City v Newport

DEFEATED BUT NOT DISHONOURED:

Game of Three Penalties:
Grecians a Man Short


Saturday, November 8,
at St James's Park.

EXETER CITY 1 NEWPORT COUNTY 2

The playing pitch at St James's Park was on the soft side, but otherwise in admirable condition. The air was absolutely still, and a November mist made it difficult to see from one end of the field to the other, even an hour before the match was timed to start, and when the sun was struggling to break through the clouds. The crowd streamed in fast after half past two, and at 2.56 the players took the field. Newport won the toss, but in the circumstances it carried no advantage.

EXETER CITY:
Pym; Coleburne, and Strettle; Rigby, Popplewell, and Mitton; Connor, Makin, Goodwin, Lovett, and Dockray. tank

NEWPORT COUNTY:
Cooper; Collins, and Griffin; Groves, Hindmarsh, and Edwards; Mann, Savage, Richards, Dobson, and Gaughan.

Play opened sensationally, for in the first minute Strettle fouled Richards in the penalty area, and Collins, from the spot, opened the scoring with a drive which gave Pym no chance. After twenty minutes Strettle injured his leg and retired. The injury turned out to be serious enough to prevent his participating any further in the game. Exeter then played the one-back game, which tended to spoil the play from the onlookers' point of view. The better football came from Newport, and they nearly added to the score from a free-kick when Richards was brought down on the edge of the penalty area.

A second penalty was awarded Newport, precisely at 3.25. This time it was against Rigby, for handling. The spectators all held their breath as Cooper advanced, placed the ball to his liking, and shot, and a mighty cheer went up as they saw the ball flying over the crossbar and away back over the bank at the far end. The kick and rush tactics of Newport were putting the Exeter players badly off their game, and the home goal nearly capitulated for the second time when a shot by Richards passed inches the wrong side of the post, following a free kick by Edwards.

The City eventually settled down to something like their usual form, and Doc kray shot hard and straight but found Cooper equal to the occasion. The Newport backs did not hesitate to kick to touch whenever Exeter looked dangerous.

The City goal underwent another hairbreadth escape when the ball was pushed out to Dobson, who beat Rigby for pace and sent Richards away. The centre forward was en route for goal when he was bowled over by Mitton a yard or two outside the penalty area. Edwards took the free-kick and planted the ball at Savage's feet but the inside-right was tackled by Mitton. Mitton kicked hard, and the ball rebounded off Savage into the goalmouth for Pym to run out and clear. Shots by Dockray and Lovett were charged down by Collins, and close on the interval Cooper saved brilliantly from Lovett, with Goodwin and Makin running in. The goalkeeper threw the ball over their heads and out of the danger zone. At half-time Newport were leading by one goal to nil. Second Half.

The City resumed without Strettle. Connor was brought down by Griffin near the corner flag just as he was about the centre. He took the free kick himself, but the ball was headed out as far as Mitton, who tried a quick shot. Hindmarsh caught the force of the ball full in his face, and was stunned, but resumed after a brief rest. The Grecians pressed forward determinedly, but were unable to penetrate the dogged and dour Newport defence. Makin received one presentable chance, but passed to Connor instead of taking a shot himself, and the winger's effort was headed out by Collins.

With twenty minutes' play remaining Newport broke away, and Dobson had desperately bad luck with a shot which struck one of the goalposts with resounding force. But immediately afterwards Connor got away on the right, and lifted the leather neatly over Griffin's head to Goodwin, who cleverly bounced the ball on his toe and scored with a tremendous half-volley which fairly shook the rigging. One minute from the end the referee (Mr. Houghton) awarded a third penalty against Exeter, and Collins scored with an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner. The decision was given against Coleburne, who was adjudged to have handled, but it looked as if the ball had hit Coleburne on his knees, and bounced on to his shoulder.

Plymouth & District League 
St Austell 1-1 City Reserves 

The Reserves drew at St Austell, a goal to each side. Croft scored for the City.