SATURDAY JULY 26:
PEACE MATCH
At Home Park:
Argyle 1 City 1.

The "Peace Match" at Plymouth on the above date between Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle attracted a crowd of six thousand to the Home Park enclosure. Neither side was at full strength. Exeter, who journeyed down in motor-cars, were represented by what is likely to constitute their regular Southern League defence, but W.Goodwin, Oldacre, and Lovett were unable to get away from the North of England for this match, and their places were filled by Horne, of the Canadian Forces, H.Smith, of Teignmouth, a well-known Rugby footballer, and Symons, of the Plymouth and District League. The Argyle experimented with two wing forwards, Kellock and Booth, but otherwise fielded their best available side. The home team were heartily received, and an equally warm welcome followed when Exeter City appeared. The players lined up as follows:

ARGYLE
Craig 
Russell Shreeve
Forbes Bull Dickinson
Booth Jack Holt Raymond Kellock

Referee: Mr C.J.Pound, of Devon County F.A.

Dockray Symons Smith Makin Horne Mitton Popplewell Rigby Strettle Coleburne
Pym
CITY

Russell beat Rigby in the toss, and set Exeter to face the sun in the opening half. There was hardly any breeze, and the weather was decidedly warm when Smith kicked off. The ball hovered around the centre for the first few minutes, then the Plymouth attack attempted to force matters. Coleburne stopped a spirited rush by

Raymond, and Strettle came across to complete the clearance. Russell headed the ball well forward again, and three Pilgrims' forwards made a bee-line for the objective, but Coleburne neatly robbed them of possession. Makin and Horne got going afterwards, giving Dickinson a busy time, but the left half came out of the tussle with the ball at his feet, and slid a lovely pass along the carpet to Jack, who in turn transferred to Raymond. Raymond and Holt tried to bustle past Pym, but Exeter's goalkeeper reached up and pushed the ball away. But the danger was not by any manner of means over, for Dickinson rushed up and passed to Jack, who, amid loud cheering, flashed the ball into the bottom corner of the net with a swift shot.

On the resumption Makin got well down on the right, and centred prettily, but Bull interposed. Dockray now took up the running. He led Russell a lively dance, and the Argyle skipper was retiring towards his goal to be ready for the greater emergency which he felt was inevitable, when Dockray centred, the ball going behind for a corner off Russell's shoulder. From the flag kick, taken by Dockray, the leather dropped beautifully in front of goal, Rigby heading it on to Makin, who made a very good opening for Horne. Horne's shot was straight but not quite hard enough, and Craig tipped the ball over the bar. The second corner was cleared.

Russell a Glutton for Work.

At the other end Strettle got his head in the way of a neat shot from Booth, and Symons transferred to Dockray, who, in his sprint along the line defeated first Forbes and then Russell, finishing with a perfect cross. Symons and Smith were perfectly placed, but hesitated, and Shreeve cleared his lines. The pace of the game was remarkably fast, considering the heat, and at this stage the City. were having by far the better of things. Excitement ran high for three or four minutes while the Grecians kept the ball in the danger zone, and in this period Russell, although practically run of his feet by Dockray, proved himself a glutton for work.

Dockray was frequently in the picture, and from one of his numerous centres the ball was headed out to Mitton, who shot with great force with the left foot, but the leather sailed over the crossbar. The Argyle attacked for a moment, but Strettle dealt adequately with the opposition and Dockray again got going. He got past Forbes, "made rings" around Russell, and forced a corner off Bull. The flag kick, by Dockray, was perfectly placed, the ball bobbing about in the goalmouth and finally reaching Mitton. The new left-half plunged into the fray and gave the leather a hefty kick, sending it hurtling into the goal off the inside of the far upright. It was a brilliant shot, and the City's success was so richly merited that the Plymouth crowd were as pleased as they had been twenty minutes earlier when the Argyle scored.

The game opened up again and Makin tested Craig, and at the other end Raymond sent in a powerful dropping shot which caused a big thrill, but Pym, alert as ever, fielded it handsomely despite the glaring sun in his eyes. Just before the interval Coleburne got across in the nick of time to intercept Booth, who had been sent through by Raymond.

Half-time:
Plymouth Argyle 1 Exeter City 1.

