CITY WELL BEATEN 

Overworked in defence-No punch forward 

By LIONEL WOTTON

WINTER'S return coincided with a below average crowd at Dean Court, where a much-changed Exeter City faced Bournemouth to-day. The most interesting of several Exeter experiments was at centre-half where Keith Harvey replaced Fred Davey. Harvey was included at the express request of Newcastle United, who had representatives watching the game.
Other alterations were on the left flank, where Bill Parker and Eddy Murphy came in for Charlie McClelland and Angus Mackay.

Line-up:
Bournemouth: Godwin: Cunningham, Keetley: Rushworth, Hardy. Thompson: Hughes, Siddal, Hunt, Buchanan, Harrison.

Exeter City: Kelly: Storey Douglass: Owens. Harvey. Dodgin: Priestley. Ellaway, Donaldson. Murphy, Parker.

Referee: L. Burfield, Ilminster.

The first thrill was on the Bournemouth left, where Harrison outpaced two defenders The speedy Bournemouth left winger came in at top speed, but from a difficult angle crossed the ball just wide of the near upright. Parker was prominent in reprisal raids He sent Priestley clear with a delightful cross-field pass but the winger was checked by Keetley. Then Parker, Donaldson, and Murphy combined to create an opening for Ellaway, whose first-time shot from a difficult angle was off the target. So was an attempt by Priestley, who had cut in to the middle and shot from 25 yards out. After a spell of Exeter aggression Bournemouth came back strongly Buchanan showed good footcraft, but the most dangerous move in the game so far came on the right flank where Hughes rounded Douglass be fore shooting at terrific pace and across the face of the goal The ball went towards the far touchline and Harrison returned it but the City defence prevailed.

Parker lively
Hughes was injured afterwards in a tussle with Douglass and left the field with a facial injury. Parker has been the liveliest member of the City attack, and his first-time passes often brought trouble to the home defence. One effort by the outside-left was a perfectly directed diagonal trags fer to Priestle and it led to the first corner of the match. Unfortunately, the flag kick was placed behind by Priestley, but the City attacked again and a studied pass by Dodgin almost split the defence The Exeter captain cunningly placed the ball through the middle and only a last ditch tackle by Hardy on Parker saved the situation for Bournemouth Good anticipation by Storey held up the Bournemouth left-wing, and the next incident was a threatening City attack initiated by Murphy. Gaining possession 30 yards out, Murphy craftily beat his man and passed to Donaldson, whose return pass was carried by the wind and went out of play.

Ten men ahead
Priestley showed a good turn of speed in outpacing two defenders, and his low centre was intercepted by the alert Godwin. Then Priestley again worked clear and passed nicely to Donaldson's feet. but the centre-forward's shot from ten yards out flashed inches wide of the near post, with Godwin beaten. This was the best chance and the nearest miss of the game up to now. Against a Bournemouth still with out Hughes, the City held the balance of play, but the home side scored in the 25th minute.
Buchanan was obstructed by Douglass, and the referee awarded an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area. This was taken by Buchanan, and he passed the ball quickly to SIDDALL who shot low past the partly unsighted Kelly for a surprise goal. Bournemouth almost scored again a few minutes later, but wild finish ing by Buchanan spoiled the effort. Then the home supporters cheered as Hughes returned to the field of play. Although the City had had a fair share of the game so far, slowness in anticipation had led to more than one favourable opportunity going begging. Good approach play by the Bournemouth left triangle gained a corner and although this was cleared. the home side maintained pressure to increase their lead in the 30th minute.

'Gift" chance
No great danger appeared to threaten when Rushworth drove the ball hard down the field. and had Douglass allowed it to run to Kelly the goalkeeper would have cleared hie line comfortably. Instead, the left-hack tried a first time clearance and did not succeed. The ball was deflected to HUGHES, who, left with an unexpected gift chance. advanced to within eight yards of the goal before scoring with a hard oblique drive just in side the near post. From Ellaway's pass Parker centred on to the roof of the net, and in the next attempt Ellaway over-ran the ball thus losing a good chance after Priestley and Donaldson had created an opening The greater thrust of Bournemouth was marked. Whereas Exeter had as much of the play, their attack was bereft of punch in the middle. Two corner kicks, both accurately placed by Priestley were cleared by the strong Bournemouth defence. and other Exeter attacks were beaten back without difficulty.
Half-time:
BOURNEMOUTH 2-0 EXETER CITY ...

