SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20TH: CITY v LUTON

A Surprise for Exeter:
LUTON WIN AT ST.JAMES'S PARK

Luton Town 2 Exeter City 1.

The "Strawplaiters" sprang a surprise at St. James's Park in today's Southern League match, winning by two goals to one, but with their opportunities the Grecians should have made the issue absolutely safe in the first half. They were playing against a team weakened by the absence of two of its best players, Frith, centre half, and Hoar, outside left, and whose backs, notably Elvey, were kicking feebly and inaccurately in the early stages of the game.

City:-

Pym;

Marshall and Strettle;

Rigby, Lagan, and Smith;

Holt, Evans, Goodwin, Lovett, and Dockray.

Luton:-

Mitchell;

Elvey and Dunn;

F.Hawkes, Wilson, and R.M.Hawkes;

Roberts, Wileman, Simms, Rollinson, and Lindley.

Referee:- Mr E.E.Small, of Bristol.

Twice in the first ten minutes Goodwin missed fine chances, once after steadying the ball before shooting. Holt skimmed the crossbar with a great shot, and Lovett nearly scored from long range, but the finishing generally was full of faults, and the leading up work of the inside men much below the usual standard.

On three occasions Mitchell made brilliant saves. His speed and judgment, when he anticipated an insidious side foot tap to the bottom corner of the goal by Goodwin, was splendid.

The City's goal was netted in a scramble following a corner placed by Dockray. It was scored by Holt. Luton's forwards were workmanlike, but found difficulty in getting by Strettle and Marshall. Nevertheless Lindley did it once and fell short of the mark. With a lob Roberts struck the post. At the interval Exeter still led by Holt's goal. The second half was five minutes old when, following nice work on the right wing between Roberts and Fred Hawkes, the ball was put through to Wileman, who equalised. There was some promise thereafter of an improvement in what had been a drab game, but Exeter sank into despair after Goodwin, usually so sure in front of goal, missed three more chances. lie seemed to be under a spell.

Matters were not improved when Dunn, who had been deservedly cautioned in the first half, was ordered off the field for an offence against Holt. For a time all life went out of the game, but after Mitchell had saved finely from Goodwin the visiting forwards made a determined attack and Pym conceded a corner in saving from Roberts. From the flag kick Simms steered the ball into the net for the winning goal.

More Praise for Dockray.

Reviewing the form of the individuals, nothing stands out more prominently than Dockray's frequent clever and persistent raids. Fred Hawkes and Elvey found him far too elusive, and it is becoming customary, in match after match, for Dockray to be the recipient of most of the praise bestowed upon the forwards of Exeter City. The tall but slightly built Evans was far less obtrusive than Dockray, but nevertheless played most usefully, feeding Holt with skill and enabling the winger to provide a number of opportunities, which, fortunately for Luton, Goodwin threw away. Rigby and Strettle were Exeter's best defenders.

For the visitors, Wileman and Simms in the forward line, Bob Hawkes at half-back and at full-back later in the game, and the goalkeeper, were the pick. Dunn's indiscretion cost him dearly at the finish, and detracted from his otherwise good defence.