SATURDAY, JANUARY 24.
At St James's Park, Exeter.
EXETER CITY 2 GILLINGHAM 1.

POOR FINISHING: MANY MISSED CHANCES
But Goodwin Wins the Game in Last Minute

Newport County and Northampton have taught the Grecians to beware of the "under-dog," and today they were taking the visit of Gillingham very seriously. The "Hoppers" have met with almost no success this season, and they have the unenviable distinction of possessing the poorest record of any first-class club in the country.

The most notable alteration in the City team today was the inclusion of Sgt.W.Crawshaw, of the Royal Horse Artillery, at right half-back in place of Jimmy Rigby. The skipper has been troubled by a muscle strain for a month past, and has now been compelled to take a rest. His experience, coolness, and judgment have been a big asset all along, and he will be greatly missed. In the absence of Rigby, Dick Pym is the club captain, and he led the Grecians out today. He did not enjoy the luck of the toss, however, and the teams lined up as follows, before five thousand spectators, Exeter City facing the sun.

EXETER CITY
Pym 
Coleburne Strettle
Mitton Popplewell Crawshaw
Oldacre Lovett Goodwin Henderson Dockray


Referee:- Mr E.E.Small, of Bristol.

GILLINGHAM
Kelly Savage Read Wood Ramsell
A. Steel R. Steel Mahon
Leslie Buchanan
Branfield

The visitors from Gillingham did the journey this morning, and reached St James's Park in excellent time. The ground appeared in first-class condition, thanks to the recent dry weather, and the afternoon was fine and pleasantly mild. The game was strenuous throughout, to say the least, and at times much too vigorous, and more than one player was cautioned. The first half produced one goal only, and that went to Gillingham's account. It was well worked for and fully deserved. Strettle failed to trap the ball, and Wood seized the initiative. When a yard or two from the goal line he centred right across the face of the goal. Savage came in at speed and drove the ball into the net with a first timer shot at close range, Pym having no chance.  In the second half Exeter City improved, but their finishing left much to be desired. A centre from Oldacre was neatly turned towards goal by Goodwin, but there was little force behind the effort, and Leslie cleared. Goodwin had the chance of his life a moment later, when after forcing his way past Buchanan and Mahon one after the other, he had a clear opening. He dribbled on and shot strongly, but the ball glanced off the outside of the post and went behind.

Branfield Grounded and Exeter Score.

Fifteen minutes after the restart Oldacre got away down the wing and centred, Goodwin being heavily charged by Leslie, while Branfield threw himself at the ball and fisted it out. The goal keeper was still lying prone on the turf when Oldacre, who had followed up his centre, netted with a well directed shot. Almost immediately afterwards Strettle hesitated when he ought to have cleared, and Wood raced through. He got to within eight yards of goal and shot with all his strength, but Pym, who seems to attract the ball like a magnet, was right in the line of flight, and punched the leather over the crossbar. The referee, who had previously cautioned one of the visiting half-backs, now administered a rebuke to Savage for a foul on Coleburne. Ramsell was checked by Strettle with a good tackle, and play returned to the other end for Dockray to drive the ball right across the front of the goal with nobody in position to produce the finishing touch. Branfield saved a stinging shot from Lovett, then Goodwin got Exeter's winning goal one minute from the finish. Oldacre dropped the ball into the middle and Leslie's clearance was blocked by Goodwin, who dribbled on and beat Branfield all ends up with a typical drive, low and hard, into the corner of the net.

K.O.S.B. v City Reserves.

Plymouth League match, at the Brickfields, Devonport. Exeter City Reserves won by three goals (Lincoln, Makin, and Chown) to two (Morgan 2).

The Reserves' team:
Loram; Nicholas, Medcalf; Powell, Lovell, Chown; Connor, Makin, Collins, Sanders, and Lincoln.