WALTON ALONE SHONE IN THIS DRAB GAME

City end season on winning note, but 75th minute goal decided! 

By LIONEL WOTTON (Nomad)

CITY
Singleton; Walton, Douglass; Owens, Davey, Mitchell; Priestley, Knight, Donaldson, Mackay, McClelland.
BOSCOMBE
Godwin; Cunningham, Keetley; Macdonald, H.J.Hughes, Neave; W.Hughes, Siddall, Fidler, Murray, Harrison.
Referee:- Mr L.R.H.BURFIELD, of ILMINSTER:
Linesmen:- Messrs N.W.DAVIES and W.H.DAVEY.

NOTHING barred, barring good football. The comment sums up last night's match at St. James's Park, where Exeter City defeated Bournemouth by an only goal, scored by Andy Donaldson 15 minutes from the end. Rarely have I seen such a poor exhibition between teams of Third Division ranking It was crude and listless, a display which emphasised that the season was fast ebbing to a close. Few players on either side made any worthwhile contribution. In the Exeter team, Dick Walton's earnestness and efficiency stood out. The right-back was the best defender on view, and a City point saver when, late on, he got his shoulder in the way of a vicious 12 yards drive from Siddall, which had Barney Singleton beaten helplessly. The ball was speeding towards the corner of the net and there appeared to be no hope of a survival until Walton, standing almost on the goal-line, made his dramatic deflection to safety. Donaldson's match-winner was in a snatch-and-grab category, and the outcome of a bad error on the part of goalkeeper Godwin, who was completely deceived by a speculative 25 yards lob from Angus Mackay. The ball bounced high, and Godwin ought to have played for safety by turning it over the crossbar. He did not do so, and paid the penalty for his folly. The bounce beat him. The ball rebounded from the crossbar into his hands, and in tore Donaldson. Poor Godwin received the full impact of a hefty shoulder charge which forced him. ball and all into the back of the net. To a man, Bournemouth protested that the charge infringed the laws. Referee Burfeld, well placed, was firm in his decision.

Whirlwind start
In contrast with the subsequent drabness of the exchanges, the crowd saw Exeter get off to a whirlwind start which almost brought the home side a second minute goal from Priestley's corner kick, Donalson's flashing header rebounded into play from the under side of the crossbar. The Exeter centre-forward, by far the most intelligent member of the generally bad attack, laid on a succession of chances for his colleagues in the first half. All were wasted, through wild shooting, or timidity in going in to meet the ball. Any resemblance between Charlie McClelland and an outside-left who is his club's leading goalscorer this season was non-existent in last night's encounter He was the worst culprit in missing chances. Angus Mackay was almost as guilty , especially when he tapped the ball weakly at the goalkeeper with only Godwin to beat. After the interval, Exeter were a lifeless lot in attack. The forward line possessed a minimum of thrust, and misfired badly in the inside and wing positions. John Owens worked hard in the half-back line, and Fred Davey kept a firm hold on Fiddler, the tall Bournemouth centre-forward, but Walton was the City's outstanding player. Bournemouth were far from being a good side, yet they came near to drawing in the last ten minutes. Had the visiting side succeeded, the City could have blamed no one but themselves. The fact that this was the last match of the season was no excuse.
Attendance: 5 357.
Receipts: £407.


MURPHY IS BENEFIT GAME STAND-BY LIONEL WOTTON

No late changes are reported in the Cardiff City team who meet Exeter City this evening in a joint benefit match for Fred Davey and Angus Mackay. The line-up at St. James's Park is, therefore, expected to include Trevor Ford and other international players. Ford is named to lead the First Division side. Also in the side announced late last week are the Welsh caps: Stitfall, Sherwood, Baker, Sullivan, and Edwards. Exeter's team is being chosen from 12 players. Making a special effort to pass a fitness test for this, his joint benefit game, is Angus Mackay. He is a fifty-fifty prospect, and in his absence the inside-left position will be filled by Eddie Murphy. Compared with the side who lost at Reading last Saturday, Paddy Doyle replaces Dick Walton at right back, and John Owens comes in for Sammy Booth at right-half.

Exeter City:
Singleton; Doyle, P., Douglass: Owens, Davey, Mitchell: Priestley, Knight, Donaldson, Murphy, McClelland.

Cardiff City:
Verncombe: Stitfall, Sherwood: Baker, Montgomery, Sullivan: Tiddy, Nugent, Ford, Grant, Edwards.
Kick-off 6.45.

City's last Third Division match of
the season is with Bournemouth, at
St. James's Park, to-morrow. kick-off 6.30. Team selection must be
deferred until after this evening's game. Bournemouth, who defeated Exeter four-one at Dean Court last month, are expected to field the following side:
Bournemouth 
Godwin; Cunningham, Keetley: Macdonald, Hughes, H., Neave; Hughes, W., Siddall, Fidler, Murray. Harrison.

