelland's challenge. This aggressive Exeter speil ended there-and Norwich were again attacking with great persistence, to be foiled, as before, by a strong defence. Lively exchanges were punctuated by a speedy Exeter breakaway, and Mackay was almost through when Lewis intervened with a last-ditch tackle which sent the inside-forward headlong a few yards from the net. Each goal was imperilled, and Hansell shot over when favourably placed from 12 vards out. Gavin, a speedy raider, hooked the ball over with his right foot, and Gordon, from the other wing, cut in and shot low and wide of the near post.

Canaries level
These Norwich forwards were fast and determined, and the threatened equalising goal resulted four minutes before the interval. From one of a glut of corners, Gordon placed the ball into a crowded goalmouth and. although two shots were blocked. GAVIN followed up and the third time was unlucky for Exeter. Gavin's high shot found a gap and the ball sned into the top corner of the net.
Half-time:
NORWICH CITY 1-1 EXETER CITY

The second half began with Norwich on the rampage, and McLean had to concede another corner to stop the flying Gavin. Although the flag kick was cleared, Exeter's relief was only momentary. A free kick was the prelude to yet another addition to the mounting tally of Norwich corners-but again it brought the home side no reward. Brennan fired over, and then Gordon centred behind to end another storming Norwich attack. Only rarely did the Exeter forwards flash into prominence, but one clever combined movement in which Mackay, Donaldson, Knight, and Priestly shared had the home defence really worried. The ball finally travelled between Oxford and Donaldson, and the centre-forward drove against the goalkeeper's shin, for the rebound to be scrambled to safety.

Gallant defence
A headed flick by Mackay looked promising until McClelland stumbled on the frozen surface and lost possession.
Norwich were faster on the ball and more impressive in attack, but the overworked Exeter defence was battling every inch of the way, with Davey and McLean often prominent. Rowe also cleared his lines effici ently. But the question was how long this galant rearguard could hold out. Kelly was injured when punching out a menacing centre from Gordon. but sonn resumed, and a free kick brought much-needed respite to Exeter. When McLean created an opening for Knight, however, the inside-right shot lamely from 20 yards range. At length Exeter showed signs of recovery. thanks to good construc tive play by Goddard and McLean. The two wing half-backs combined Intelligently to set the attack in motion and from one movement of their creating a corner was forced. McClelland kicked the ball into the goal area and ANDY DONALDSON, Jumping high above the rest. headed the City into the lead with a grandly taken goal.
Kelly's anticipation frustrated Norwich when Brennan controlled a pass from Johnston and shot hard from 12 yards out. The goalkeeper beat the ball down with one hand, caught it on the bounce, and cleared with the confidence of a master of his craft.

Victims of the icy surface, Davey and Foulkes had to receive treatment, and when the game resumed Donaldson shot wide with a good cfort from 25 yards range. The Norwich attacks continued with undiminished fury, but every time the City defence remained the masters. In the closing stages Exeter were the more dangerous side, and Donaldson gave the home defence a fright with a low shot which sped a fraction wide of the far post. A few minutes later Mackay chased through the middle, and Oxford was completely beaten by a low shot which grazed the angle of the goal.
Result:
Norwich City 1-2 Exeter City

COMMENTS
To defeat the Arsenal Cup conquerors was a great achievement. That Exeter did so at Carrow-road to-day was due chiefly to an unyield ing defence. No tribute is too high for this gallant rearguard in which every man played a stalwart role, fromn Hugh Kelly in goal to Ray Goddard at left-half. Deadly tackling and effective covering enabled Exeter to with stand a terrific hammering and take all that the fast and accurate Nor wich attack could give. Exeter's forwards were not so often in the picture, but danger came in sporadic attacks, and Donaldson and Mackay both came near to increas ing the margin of victory in the final stages.
Attendance: 24.728.

RESERVES' 2-0 WIN OVER GRAVESEND

GRAVESEND were lucky to retain their 'keeper, Heathcoate, who caught the ball full in the face before the kick-off against Exeter City Reserves, and received treatment.

Exeter went straight to the offensive and Murphy was through when Heathcote just got the ball. Cook ghosted past left-back Lewis but was beaten at the last minute. Ellaway headed the ball through and Flockhart cleared almost on the line.

Parker centred an easy shot, and left back Lewis completely miskicked. Mitchell, in front of a wide open goal and well inside the penalty, area, kicked well wide. Ellaway back-heeled and Parker landed the ball on the roof of the net. Exeter had a narrow escape. Gibbons broke through. His shot deflected off Singleton for a corner. Gibbons kicked over from the flag kick. There was very little to choose between the two teams, but Exeter were slightly on top and more determined in attack. Parker took the ball close to the Gravesend goal, but Heathcoate had it covered. At the other end, Gibbons kicked wide when well placed. The same player headed over the bar from a corner. Exeter went ahead through MITCHELL after 35 minutes. Cook centred with the visiting defence out of position. Mitchell paused and it looked as If the goal would be packed. His shot glanced in from the underside of the bar. Carroll found a space. but rocketed his shot over the Exeter bar. Half-time:
CITY RES 1-0 GRAVESEND

Exeter remained on top, and Mitchell was unlucky not to increase their lead when his shot from 30 yards went just wide. Amateur Colin James, at left-back, grazed his leg and moved to the left wing. Parker went back to the defence, where his sturdy tackling prevented Gravesend from getting too close to the Exeter goal. McEwan took a corner for Gravesend and centre-half Croker headed just over the Exeter bar. This was Gravesend's nearest chance yet. With only eight minutes to go. ELLAWAY took advantage of a goal mouth tusse and shot past Heath coate to give Exeter their second goal
Result:
CITY RES 2-0 GRAVESEND 

Wednesday, February 10th 1954. Floodlit Friendly Match at St. James's Park.

EXETER CITY 2 (Parker, Mackay) BRITISH ARMY XI 4 (Hines (2), Walton (own goal) Bloomfield 

CITY
Kelly Walton Storey McLean Davey
Goddard Mitchell Knight Donaldson Mackay Parker

Referee Mr. W. E. Taylor.

BRITISH ARMY XI
King Meadows Hopkins Charles Rutter Clayton Finney Quixall Hines Bloomfield, Blunstone

Attendance 3,974.
The  BRITISH ARMY XI was:- 
King (Swansea);
Meadows' (Manchester City),
Hopkins (Tottenham);
M.Charles (Swansea),
Rutter (Portsmouth),
Clayton (Blackburn);
Finney (Sheffield Wed),
Quixall (Sheffield W),
Hines (Leicester),
Bloomfield (Brentford),
Blunstone (Chelsea),

Scorers
Exeter City:- Parker, Mackay,
Army:- Hines 2, Og, Bloomfield,

This was the cleverest exhibition of football seen at St James's Park this season, a display that was featured by skillful movements, deft footcraft and intelligent passing. The scorer Hines was a constant threat to the City throughout the game, he put the Army side in the lead when he met a cross to drive the ball hard into the net from a sharpish angle, Exeter's reply was equally convincing, a deft back heel pass from Mackay created the chance from which Parker shot a splendid equalising goal,

Hines restored the Army lead, again with a perfectly placed cross shot, a lead they held until half time. After the interval Mitchell hit the bar with a 20 yard shot, then the Army scored number three, when Walton ran a Finney centre into his own net. Directly from the restart Mackay scored shooting past King without an Army player touching the ball. Again the struggle seemed evenly poised and it stayed that way until the last 20 minutes when the Army scored the final goal of the match through Bloomfield, to end in undisputed command of the game.