Raymond put in some good attacking work on the resumption, and the Argyle were evidently keen on getting the lead again. A free kick taken by Dickinson was saved by Pym, and just afterwards he kept out a beautiful swinging centre from Kellock.

Then came the City's turn. Russell cleared from Makin, and a shot from Dockray was saved by Craig, but Popplewell fed Dockray again, and from his centre Symons, close in, headed for goal, but with insufficient force to beat Craig. Jack sprinted through at a fast pace but his final shot sailed harmlessly over the bar, and the heat and the hard ground was beginning to take some of the pace out of the game. Dockray continued to cause the Argyle backs plenty of anxiety, and Rigby was putting in some grand support in his usual unobtrusive way. In the last minute Kellock got away on the left and crossed finely, but Jack was offside.

Result:
Plymouth Argyle 1, Exeter City 1.

Notes on the Game.

The rupture between the Southern League and the Football League (West Ham having now thrown in their lot with the latter), though having far-reaching consequences, is overshadowed locally for the moment by the "Peace Match" at Plymouth.

It was brilliantly successful from every point of view. It was played at a remarkably fast pace considering the time of the year, the heat, and the hard state of the ground. The City had somewhat more of the game than their opponents, and if the attack had been balanced would probably have won comfortably, for the inside men were given plenty of good openings, thanks almost entirely to the wonderfully fine work of Dockray, but they lacked the necessary dash and initiative to bang the ball home. At the same time it is hardly fair to criticise amateur footballers playing, as they were in the company of so many distinguished professionals. The star performer was of course Dockray; his rare turn of speed and brilliant footwork won universal approbation, and the Argyle defenders, Russell (an Internationa) and Forbes, will not forget him in a hurry. Makin also created a favourable impression, showing excellent judgment and clever ball control.

At half back Mitton made good in no uncertain fashion, as did. Popplewell; Rigby of course is well known and well admited. This trio will quickly build up a reputation for themselves Southern League if they continue on present lines. Mitton's goal in the was the reward of a born opportunist, a brilliant shot, taken with absolutely no hesitation.

Strettle was convincingly good, and in Coleburne he will have a sound partner. The Bolton man was a trifle unsettled at the start, but quickly got the hang of things, and thereafter played a very fine game. Pym was his usual self, and no higher compliment could be paid.

The trip to Plymouth was made in three motor-cars, supplied by Mr Reg Oliver. The outward route was by way of the coast road, and the return journey over the moors.

SATURDAY AUGUST 16:
ST JAMES'S PARK EXETER CITY PRACTICE MATCH

First practice matches, such as that played today, must never be taken too seriously, but at the same time, on the form shown in the practices the players will be selected for the first Southern League match, against Southampton, at the Dell.

The temperature this afternoon was several degrees above 70, the ground was as hard as rock, and the strange thing was that the light ball, filled with hot air, and further warmed by friction along the ground, did not become overheated and disappear into the blue.

The air was not surcharged with excitement, as presently, with League points and team reputations at stake, and as it will be a matter of fact the two thousand spectators, perspiring patiently during the quarter of an hour's extra wait for the match to start, were so warm by the nature of things that they found it impossible to rise to any great pitch of enthusiasm in the goalless first half. Football spectators in the main thirst for goals, and very few games that are blank in this respect give entire satisfaction. The teams were: -

Red and White Stripes:- Pym; Shreeve and Strettle; Cox, Potter, and Crawshaw; Brown, Nutland, Oldacre, Pratt, and Lincoln.

Crimson and Amber: - Loram; Coleburne and Thompson; Rigby, Popplewell, and Mitton; Connor, Makin, Goodwin, Lovett, and Dockray.

Referee: Mr H.F.Ford.

Play had been surprisingly fast, considering the conditions, but the second half was even faster, and there was so much of incident that the spectators waxed eloquent. Goodwin gave them a glimpse of his prowess when, presented with an opportunity by Coleburne, who drove the leather hard up from midfield, the centre-forward, with less than a split-second's hesitation, swung round and rammed it home in decisive fashion. It is true that Shreeve and Strettle both considered that Goodwin was offside, but considerations of that sort are tricky things in football, and in any event Billy acted so quickly that his success could hardly have been prevented. Very similar was his second goal, a few minutes later, following upon a capital centre by Connor. There were several players between the centre-forward and the goal, but Goodwin found the net with one of his typical fast drives that sent the ball low and true between any net with the legs of the players and past Pym before the keeper had chance of sighting it.

