SATURDAY MARCH 7TH.

CITY 0 SOUTHEND 0.
True Form

NOT SHOWN BY EXETER AGAINST SOUTHEND.

For a team of moods it would, indeed, be difficult to find the equal of Exeter City in the three Leagues. Away from home they invariably put up a good fight, but on their own midden they fail to display their true ferm. We had proof of this in the game with Watford a few weeks since, but on Saturday last their form was immeasurably worse. I do not, however, forget the fact that Southend United are struggling desperately hard to avoid relegation, but, taking the comparative form of both sides, Exeter City should certainly have bagged a brace of points. More than once the visitors looked like taking the lead, and the home supporters have reason to congratulate themselves on the fact that the "Shrimpers" attack was not of the strongest, otherwise it might have been Southend who would have secured the points. There was only one alteration in the Exeter side as compared with that which did so well against Northampton the previous week. Southend United, who have been strangers to St. James's Park for the past couple of seasons, however, were unable to command their full strength, a notable absentee being L. A. Louch, the amateur International, at centre forward. This player's absence meant a re-shuffling of Southend's attack, while, owing to Marshall's absence through injuries, Probert was shifted from right to left back, his accustomed position being taken by Robson, There was a tricky wind blowing when the game was started, and Exeter had the slight advantage of it, while the visitors were also faced with the sun, which was very strong at times. The visitors were the first to attack, but the City gradually wore them down. With the assistance of a free kick Southend again assumed the aggressive, Liddell sending a nice pass right out to McKay on the left wing. Rigby and Fort saved the situation. The wind was con- siderably interiering with the play of both teanis, and its vagaries caused the ball to pitch in places where it was the least anticipated. After Wileman had shot be- hind, the home forwards got going, but there was too much faney work on the part of the inside men to turn their passes into account. Holt once beat Steel and centred splendidly, but there was no one to accept his pass, although Rigby rushed up and sent the ball over the bar while the Southend defenders were hesitating. The next item of interest was a clever individual piece of play by Goodwin, and from his centre Marshall sent just wide. Play had not up to now reached anything like a high standard, and the "Shrimpers" proved themselves very nippy. Their wing men were being constantly fed, and the home defence was kept hard at it to repel then attacks. It is true that Exeter did not experience the best of luck in a melee in front of the visiting goal, where the ball was kicked about in a most haphazard fashion by the "Shrimpers." A break-away by Southend spelt danger for the Citizens, and the referee failed to notice a foul which occurred well within the penalty area. This was, indeed, for- tunate for the Citizens, and they showed their appreciation by bursting away, only to see Robson boot well down the field. Southend forced a couple of corners in quick succession, but these were easily eleared, although matters looked none too promising for the Citizens. A change then came over the scene, and the opening goal, for which the crowd clamoured, looked like materialising. Holt went slick through the Southend defence, and sent in a grounder from close range. Kebbell antici- pated the shot with excellent judgment, and succeeded in bringing off a clever save.

