SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE: CITY v PORTSMOUTH.

In a finely contested match at Exeter today each side scored once. The five thousand spectators were well rewarded, the pace and skill of the teams being a pronounced feature all through a good game. The turf was slippery, but on both sides the players overcame any little handicap in this way extremely well.

Nothing was scored in the opening half, but at each end many shots only just missed going in.

Twenty minutes of the second portion had gone by before anything was scored, then Stringfellow, with a long shot, sent the ball against the upright, off which it glanced into the net. In the last minute of the game Billy Goodwin equalised.

CITY

Pym

Marshall Strettle

Rigby Lagan Smith

Holt Green Goodwin(W) Lovett Goodwin(F)

Referee:- Mr T.W.Annal, of London.

POMPEY

Upton James Buddery Stringfellow Thompson
Abbott Harwood Walls

Probert Potts

Neil

Exeter City almost lost their unbeaten home record against Portsmouth, an equalising goal in the last minute saving them. Had Pompey won, none who witnessed the game could have begrudged them the victory. They were smarted on the ball and all round much the better side than Exeter.

Whether or not the heavy ground upset Exeter it is hard to say, but curiously enough their exhibition was the worst they have given, and it is the first time the conditions have been heavy. Portsmouth lacked the services of Warner, and played Potts and Probert at back.

Rigby won the toss, and on starting the game Portsmouth set ug an immediate attack, and keeping up the pressure appeared certain of scoring an early goal. They did succeed in forcing the ball into the net during a scramble, but the point was disallowed. Exeter retaliated with their usual dash, but Pompey were soon prominent again, and by clever footwork kept the City busily defending. Pym left his charge to make a thrilling save from Buddery, being temporarily hurt as a result. The weakness and general ineptitude of the City forwards was very tantalising the Portsmouth half-backs dispossessing them with consummate ease. Their inability to shoot led Strettle to try one or two long speculations from full-back.

A Thrilling Finish.

Exeter could not respond to the calls of their supporters and Portsmouth obtained a well deserved goal a quarter of an hour from the end. The ball came out to Stringfellow, and the inside-right, getting possession, sent in a fast ground shot, the ball entering the net via the post. It was a fitting reward to some capable, strong football.

A victory to Portsmouth seemed certain, and the crowd, or at least some of them, had begun to leave the ground when the ball went out to Holt, who delivered a low centre. Billy Goodwin, in the right position, accepted the opportunity, and although he was hemmed in he beat Neil with a fine shot from close quarters. The game had hardly been restarted when the final whistle blew.

Portsmouth left a good impression, and they are one of the best sides seen on the Exeter ground this season. They are a strong, speedy, and clever team, whilst one could not wish to see better combination football than that given by their forward line. Buddery made an excellent leader and Thompson took every advantage of his accurately timed passes. Thompson was by far the best winger on the field.

James and Upton were a very effective left wing, but where Pompey had a distinct pull was at half-back, Abbott, Harwood, and Walls making a powerful trio against which the City failed to impress. Potts and Probert recovered from a poor start and were strong at the finish.

 Exeter were never properly together. The halves and forwards bungled into each other in a manner bewildering and aggravating. Pym was the redeeming feature of a mediocre eleven.

Despite dropping a point today the City are still fifth in the League.