Saturday October 3rd.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE.

CARDIFF CAPITULATE

A Fine Game at St.James's Park

EXETER CITY 2 CARDIFF CITY 0:

The City gained an excellent and well deserved victory over Cardiff by two goals. The game was by no means as one-sided as the score would suggest, for Cardiff not only defended with great skill but at times attacked with clever passing movements. Exeter secured the lead in the first half with a penalty kick, while later onGreen scored. During the last quarter of an hour both defences were severely tested, and the crowd, numbering about 5,000, was roused to a high pitch of excitement by the vigorous attacks of both sides.

EXETER CITY:

Pym

Marshall Strettle

Rigby Pratt Smith

Holt Green Goodwin(W) Lovett Goodwin(F)

Referee:- Mr R.R.Crump, of Dulwich.

CARDIFF CITY:

Evans Barnett Hopkins Goddard Beare

Hardy Cassidy Keenor

Layton Brittan

Kneeshaw

Anticipations of a hard game at St. James's Park were fully realised. Both teams played well, and kept it up right till the finish. It was, in fact, the forwards, of Cardiff as well as of Exeter, who aroused the crowd's enthusiasm, and altogether it was voted the finest exhibition of football seen at Exeter this season.

Cardiff, who won at the Crystal Palace ground last week, were given quite an ovation at the start from the crowd, among whom were large numbers of Welsh army recruits billeted in the town. Also in the grandstand were a couple of Exonianwounded soldiers, Privates Dymond and Davey, who followed the play with interest and admiration. Exeter still had Pratt at centre half, while Cassidy occupied a similar position in Cardiff's team. The proceedings commenced with a swift Cardiff attack, and Pym had to run out and clear from Beare. Another clever run by the same player was nullified by handling, and then a strong attack by Exeter resulted in two corners being taken. From the second of the flag-kicks there was a scramble in the Cardiff goal, one of the defenders handling. Billy Goodwin made no mistake with the penalty, netting with a terrific shot which travelled low to the left of Kneeshaw.

The second goal came early in the second half, and was the reward of quick following up. Rigby lobbed the ball forward to Holt, who, racing round Layton, delivered a capital centre. It was met by Green, who drove the ball hard for goal, Kneeshaw fell in saving and before he could recover Green had netted. Following this came a lot of dangerous work by the Cardiff forwards, Pym being found plenty of employment, but there was no further scoring.

Exeter's Dangerous Forwards.

It was Exeter's first victory over their Welsh opponents, and they earned their success. The scoring ability of the forwards is being shown in every home match, nine goals having accrued at St James's since the opening of the season. The line was speedy and clever, and in Billy Goodwin the club has founded a splendid leader. Cassidy found him a tough handful, one of Goodwin's big assets being his remarkable coolness. Lovett and F.Goodwin made the better wing, Holt, on the other side, being somewhat erratic. Smith was a hard worker at left-half-back, and Pratt and Rigby made up an energetic middle line. Marshall is developing into a useful right back, and now makes an efficient partner for Strettle. Cardiff have a very business-like eleven, and ought to have a good season. All the forwards were clever, with Evans, Hopkins, and Beare the pick. Hardy was the best of the half-backs, and both the backs were sound. Kneeshaw kept a good goal.