Wednesday, December 3rd.

City Reserves v Exeter Wednesday, at St James's Park.

 

The weather was cold and showery, and there was only a small attendance for this friendly match. The City team was all pro., with the exception of an amateur from Alphington at centre.

 

The Wednesday were outmanned, but plucky. Brooksbank soon got a goal, and after Loram had saved a penalty taken by Potter, the lead was increased by Lovett. In the second half, after Street had narrowly missed, Loveridge scored from a scramble in front of the City goal. Rigby put in a good shot that seemed certain to find the net, but the ball swerved and hit the post.

 

Kendall saved a hard drive from Lovett, and the Wednesday then defended very efficiently.

Score: Exeter City 2, Exeter Wednesday 1.

 

 

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6TH.
CARDIFF CITY v EXETER CITY.

 

This afternoon Exeter City's southern League engagement was at Ninian Park, Cardiff. The Welsh club this morning werebottom of the League, and had absolutely failed to fulfil the high hopes which their supporters had of a successful first season in the higher division. As a matter of fact, they have found that the upper circle is a very different competition than the minor one from which the club emerged top of the table last season.

 

Two weeks ago Portsmouth beat them at Ninian Park by 3-1, and last Saturday they were engaged in the F.A.Cup at Swansea, being ousted by the Second Division club. The last reverse, as may have been expected, roused the Directors, and they decided to go in for sweeping changes today, the half-back line of Harvey, Cassidy and Hardy alone remaining intact.

 

Evans Dropped.

The most surprising alteration was the dropping of Jack Evans, generally supposed to be Cardiff's best player, and in fact, an International. Devlin was the only forward to retain his place. Hopkins, only twenty years old, who was recently transferred from Brierley Hill Alliance for £200, operated at centre-forward.

 

Robertson, late of Wallsend, and Devlin, both profess also to be essentially centre-forwards, and yet were played at outside right and inside right respectively. On the left wing two young players were promoted from the reserves, these being West, also late of Wallsend, and Clarke, who was secured from Hebburn Argyle. In the full-back department Brittan, the old Portsmouth and Northampton defender, recently secured for f325 from the "Spurs", partnered Doncaster, the left-back position never having been satisfactorily filled since Leah was injured. In goal Kneeshaw was replaced by Stephenson, formerly of Jarrow Caledonians, who has been playing very well for the Reserves. Altogether there were six changes from last week, and one Cardiff writer referred to them as the "panic changes."

 

Exeter City had also made alterations, but with far less cause than Cardiff, for the Grecians have only lost one Southern League match out of the last six. Marshall was unable to appear, having been crippled in last week's match against the Rangers. In his place it was resolved to try Evans, who has lately been scoring goals for the Reserves. Brooksbank was rested, and some of the management wished to try Harding at inside-right, but eventually Rigby was entrusted with the position, and Harding brought in at right-half.

 

Unhappy Experiences.

The Grecians' experiences against South Wales clubs had in the past been very unhappy ones. Two years ago Merthyr knocked them out of the Cup, and this year ousted them from the Charity Cup. They were also the first side to lower the City's colours at St James's Park last season, on January 4th. Last season also, on November 30th, Exeter lost the Cup-tie at Ninian Park, in the most disastrous fashion, by 5-1 to Cardiff, and twice, on past occasions had lost friendlies on the same enclosure by 1-0 each time.

 

Therefore, when the Grecians entered upon this afternoon's encounter, it was with the none too inspiring knowledge that they had yet to win a match in South Wales.

 

The Exeter party left St. David's this morning by the 8.15 train, caught a speedy connection at Bristol, and got to Cardiff just before one o'clock. When Cardiff was reached rain was falling, and a thin, driving mist had been descending, it was said, without intermission for twenty-four hours. The first news that greeted the party was that Brittan had broken down in training with knee trouble, and could not play. His place at back was given to Hardy, and Keenor, from the Reserves, was played at left-half.

Teams:

CARDIFF CITY:

Stephenson; Doncaster, and Hardy.

Harvey, Cassidy, and Keenor.

Devlin, Robertson, Hopkins, West, and Clarke.

 

EXETER CITY:​

Pym; Fort, and Strettle;

Harding, Lagan, and Smith;

Holt, Rigby, Whittaker, McCann, and Evans.

