Saturday February 21st.

City 2 Gillingham 0.

Exeter's team selection had been left over till this morning. The defence was the same as usual, but the forwards were doubtful, as it was not certain whether Whittaker could play, he having been on the sick-list again this week. It was finally decided to leave out Lovett, who therefore accompanied the Reserves to Plymouth. Whittaker took his place at inside-right and Brooksbank was centre. Rain fell without ceasing all the morning, but cleared off in the afternoon, and at the time of the kick-off bright sunshine prevailed.

Teams:

City:- Pym; Fort, Strettle; Rigby, Lagan, Smith; Holt,Whittaker, Brooksbank, McCann, Goodwin.

Gillingham:- Bailey; Mosley, Leslie; Mahon, Lee, Johnson; Pinkney, Gilligan, Weavers, Hakefost, Tatton.

Referee:- Mr T.W.Alinal, of Harringay.

Linesmen:- Messrs F.Smith and H.F.Curtis.

The crowd numbered between two and three thousand at the start. Gillingham looked very smart in their bright blue shirtswith red sleeves and collar bands. Rigby lost the toss, and Exeter, facing the St James's Road end, started with the sun in their eyes. After 23 minutes' play McCann scored for Exeter, and it was a distinctly lucky goal. The Scotchman got away on one of his fast dribbles, and tried to wing the ball to Goodwin. He overkicked the pass however, and with Goodwin now covered by the defence, went on alone. From twenty-five yards he unleashed a shot that appeared to be going over the bar, and in any case Bailey was positioned for a save, but at the crucial moment the ball passed under the bar and into the rigging, to the consternation of the Gillingham players. Shortly before the interval a remarkable escape occurred at the Exeter end when Hakefost shaved the post from Tatton's centre.

Half-time: City 1 Gillingham nil.

Play in the second half had barely started when Exeter scored another goal. Goodwin was the scorer. Receiving a nice through pass from McCann he cut in on the goal in the well remembered style of Ben Ives, and found the net with a scorching oblique drive which was going away from Bailey all the time. Goodwin's colleagues deluged him with expressions of their delight, for the issue had been in doubt until then. In the dying minutes Holt was fouled, and McCann nearly increased the lead from the free-kick.

PLYMOUTH AND DISTRICT LEAGUE.

Royal Irish Regiment v City Reserves.

The Reserves beat the Royal Irish easily enough, scoring five goals without reply at the Brickfields, Devonport. The ground was in a fearful condition, but after some discussion it was decided to play the League match. It was soon evident that Exeter were by far the better side, and from the outset they attacked. Evans was the first to become dangerous, and he just missed with one hard shot, the ball skimming the crossbar. Jones, the military goalkeeper was prominent, saving from Walker and Lewis in the first five minutes. Eventually, after another drive by Lewis had been kept out by the goalkeeper Cox scored with a fine shot into the bottom corner. The second goal was obtained by Orr, and the third by Evans, from the penalty spot after Beatty had handled.

Half-time: Reserves 3 Royal Irish nil.

Marshall changed places with Cox in the second half, andscored the fourth goal. Near the end Walker followed up smartly to díispossess the goalkeeper, and put the ball into the net for the fifth time.

The City lined up as follows:- Loram; Harding, Hunt; Marshall, Pratt, Evans; Orr, Walker, Cox, Lewis, Tucker.

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