Saturday November 21st. SOUTHERN LEAGUE.

Exeter's Failure at Home
MILLWALL WIN AT ST. JAMES'S PARK

Millwall 1 City 0.

In the presence of five thousand spectators Exeter City lost their home record today after a hard game. At the invitation of the directors a number of wounded soldiers were given seats in the grandstand, amongst them being Sgt.Hyde, of the Devons, a former Exeter City player of the days when the Grecians were an amateur organisation. Hyde is also a capable cricketer.

Millwall included Whittaker, formerly Exeter City's right-winger and centre-forward, but the supporters were disappointed at the non•appearance of Fort, last season the idol of the rit. James's Park crowd.

CITY

Pym

Marshall Strettle

Rigby Lagan Smith
Holt Green Goodwin(W) Lovett Goodwin(F)

Referee:- Mr F.Curtis, of Bristol.

MILLWALL

Lamb Moody Davis Williams Whittaker
Liddell Wilson Nuttall

Garrett Kirkwood

Orme

The visitors had the advantage of a high wind in the first half, but Exeter were the first to make ground, Orme saving from Billy Goodwin. Following this came dangerous raids by Millwall in which Strettle effected two great clearances from Davis.

Pym darted out and cleared another attack, and a combined move by Green and W.Goodwin ended with the centre forward shooting over the bar. As the game progressed it became evident that the visitors were better balanced and more methodical in their work. Strettle was forced to concede a corner during a fast raid on the City territory, and Lamb gave Pym a hard shot to stop, but Davis's impetuosity resulted in his receiving a caution. The attacks from Millwall were sustained, Lamb being a source of danger to the City defence. He forced one corner, which Strettle headed clear, but a second corner, also forced by Lamb, brought the opening goal. Lamb placed his flag-kick so accurately that Williams headed into the net well out of the reach of Pym.

The game had barely restarted before Millwall were attacking again, and although Smith kicked clear from one dangerous move the City goal was under high pressure, Lamb and Whittaker being too fast for the backs. At half time Millwall led by a goal to nil.

When the second half commenced Lovett ran through strongly, finishing with a shot which flashed over the crossbar. Strettle effected another fine clearance, and then Holt was penalised for a charge on Kirkwood, with the result that Exeter were robbed of a good opening.

Exeter Lose Their Dash.

During the concluding stages play was chiefly at the Millwallend of the field, but Exeter were unable to break down their defence. Throughout the second half play was fairly even, but the City attack lacked the dash which has characterised it in recent matches. The falling-off, to some extent, was due to the feeble half-back play, the front men seldom getting a good pass. There was absent, too, the cohesion necessary for getting fruitful results. although individually the attackers did good work.

Fred Goodwin was easily the pick of the forwards, Lovett and Green both having a tendency to hang back. Billy Goodwin, who has been such an outstanding success in most matches at Exeter this season, was almost subdued by Wilson, who retains all his ability and skill wonderfully well. There was also a perceptible weakness at half-back, and but for the great work of Strettle the City's defence would have looked poor. He badly needs a partner, for although Marshall does his best and tries hard, he does not completely fill the bill. His versatility is readily acknowledged, but it hardly extends to full-back.

Millwall were a capable, evenly balanced eleven, who proved their position in the League (second) to be no false one.

Possessed of a strong defence and speedy forwards, they fully justify all the praise they have received. Lamb, the old Argyle and Swindon winger, is still a fine player, and was much too fast and clever for either Rigby or Marshall. Davis did nothing special, and Whittaker was not seen much of until late in the game, when he forced several corners and began to show some of his form of last season.