Boxing Day

DEVON DERBY AT ST. JAMES'S PARK Plymouth Lucky to Win

EXETER CITY 0 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 1.


For the return match at St James's Park on Boxing Day, which, despite the wet weather attracted over nine thousand spectators, Exeter made one change in the team which was defeated at Home Park on Christmas Day, Medcalf being substituted for Strettle at left-back. A large number of enthusiasts motored from Plymouth to support their favourites, and from their vantage point in the grandstand played their part well with voices and rattles.

The match, which kicked off at 2.30 o'clock, provided the finest spectacle of the season, every minute being hotly contested.

CITY
Pym
Coleburne Medcalf
Rigby Popplewell Mitton
Oldacre Lovett Goodwin Henderson Dockray

Referee: Mr F.W.Rowles.

Dixon Kellock Flood Jack Gallogley Dickinson McCormick Forbes
Atterbury Russell
Craig 
ARGYLE

The game began at a cracking pace, and Exeter were the first to show up with cool and calculating play. Goodwin was prominent in the early exchanges with some beautiful passes to Dockray and Oldacre. In fact, the "chessboard" work between Goodwin, Mitton, and Henderson was a delight to watch, but when the ball came in from Dockray, Goodwin was beaten by McCormick. Craig saved well from Henderson, and for the first few minutes play was centred round the Argyle penalty area.

However, Plymouth eventually got going, and Pym saved smartly from Kellock. Mitton fastened on to a loose ball, and indulged in his favourite habit of testing the goalkeeper one of his special long shots, but Craig fisted over the bar to give a corner, which was cleared. Russell kept out two close range shots, standing almost on the goal-line, and generally the Argyle defence was as firm as a rock. Mitton and Rigby were playing well up in support of Goodwin and co., but a breakaway by Flood ended with him being bowled over by Mitton, and a free kick on the edge of Exeter's penalty area looked to be ominous. Pym, however, saved Mc Cormick's shot. Medcalf then tackled Jack near the corner flag, but lost the ball, but Jack, faced with the problem of beating Pym, who had advanced, he put his shot high over the bar. Half-time arrived with no score.

Second Half.

The City restarted as they had played in the first half, with Rigby and Mitton supporting the forwards and putting pressure on the Argyle backs. After Pym had cleared a centre from Gallogley play returned to the Plymouth end, and a fast drive from Dockray went right across the Argyle goalmouth with the inside forwards unable to reach the ball. Makin eventually put it over the bar. Henderson had the next chance, but his shot was saved by Craig at the expense of a corner. The ball dropped to Russell, who cleared without ceremony.

Although the City had dominated the game they had had no luck with their finishing, and when the second half was about twenty minutes old they got a shock, for Dixon put in the best shot of the day so far, and immediately afterwards Jack sent in another "pile-driver" which banged against the post. From that point the Argyle took charge of the proceedings, and twelve minutes before. the end a miskick by Coleburne let in Flood, who, after Pym had saved once and was on the ground, netted for the Argyle.

The match was played in continuous rain on a muddy and sodden. pitch, but it turned out to be a grand game of football, and much credit is due to both teams.

THE JUNIOR DEVON DERBY.

The return Plymouth League match at Home Park between Argyle and City Reserve Teams was more like mudlarking than football. The rain pelted down without abatement, and players and watchers alike had a wretched time. The Argyle, however, worked hard, and were nine goals in advance at the end of the game. Kay, the new centre-forward, scored seven, Mills and Parkin getting the other two.

At half-time the Argyle were six goals up. In the second half four of the Exeter players declined to face the conditions again, and the City continued with only seven men. About midway through this half the referee stopped the game, owing to the rain.