A few minutes later the visiting goalie was again called upon, and he saved at full length from Brooksbank. Then Pym was called upon to defend his charge for the first time during the game, and the shot he dealt with was by no means a difficult one. After the game had been temporarily stopped to allow the home captain to recover front a blow in the face Wileman went through on his own, but spoilt the effort by fouling Fort when the latter went to charge him. Brooksbank just missed after receiving from Lagan, and the home forwards were trying hard individually. What was lacking was combination, and the visiting defence experienced no difficulty in dealing with the shots which came their way. Just before half-time arrived Southend were presented with a fine chance, but, to the relief of the homesters, Frost failed to accept a transfer when well placed. A continuance of the attack by Southend saw Liddell put over the bar, and just as the whistle sounded for half-time Exeter forced a fruitless corner. Up to now the play of the homesters had been very disappointing, but it was hoped they would show an improvement on the change of ends. The visiting defence was the first to come into prominence with clearances under difficulties, Kebbell saving a well-meant effort by Brooksbank. Exeter continued to have the better of the argument for some time and they should have scored more than once. Marshall was doing well at inside-left, but was not sufficiently backet up for his efforts to fructify. Frost next tested Pym with a ground shot, the home goalie saving on his knees. It was only at rare intervals that the home for- wards showed glimpses of their true form, and once Holt shot over when well placed. Heeping up the pressure Marshall did a similar thing a minute or so later, and then an injury to Liddell caused a temporaгу cessation of hostilities. A free to Exeter for a foul against Frost proved of no advantage to the homesters, who were compelled to act on the defensive for the next few minutes. McKay shot wide of the mark with Pym rushing out of his charge, but Strettle relieved his side with a long punt which sent the ball to Brooksbank. The Exeter centre dashed through, and sent out a long pass, but the return transfer was easily cleared by Robson. Try as they would neither side could obtain ain the advantage, and the game was marred by incidents which accounted for a certain amount of bad feeling creep ing into the game. On one occasion the referee had occasion to speak to Whittaker for the manner in which he charged Brad- shaw, but the home forward was not the only delinquent, Liddell being frequently pulied up for adopting methods which were anything but fair. There were only a few minutes left for play, and already the crowd was up rapidly disappearing, being simply fed with the cident of note game. was The a by Smith when his side last in- clever save was hard pressed, and it was a relief, not only to the players, but also to the spectators, when the referee sounded "no-side" with the score-sheet blank.

Rarely have I seen the Exeter players give such a miserable exhibition of the game, and had it not been for the splendid defence shown by Strettle, Smith, and Lagan, they would not occupy the position they do now in the Southern League table. Fort was not at his best, and Strettle was easily his superior on this occasion. Of the halves Smith was frequently in the picture, while Holt, Marshall and Goodwin were the most conspicuous of the forwards. Despite the fact that Marshall was playing in a new position, he did exceedingly gly well under the circumstances, and the City Directors could do worse than play him at centre against Brighton and Hove next Saturday. The Southend backs were good, with Wilson, at outside-right, the most outstanding player of the side.

"OBSERVER."

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

Southend:- Kebbell; Robson, Probert; Emery, Liddell, Steel; Wilson, Frost, Wileman, Bradshaw, McKay.

Referee:- Mr E.E.Small, of Bristol.

Linesmen:- Messrs J.H.Wiltshire and E.J.Davies.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11TH.

EXETER CITY v EXMOUTH UNITED.

The City management put out a very strong side this afternoon to oppose Exmouth United. The "Cockles" were also at full strength, and came up to Exeter with an excellent record, for they had not lost a competitive match all this season.

Teams:

Exeter:- Loram; Harding, Fort; Lagan, Pratt, Evans; Whittaker, Marshall, Brooksbank, Goodwin, Orr.

Exmouth:- England; Barrett, Warmington; May, Sanders, Channon; Davey, Sturman, Williams, Letcher, Walters.

Referee:- Mr G.Campbell.

After five minutes' play Marshall scored for the City from a pass by Goodwin. Loram had to clear a grounder by Letcher, then at the other end England punched out a fearsome drive by Pratt, only for Brooksbank to head the ball past him from Orr's centre a few moments later. England tipped over one of Brooksbank's centres, and at the other end Williams rushed in upon Walters's pass but flashed the ball wide. Brooksbank scored Exeter's third, nipping in with the Exmouth defence in a tangle, and Marshall added two in quick succession, beating the defence with speedy footwork and giving England not the slightest chance. Then Goodwin cut out the opening, with a clever forward pass, to Brooksbank, who went through and scored with a shot which England touched but could not stop. The Exmothians were no match for the Southern Leaguers, though plucky enough, and Barrett cleared from Marshall. The goalkeeper for Exmouth had plenty to do, and once he tipped round the post for a corner after Barrett had completely missed the ball. Later on, however, he let a bouncing punt by Fort beat him, much to the amusement of the crowd.

Half-time: Exeter City 7 Exmouth nil.

The Grecians added five more goals in the second half without reply, the final result being:

Exeter City 12, Exmouth 0.