 

The turf at Ninian Park was in fair condition, but there were watery patches around the goals. Cardiff won the toss. They won a corner in the first minute on their left. Pym punched clear, and McCann booted the ball down the field. Hardy volleyed it back, and Cardiff again became dangerous on the left, but the ball was sent behind. For a time all the play was in Exeter's half, then Devlin ballooned the ball over the bar with a flying drive.

 

Both teams were plunging at the ball first time, and these were the correct methods to adopt. Accurate passing was impossible, for the ball was rain-sodden after five minutes' play, and the turf was quickly showing water in many places.

 

Hopkins tried a long shot, which went wide, and Harvey pushed the ball up the right wing, but Devlin was caught offside. There were barely 3,000 spectators present at this stage, doubtless on account of the combination of the weather and Cardiff City's poor showing in the League so far.

 

Whittaker Scores for Exeter.

After twenty minutes' play Exeter took the lead with a very fine goal. A long clearance by Fort found Whittaker, who ran the ball past Cassidy and Harvey, pounced forward and found a gap between the backs. Controlling the ball beautifully on the watery pitch, he manoeuvred himself into his favourite position for a shot, and let fly with such force that the ball crashed into the net with Stephenson motionless. On such treacherous turf it was indeed a magnificent effort and a splendid shot, but it was received in gloomy silence. At the interval the City were leading 1-0.

 

Second Half.

Players on both sides were frequently miskicking, and it was little wonder, for the ball was slippery and wet, and the turf had cut up so badly that it was extremely treacherous. Stephenson had to be on the alert to keep out a dangerous shot by McCann, and in these stages Exeter were proving themselves the cleverer side.

 

The Cardiff backs saved them on several occasions, Doncaster and Hardy both keeping cool heads under pressure. Cassidy attempted a long shot, and the ball hit Strettle's leg and flew over the bar.

 

From the following corner West scored, giving Pym no chance from close range. This unexpected equaliser put heart into the Welshmen, and they went at it "hammer and tongs" to the accompaniment of big cheering from the spectators.

 

Pym saved in fine style from Devlin, and at the Cardiff end a powerful drive from Whittaker nearly won the game. The shot was fielded by Stephenson, who was laid out by the force of it, but he pluckily held on to the ball. In the fast fading light a last attempt was made by Whittaker, but again Stephenson saved.

Final score: Cardiff City 1, Exeter City 1.

 

DEVON CUP: CITY RESERVES v TAVISTOCK.

The Reserves met Tavistock at St James's Park this afternoon, in connection with the Devon Senior Cup. Only two professionals were eligible to play for the City, whilst for the visitors Chapman, who was with the "Grecians" last season, kept goal.

 

The game was played in drizzling rain, before an attendance of about four hundred. The teams were:-

 

CITY RESERVES:

Loram; Hunt and Goddard;

Tucker, Cox, and Lewis;

Patten, Baker, Gerrish, Sturman, and Orr.

TAVISTOCK:

Chapman; Harry, and Lee;

Critchley, Burch, and Stuart;

Downe, Sleeman, Squibb, Parker, and Pike.

 

The opening stages were all in favour of the City, who were continually attacking, but they found the Tavistock defence very sound. Following a neat piece of combination by the home forwards Baker shot just wide from Orr's centre.

 

After the "Lambs" had paid a visit to home territory, the City set up a strong attack. Orr was given possession, and beating two men in a fast run he centred to Baker, who placed the ball in the net for the opening goal.

 

Tucker hit the post with an open goal, when he ought to have scored easily, then Lewis miskicked after Orr had put him through close to goal. In attempting to clear one of the visiting backs handled in the penalty area, and Loram placed Exeterfurther ahead from the spot.

Half-time: City Reserves 2, Tavistock nil.

 

Second Half.

On the restart Exeter quickly attacked, and Baker scored a third goal. Immediately afterwards Orr broke away on the left, but this time Chapman saved from Gerrish. Play become very tame and uninteresting in the muddy conditions, with neither side putting any life into their work.

 

Chapman ran out and cleared from Gerrish, and at the other end a mistake by Hunt nearly led to a goal from Tavistock.

Loram saved from Pike after the winger had gone through in nice style, and the concluding stages of the game took place in the City half, but there was no further scoring. 

Result, City 3-0 Tavistock.