Portsmouth v City
CITY DEFENCE BUSY
AT FRATTON PARK

Pompey's Easy Win

Saturday, November 15.

PORTSMOUTH 2 EXETER CITY 0.

The match at Fratton Park this afternoon was regarded in the South of England as a very interesting trial of strength between two of the most ambitious and clever sides in the League.

The weather was bitterly cold at Portsmouth. The spectators in the enclosure stood on a light carpet of snow, but the field of play had been cleared by the bright sunshine of the morning. A strong east wind blew along the ground and set the spectators shivering in unison. The stamping of feet before the start was enough to wreck the grandstand. A small but enthusiastic band of City supporters made the journey, and gave the Grecians a hearty cheer as they made their appearance.

POMPEY
Robson
Probert Priestley
Harwood Crutchley Turner
Thompson Stringfellow Armstrong Buddery James

Referee: Mr I.Billiness, of London.

Dockray Lovett Goodwin Makin Connor Mitton Popplewell Rigby
Potter Coleburne
Pym
CITY

Both goalkeepers wore red jerseys, and Robson did a jazz dance towards his charge. Stringfellow beat Rigby in the toss, Exeter being set to face the cold wind, and Goodwin started the game.

The ball went out to Connor, who beat Priestley and sent over a grand centre which Goodwin just missed, but Lovett was on hand to head the leather just over the bar. Then Armstrong put James in possession, and from his centre Buddery shot a yard wide. The move was repeated, and Pompey, aided by the wind, continued to threaten the Exeter goal. A neat shot by Stringfellow was well caught by Pym, and at the Pompey end Dockray tried past Priestley, but was overtaken by the full-back. Friestley again distinguished himself by stopping Goodwin, and to dribble from his long clearance Thompson went clean through and centred. The move was completed by Stringfellow, who scored with a swerving shot which Pym handled, but failed to keep out of the net.

Potter, deputising for the injured Strettle, was keen enough but nervous, and the weakness in the Exeter rearguard was soon spotted by Stringfellow and his men, who kept Thompson plied with long and short passes. The rapid movements of the home forwards, and especially their swinging passes to the wings, kept the City defence on tenterhooks. With the wind, almost of gale force, at their backs it was easy for Portsmouth to plant the ball almost anywhere they pleased in the City territory, and the Exeter goal nearly fell in a big rush by Stringfellow and Buddery, who tried to force the leather over the line, but were foiled by Pym. Second Half.

Exeter City are getting a reputation for conceding penalties. Last week Newport County were awarded three, and today Pompey appealed three times. On each occasion there was a consultation between referee and linesman, and twice the decision was in the City's favour. But ten minutes from the close, after Popplewell had fouled Armstrong, the referee signalled for a penalty to be taken, and Turner scored from the spot with a soft shot along the ground that proved too quick for Pym to get down to.

CITY RESERVES V ROYAL MARINES.
Plymouth and District League 

In the absence of their "chiefs" at Portsmouth, the Reserves were at home to the R.M.L.I. in a Plymouth League match. Loram won the toss and the Marines kicked off. The Reserves got into their stride and quickly took the lead, Oldacre netting from a pass by Lloyd after three minutes. Oldacre obtained another goal three minutes later, this time from Lincoln's centre, this being the extent of the scoring.

There was an unpleasant incident in the second half. Twooze had been fouled several times by Cross, and eventually, after yet another trip-up, Powell punched the Marine in the face, knocking him out. Immediately after Cross had been carried off Powell was sent off the field by the referee.

Reserves:-
Loram; Nock, Twooze; Crawshaw, Powell, Chown; Collins, Croft, Oldacre, Lloyd, and Lincoln.

Marines:-
Morgan; Reeves, Slocombe; Broad, Starr, Hill; Cross, Walker, Marshall, Todd, and Taylor.

NORTH DEVON v EXETER CITY

Exhibition Game at Barnstaple

Wednesday, November 19.

NORTH DEVON  1 EXETER CITY 2

An exhibition match was played at the Rose and Crown Ground, Barnstaple, this afternoon between Exeter City and North Devon, the Devon side being fully representative. Exeter City fielded practically the full Southern League side, the only absentees being Rigby and Makin, who, however, accompanied the team.

NORTH DEVON

Horne (Barnstaple Apprentices); Marks (Barnstaple Apprentices), Medcalf (Bideford); Johns (Bideford), Hartnell (Torrington), Carter (Barnstaple Comrades); Southcombe (South Molton), Warren (South Molton), Trebble (Il fracombe), Green (Bide ford), Clement (Barnstaple Apprentices).

EXETER CITY

Pym; Coleburne, Popplewell; Connor Pratt, Mitton; Potter, Oldacre, Goodwin, Lovett, Dockray.  

Rain kept off for a couple of hours before the time of start ing, and a huge crowd attended, representative of the whole of North Devon. The wind was blowing from end to end, when promptly at 3 o'clock Mr C. Pearce, the Mayor of Barnstaple, kicked off for the home team, who had the advantage of the wind.

North Devon immediately got away on the left, Clement being fed by Trebble and putting in a beautiful centre, which Green ballooned over the bar at close range. A glimpse of Exeter City's pretty passing was seen, and Goodwin shot wide.

After Southcombe had led a brief attack the City returned with a flourish, and Hartnell headed away a centre from Doc kray. Pratt gave Goodwin a long forward pass, but the City leader's shot was finely saved by Horne, to loud applause from the crowd. Exeter made progress by dint of clever combination and quick passing, just the sort the spectators wanted to see. The home team kept their right wing well supplied, and Southcombe contributed some very useful runs. Pym ran out and cleared from Warren when the North Devon side attacked in spirited fashion, and excitement ran high as the slippery ball passed through Pym's hands from the Devon winger's centre. But Exeter's famous goalkeeper quickly snapped up the leather and punted it well up the field. Exeter City were playing a beautiful game and delighting the crowd, but they found their opponents to be anything but novices. Green fed Southcombe well, and when the ball was returned Trebble fired it over the bar from about twelve yards.

The game was twenty-five minutes old when Goodwin opened the scoring, meeting one of Doc kray's centres and putting the ball past Horne, hard and low, into the net. Twice the North Devon men had openings spoilt by offside, the City backs keeping well up, and these methods were not to the liking of the spectators. However, there was a tremendous cheer when Trebble equalised just before half-time, the centre forward having initiated the move himself, and being assisted by Green and Clement. The goal was thoroughly deserved.

Second Half.

Immediately on the resumption Trebble put in a hot shot, but Pym saved with ease, and Exeter, with the wind now behind them, returned to the attack. Medcalf and Marks defended admirably for the amateur team, but a score nearly resulted when Lovett put in a smart drive which just scraped over the crossbar. At the other end Southcombe rounded Popplewell and shot against the upright. Exeter, who worthily carried out their purpose of providing an exhibition of first-class football, now began to take things more seriously, and increased their pace, but whilst not fully extending themselves they could not do everything exactly as they liked. 

Oldacre struck the top angle of the goal after play had been in the home territory for some time, and then North Devon nearly scored from a corner well placed by Southcombe, a hefty shot by Warren just skimming the bar.

At the other end Connor missed by inches with Horne badly out of position. Mitton and Doc kray were contributing much in the way of pretty football, the winger especially treating the crowd to one or two of his famous sprints and centres. With only about a quarter of an hour remaining Exeter had yet to get their winning goal, but at 4.15 precisely Pratt gave them the lead, heading the ball hard into the net from Connor's corner kick. With the end of the match drawing near, the City forwards provided some pretty play, the ball travelling between the forwards in fascinating