Saturday, March 21st 1914.

Exeter City 1 Portsmouth 0.

The Grecians beat their visitors from Portsmouth by one goal, scored by Brooksbank in the first half, to nil. There were 4,000 spectators.

It will be recalled that the last meeting of these sides was at Fratton Park in the English Cup, when Exeter scored four times to win a famous victory.

Teams in today's match:

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

Pompey:- Heath; Warner and A.E.Knight: Wall, Harwood, and Arnold: Thompson, Powell, Drytien, James, and Shaw.




SOUTHERN LEAGUE.

Splendid keeping by Heath of Portsmouth 

(Special Reports published in the Sunday People 23/03/1914)

Pompey's Goalkeeper the Salvation of His Side.

By brilliant opportunism Exeter were a goal ahead within the opening minute, to the huge delight of the 5,000 people at St. James's Park. It happened thus: Goodwin lured Warner ere passing to Brooksbank, who didiled Knight before tapping through, Heath being helpless. The visiting goalie was subsequently much in demand. He handled from McCann and Goodwin, while a lightning header from McCann barely sailed over. But Pompey had not been idle indeed, the dapper Thompson had led several lively ralds, and in stopping one of these Strettle was injured.

I'm Pym effected a thrilling save from Dryden, rushing out and smothering a terrific drive when the equaliser seemed bound to come. Heath was just as nippy, although hampered by Whitaker and Brooksbank. But Exeter were surprisingly persistent and only Heath's watch- fulness kept them out. Goodwin ought to have put the Citizens further on when he had only the custodian to beat; while Quinn marred a glorious sprint by tamely allowing Lagan to kick clear.

Brooksbank, too, was faulty after McCann had carved out an opening, Initiated by Goodwin, was absolutely frittered away. Then Pym saved in sensational style from Dryden. Twice more did the homesters fail in front of goal Brooksbank was unfortunate in not converting a fine centre from Holt. Lm

Interval: Exeter 1: Portsmouth 0.

What Portsmouth owe Heath it is impossiible to estimate. He got his side out of countless difficulties in the first hall, but in this half he positively excelled. Never in Exeter's history has such fine keeping been witnessed. Immediately on resuming he was employed putting down froan Whittaker and Brooksbank, while thrice ne cleared against overwhelming odds. Of course, he was assisted somewhat by the feebleness of Kyatar' sharpshooters, who signally failed to reproduce the form which de- feated Pompey so convincingly in the first round of the Association Cup. Pym was rarely troubled. Thompson brought him out once, while Quinn merely drove across when the goal stared him in the face. This bungle was bad enough, but not nearly so bad as those made subsequently by the homesters, whose shooting was execrable. Whit taker struck the upright, but Heath snapped the leather away, and a game remarkable for the number of missed opportunities came to an end without any further score.

PLYMOUTH LEAGUE:
ORESTON 1 CITY RESERVES 0.

There were two penalty kicks in the first half. Evans, for the Reserves, shot wide from the first one, then, when Harding handled Rogers took the penalty for Oreston, and Loram, attempting to clear, sent the ball into his own net.

The defeat of Exeter City Reserves at the hands of Oreston Rovers on Saturday came somewhat as a surprise, seeing that on the previous week the Reserves won easily. A friend of mine who witnessed the match writes me as follows:- "It was a most awlful game, and most of our players were lucky to get home alive. I cannot understand how the directors allow their men to go to places where you have not only to play the team, but the referee and linesmen. There was only one ball available, and that was about half inflated. For the most part it was in the next field, and, if not kicked there by the players, it was kindly helped along by the spectators. The Reserves would not have won if they played there a week, and for confirmation of this you can ask any of the City players." It is a pity that such Cluds are allowed to take part in an important League like that of the Ply- mouth and District, but, from what I hear, matters are likely to be different next season.