Goodwin's second goal was followed by one for the Stripes, and everybody was pleased that it was one of the Yeovil pair that got the goal, for they had played a bright and persistent game along, and had given Mitton quite a lot to do. Nutland obtained possession when favourably placed, and nipped through. Loram tried all to confuse him by meeting him half-way, but Nutland tipped the ball forward and it rolled into the goal.

Just as the practice match was ending there was a foretaste of what lies ahead in the shape of a heavy thunderstorm, which caused the straw-hat brigade to stampede in the direction of the gate. Mr H.F.Ford, who controlled the match, has been appointed as an official referee of the Southern League.

SATURDAY AUGUST 23

FINAL PRACTICE, AT ST JAMES'S PARK

GOODWIN'S FOUR GOALS

Ideal weather favoured Exeter City's final practice, played at St James's Park on the above date, kick-off 6.30 p.m., witnessed by a crowd of more than two thousand spectators. The teams were styled "Probables" and "Possibles", and as it was realised that the side to represent the City in the Southern League match at Southampton next Saturday would be selected on the form shown in this trial, the players were naturally eager to give of their best. The elevens were constituted as follows:

Probables:

Pym; Shreeve, Strettle; Rigby, Popplewell, Mitton; Connor, Makin, Goodwin, Lovett, Dockray.

Possibles:

Referee:Mr H.F.Ford.

Loram; Coleburne, Chown; Cox, Potter, Crawshaw; Brown, Nutland, Oldacre, Pratt, Lincoln.

Play ruled in favour of the Probables from start to finish, yet it was the Possibles who scored first. The Probables front line had given Loram an anxious ten minutes, Dockray and Goodwin being the most conspicuous with their dash and speed, when Shreeve for possession near the half-way line, and the right-back, Lincoln raced hotly pressed, tipped the leather to his partner. Strettle kicked hard, but the ball rebounded off Lincoln in the direction of goal. Quick to seize the opening Lincoln sprinted forward and scored with a nicely judged shot.

Some exciting moments followed while the Probables pressed for the equaliser, and eventually from a throw-in Dockray received from Mitton, and eluding both Coleburne and Chown, centred finely from the line. Goodwin, who was unmarked, tapped the ball into the net.

Loram saved neatly a moment afterwards, when Goodwin headed in another centre from Dockray, but when a further ten minutes had elapsed Goodwin obtained possession from the right wing, swerved past Chown and sprinted for goal with the ball at his toes. When about twelve yards from goal he unleashed a rattling good shot that went into the net like a bullet, giving Loram no chance whatever. After Pym had saved from Brown the ball travelled to the other end again, and from Dockray's pass Lovett brought Loram to his knees with a stinging shot.

The whistle sounded for half-time
with the score:
Probables 2 Possibles 1.

Second Half.

Connor tested Loram with a fine cross shot early in the second half, and then the Possibles did their best to shake up the senior defence, Oldacre and Brown each giving Pym a handful in turn. In the next Probables attack Mitton tried a long shot, and the ball sailed over to Connor, who, trapping it neatly near the flag, put it neatly into the goalmouth. Loram, who was playing a grand game in goal for the Possibles, fisted the ball out with Lovett jumping high for a header, and the pair were winder together in the collision which followed. Just afterwards Goodwin got the biggest ovation so far for a magnificent rising shot at twenty yards range, the ball finding the net off the underneath of the crossbar. That was the completion of his "hat trick," and the crowd rose to him. Potter was laid out in a collision with Lovett, who was making the most determined effort to get a goal for himself. Oldacre had bad luck with a shot which hit the upright into play, but the second shot, by Brown, was easily fielded by Pym.

Mitton robbed Nutland when the Yeovil man was trying to make headway, and steered the leather neatly to Dockray. A fast sprint along the line and a perfect cross followed, and Billy Goodwin, in his inimitable style, diverted the flight of the ball with his head and sent it flying into the net. This was the last goal of the match, which ended:

Probables 4 Possibles 1.