Exeter City v Brentford

AN IMPORTANT MATCH AT ST.JAMES'S PARK

Wednesday, September 24.
Exeter City 0 Brentford 0.

Brentford, today's visitors to St James's Park, won the London Combination in dashing style in last season 's war - time football, winning 20 and drawing 9 of the 36 matches played, and scoring 94 goals against 48. The championship team differed sub stantially from that of this season, but Brentford's record in the opening Southern League matches is proof positive that they are still a very difficult side to beat.

Exeter City attached great importance to today's match, as Watford, the present leaders and the League Champions, are due on Saturday, and the Grecians, naturally, were keen on being in a position to meet an undefeated team with an undefeated team, so that there might be a battle royal for supremacy and the League leadership. The City delayed the choice of their forward line till shortly before the kick-off, as Lovett, Makin, and Connor were all suffering from sprains. Eventually it was decided to play Percy Nutland, the Yeovil amateur, at inside right, and Oldacre, who did so well in his first Southern League appearance, crossed over. The teams turned out as follows:

CITY

Pym
Coleburne Strettle Rigby Popplewell Mitton Connor Nutland Goodwin Oldacre Dockray

Referee:- Mr F.H.Wheeler, of Southampton.

Hendren Morley Boyne Taylor Gilroy
McGovern Amos Morris
Hawkins Webster
Price

BRENTFORD

The "Bees" were out at 3.20 p.m., and looked to be a hefty lot of men. They were quickly followed by the Grecians, led by Jimmy Rigby. Both teams were given a hearty reception by the crowd, now numbering about three thousand. Exeter once again had the luck of the toss, and Brentford kicked off facing the sun. The Bees got going on the left immediately, and Pym fielded a long shot from Hendren. Boyne beat Popplewell and passed to Hendren, but this time the winger was offside. The Grecians now got into the game and quickly transferred the scene of play, the ball coming over nicely from Connor to Mitton, who gave Price a rare handful in the shape of a hard shot along the ground. Mitton won further applause for clever work in the midfield, and from his pass Doc kray swung the leather across, but it went a little too far, and although Nutland tried a header it was easily saved by Price.

Brentford Goal Bombarded.

Play continued in the vicinity of the Brentford goal, and one move concluded with Goodwin narrowly missing with a header from a characteristic centre by Doc kray. From a throw-in Oldacre put in a glorious drive which was beating Price all the way, but the ball just scraped over the crossbar. Then Dockray got across another very pretty centre and a score appeared inevitable, but Goodwin's header passed inches the wrong side of the upright. Exeter were all over the Bees at this stage, and the visiting goal was being well and truly bombarded.

Suddenly, however, Brentford came away with great dash on the left, and Hendren forced a corner off Coleburne, but the kick was poorly placed and easily cleared. After midfield play Gilboy put in a brilliant run on the wing and rounded Mitton, but Strettle intervened by sending behind. From the flag kick Hendren met the ball on the volley but ballooned it over the bar.

Second Half.

There was even more excitement, though less good football, in the second half, and during some warm work round the visitors' goal Price saved with his feet three close range shots which he could not have seen. Brentford did a measure of attacking, but apart from Hendren were very poor near goal, and were in great luck to come away with a division of the points. The City had dominated the first half, during which much good football was played by both sides. Dockray was brilliant in the City attack, as was Goodwin, and Connor gave them good support until he hurt his foot through an accidental kick.