SATURDAY DECEMBER 5TH:

CITY v CROYDON
Goodwin's "Hat Trick"

Exeter City 3 Croydon Common 1.

The reappearance of Croydon Common at St. James's Park was a visit looked forward to, but unfortunately the weather was very wintry, and the attendance was no more than two thousand, the poorest for the season.

Croydon had C.Smith at inside-right, Allman moving to right half, whilst the City had the assistance of Green, who has enlisted in the 4th Devons (Territorials) for India, and who at present is stationed at Exmouth.

CITY:

Pym

Marshall Strettle

Rigby Lagan Smith

Holt Green Goodwin(W) Lovett Goodwin(F)

Referee:- Mr D.J.Sambrook, of Swansea.

CROYDON COMMON

Barnfather Ryder Smith(H) Smith(C) Watson
Downing Critcher Allman

Hutchins Little

Williamson

The play in the first half was poor, the exchanges for the most part being lifeless. The players found it difficult to keep the ball under control, Exeter being very unsettled. Williamson handled from F.Goodwin and Smith (City) sent a free kick wide.

Ryder and Barnfather attempted to break through on the left, but were repulsed, and on the other wing Strettle just managed to stop Watson. Individual bursts were the main feature of this half, Lovett being noticeably strong in this respect.

Exeter lost Fred Goodwin with a strained tendon of the right knee. Ryder bored his way through to score the only goal of the first half, an oblique shot getting the better of Pym.

Following the enforced retirement of F.Goodwin. the Grecians adopted the one back game, Marshall going outside left. It sohappened that the change had a great effect, the City forwards, displaying fine dash and combination, eventually wearing down the hitherto stubborn defence of Hutchins and Little. A goal was scored from a penalty kick, awarded for a foul on W.Goodwin, who took the kick himself, and scored easily.

Croydon made a raid through the medium of Barnfather, and Pym had to be smart to save after Strettle had almost turned the ball into his own goal.

Downing was spoken to by the referee, yet a free-kick was not given. The ball was thrown down, and Lagan swung out a fine pass to Marshall. The 'new' City winger centred sharply to Green, who headed the ball back for Billy Goodwin to give Exeter the lead.

Goodwin's Hat-Trick.

For a while exchanges were in favour of Exeter, but danger threatened on the Croydon right. Watson delivered a perfect pass to Ryder, but Pym cleared the shot. Williamson was soon employed again, punching out a fine cross-shot from Holt and going down on his knee to save a daisy-cutter from Lovett. He was beaten for the third time by Billy Goodwin, who completed his "hat-trick' by coolly turning a pass from Holt into the net from about five yards' range.

Exeter were far the more effective team in the second half, and a great deal to do with this was the fact that because of the unfortunate mishap sustained by F.Goodwin, Marshall came back to his old position with success, centring strongly and with fine direction.

Lovett and W.Smith fed him well, their triangular work being of a class that Allman could not deal with, although Croydon's right half had been splendid in the first half.

Billy Goodwin was the essence of coolness, whilst Green and Holt displayed a much better understanding than in some recent matches, and showed greater dash for goal.

The half backs recovered from a poor start, finishing with much vigour. Lagan was too good for H.Smith, and behind Exeter's half backs Strettle and Pym were sound.

Croydon gave promise of great things at the commencement, but their falling away was as conspicuous as Exeter's improvement.

Watson and Barnfather were a couple of speedy wingers. Ryder was the best of the insides, but the half-backs were moderate, and Hutchins did a lot of good defensive work.

It can fairly be said that ten men of Exeter beat eleven of Croydon, for nothing had been scored at the time of F.Goodwin's retirement.