Hughes, the Bournemouth outside right, had three stitches inserted in a deep cut on his chin. Keen defensive work by Owens and Harvey checked Bournemouth before the City advanced to the other end. Strong attacks almost brought a goal when Ellaway, put through by Donaldson, shot hard, for Godwin to save at the expense of a corner. Then Murphy received from Parker, closed in, and grazed the crossbar with an oblique shot which had the goalkeeper beaten.

Another error
Just when Exeter appeared to be getting a belated grip on the game, however. Bournemouth increased their lead, six minutes after the interval. Again it was a goal which should not have happened, for when Hunt placed the ball down the middle Douglass should have foiled the onrushing Buchanan by passing back firmly to Kelly. His attempt failed, and the goalkeeper was forced to scramble to the edge of the penalty area drawn from his goal, in a desperate effort to avert danger. 
The persistent Buchanan got to the ball first and afterwards had the better of successive tussles with Kelly and Douglass in turn before finishing his effort by running the ball into an empty net. Priestley was promising in fleeting City raids, but the oldold story of bad finishing spoiled every effort. There was simply no snap within shooting range. When Bournemouth crammed on the pressure the City defence was at panic stations. As mistake upon mistake was made the home forwards seemed bound to add to their lead-and would have done but for a magnificent save by Kelly, who fell and parried a point-blank drive from Siddall. Harrison, allowed to go through from an offside position in the 72nd minute, was fouled by Storey, and the referee awarded a penalty after consulting a linesman. HARRISON took the kick and brought Bournemouth's tally to four. Spasmodic Exeter attacks in the closing stages led to DONALDSON reducing the gap 30 seconds from time when he beat Godwin with a high shot, from a Parker centre.
Result:
BOURNEMOUTH 4-1 EXETER CITY

COMMENTS
Even when they were aided by the wind and Bournemouth were a man short the City were not good enough. When the teams were at full strength again the superior thrust of the home side told heavily. The Bournemouth attack kept moving as a line, whereas the Exeter vanguard was too ornate, and slow in anticipation. Harvey couid not have made his first-team re-entry under more unfortunate circumstances. He was a struggling but unsuccessful pivot in a generally overwhelmed defence. Kelly had far more work to do than Godwin, and the City goalkeeper suffered because of the many defensive mistakes made by his uncertain colleagues. On this showing Exeter must make further changes. More pace and thrust are necessary in attack and greater steadiness is essential in the rear.
Attendance, 8.263;
receipts, £720 0s 6d 


GOALLESS DRAW FOR CITY RES.
Southern League 
City Reserves v Headington 
By REX WILLIAMS

HEADINGTON UNITED changed their forward line drastically for their game with Exeter City Reserves at St James's Park this afternoon. K.Smith was unable to play and Peart deputised. Steel came in on the right-wing. Charles inside-left. and Duncan on the left-wing. Exeter's team was unchanged, Cook got away for Exeter, but was beaten close in, and just after, with Setters, got the ball near.
A Headington right-wing move ended with Singleton diving to save from Steel. McLean centred perfectly. but Cook was stopped hy an offside whistle when well placed. Mitchell and Knight worked the ball through, but Ansell was, able to hold Knight's shot.

JUST OVER THE BAR
Play went regularly from end to end, but the more dangerous movements were from Exeter. One ended with Knight shooting just over the bar from an acute angle. In a Headington raid Doyle cleared the line after heavy pressure on Exeter turned play to the other end and Knight kicked inches over the bar. Three great saves by Ansell, one after the other. marked heavy pressure by Exeter. Headington's defence showed strength under persistent Exeter pressure and Setters was prevented from scoring by a tenacious Croker at left-back. Time and again Exeter's centres were being cut out by the backs who proved stumbling blocks to other teams in Headington's cup run. When McClelland got the ball It took three defenders to rob him. Cook was beaten by the speed of the ball when he was inside the goal area and could not reach it in time to shoot. Half-time:
CITY RES.0-0 HEADINGTON UTD.

Headington were the dominant side in the opening of the second half and twice came close to scoring. Mills broke through and brought Singleton down for a fine save and shortly after Steel tried with a powerful 30 yard shot which Singleton was only able to rush round for a corner. Another two raids put Exeter into good positions but Headington's defence held 
Result 
City Reserves 0-0 Headington