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.

EMERGENCY MATCH AT ST. JAMES'S PARK

Saturday, September 27.

EXETER CITY 7 FRIERNHAY 1.

There was keen disappointment at Exeter, owing to the fact that the match with Watford could not be played. This was the result of the railway strike, the visiting team being unable to obtain
travelling facilities. A friendly match was therefore arranged at short notice with Friernhay. As much publicity was possible was given this morning to the emergency match, and in the bright sunshine of the afternoon a large crowd assembled to watch the game.

Exeter City wisely decided to rest some of their most important players, in view of the strenuous programme that must be carried out in the near future. Friernhay, who brought their full first eleven, are regarded as being a very strong combination this season, and when the team settles down together they are expected to do very well in the East Devon League, First Division.


CITY
Pym 
Coleburne Coates
Rigby Popplewell Shreeve
Vennard Oldacre Goodwin Lincoln Dockray

Referee: Mr H.F.Ford, of Exeter.

Hill Addicott Hitch Kettle Dingle
Pim Glanville Pyne
Fenwick Preston
Wills
FRIARS

Friernhay were due at Exmouth this afternoon to play a League match with the Church Institute, but early this morning it was found that no vehicles were available to take the team down, so the engagement was cancelled. Later the club officials were got in touch with by Mr S.H.Thomas, Secretary of Exeter City, and they gladly accepted the invitation to play a friendly game at St. James's Park.

Exeter City were able to draw on the reserve team to fill vacancies in the first eleven, as the Reserves could not go to Plymouth to play their League match with Royal Naval Barracks. The City gave a trial to Lieut. Vennard, of the Royal Flying Corps, at outside right.

At half-time the Grecians led by three goals to nil, Lincoln, Popplewell (a fine drive into the top of the net), and Goodwin, having scored. Oldacre did the "hat-trick" for the third time this season when play was resumed, and Exeter's seventh goal was obtained by Billy Goodwin after Oldacre had rattled the crossbar. Towards the close Hitch scored a goal for Friernhay.

The fact that there were 3,000 spectators at the game serves to indicate how big would have been the "gate" if Watford had realised the responsibility that lay on them of making a serious effort to keep their engagement. Like other clubs, they must have had ample warning of how matters were drifting, and the club has shown a lamentable lack of enterprise.