Goddard stars
Ray Goddard, Bideford's new player-manager, skippered his new club to victory over his former Exeter City colleagues in Denis Miller's benefit match at Bideford Sports Ground last night to make a picture-book beginning to his new fe at Bideford, writes Phil Day. It was Ray'e first appearance for the "Robins." and the way he marshalled the Bideford defence to meet Exeter City's insistent second half attacks contributed in no small measure to Bideford's 2-1 win.
Bideford, handicap: after the interval by having a limping Bill Harrower on the wing, were forced back on the defensive for long periods in this half, but so well did the home defence play that only once did City score. Disappointing was the news just before the match that Denis Miller himself was injured and was unable to play. The combination of circumstances, however, gave former Exeter City and Bideford player Billy Mustard, who had come just to watch the match, his chance to again appear in a Robins' shirt-and Billy, wearing Miller's boots, took his opportunity well.
Own-goaled
Bideford's opening goal came in the 24th minute: Mustard started the move with an on-the-spot pass to Bill Harrower, and when, from the winger's cross, Ernie Price headed against the upright, Mustard was in position to net from the rebound Seven minutes before half-time came the other Bideford goal-Mustard put a long pass towards the left wing in an attempt to split the Exeter defence, and Brian Doyle, the City full-back. turned the ball wide of his own keeper. Exeter tried desperately to get on terms, and the highlight of a series of attacks was a brilliant save by Derek Davis which prevented Cook from levelling the scores.
Paddy replies
The visitors redoubled their efforts after Bideford had lengthened their lead, but were denied by the Bide ford rearguard, superbly generalled by Goddard. City were certainly unlucky, however, when in the 60th minute only the woodwork thwarted 8 McLean effort. On this occasion Setters wasted a golden oppor tunity by hitting the rebound wide. Exeter had to be content with a goal netted by centre-forward Paddy Doyle ten minutes from time. when the visiting leader was given one of the very few opportunities Goddard allowed him. Setters had been allowed to make unhindered progress along the touchline before providing the goalscoring centre. City were especially served by full backs Rowe and Doyle, and by Davey and Booth in the half-back line. Mc Lean and Cook formed a dangerous wing combination.
BIDEFORD
Davis; Rivers, Pate; F.Gidley, Goddard, McGill; Mustard, Barnes, Price, Harrower, Slade.
CITY
Kelly; B.Doyle, Douglass; Booth,Davey, Mitchell; Setters, Mackay, L.Doyle, McLean, Cook.

Fred Davey and Angus Mackay Benefit
Trevor Ford-two footed master 
4000 enjoy benefit at Park 
Friday 27th April 
by Lionel Wooten 
TREVOR FORD stole the show in last night's benefit match for Exeter City players Angus Mackay and Fred Davey at St. James's Park. Welsh international centre-forward was the complette leader, a craftsman who is for ever seeking the open spaces, and a marksman whose "hat-trick" shot Cardiff City to a 3-1 victory against Exeter City. The first of the Ford goals came in the 25th minute, when a low
shot no great pace beat Singleton. The next, midway through the second half, was a fine effort which few modern footballers could have taken. A centre was headed out by Norman Douglass. The ball was dropping towards Ford, and that alert opportunist hit it instantly with the left foot. Balance and timing were perfect. Barney Singleton had no chance of sighting the drive which sped high into the far corner of the net. All really great players are two footed. Ford is no exception, because his third goal resulted from right foot, close-up drive which rocketed into the roof of the net
Flashing header
EVERY one of Ford's goals was the outcome of high-powered marksmanship or crafty placing. But none outshone the one which Anndy Donaldson scored to level the sides in the early part of the second half A long, cross-field pass from Mitchell travelled to Priestley. The outside-right eluded Rutter (second-half replacement for Alf Sherwood) in grand style, and his centre was met by Donaldson, whose header flashed into the top far corner. Exeter, in an aggressive spell following Donaldson's goal, had Cardiff temporarily worried. Bill Parker ran through the middle flicked the ball past the advancing Vearncombe, only for another defender to avert danger by conceding a corner Then Donaldson had a point-blank drive brilliantly parried, and Charlie McClelland with saw an angled shot bump tantalising across a gaping goalmouth, a fraction on the wrong side of an upright. The City's prospects looked unexpectedly bright until Mr. Ford took charge once more. They faded completely when a pulled thigh muscle forced Paddy Doyle to limp long the left wing for the last 25 minutes. The disorganisation proved too great handicap, although Parker earned frequent applause for his useful display as a stand-in mergency full-back.
Two phases
FOR little more than an hour, this was an entertaining struggle. In the final stages it developed into an exhibition, with Cardiff delighting the fans in a series of polished combined raids. Douglass had a useful match, and was the best man in the home defence, Owens was a strong tackling wing-half, but the attack was unpredictable. There were flashes of clever, constructive play, and drab spells which elementary errors were committed. Next to Ford, in the Cardiff side, I liked Billy Baker, a right-half whose adroit use of the ball remains as good as ever. Vearncombe had his testing moments, and his work bore the stamp of a young 'keeper who should advance a long way along the road to fame.

City: Singleton: Douglass, Doyle: Owens Davey, Mitchell: Priestley, Knight, Donaldson, Parker, McCleland.

Cardiff: Vearncombe; Stitfall, Sherwood (Rutter in the second half); Baker, Montgomery. Sullivan: Tiddy Nugent, Ford, Northcott, Grant Referee: A. J. Gooding.
Attendance 4092