Wednesday, November 11th.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CITY v PLYMOUTH ARGYLE.

This afternoon witnessed the Devon "Soccer Derby" at St. James's Park, namely the first Southern League meeting between Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle, Devon's two representatives in the Association football world. An epic for League points was anticipated. The clubs were very close to each other in the League table before today's match, Argyle having a point more than Exeter, 10 to 9, each with 10 matches played.

ROBINSON IN GOAL FOR EXETER

The Argyle made three changes from the team which drew with Swindon Town on Saturday, Oudlipp, Wilcox, and Cook taking the places of Butler, Hindmarsh, and Leavey. The Grecians played their full side, the only change being Jack Robinson, the old International and former Southampton and Plymouth custodian, in goal. Robinson was signed on only a few days ago, and has since been at practice at the Gymnasium Citadel, headquarters of the Plymouth Royal Garrison Artillery. His last appearance in first class football was for Plymouth Argyle in the 1904-05 season, and since then he has only played for the Green Waves, although he did help Exeter City out on a few occasions three years ago. Much surprise was expressed locally at the Exeter City management running the risk of playing him for the first time in such an important engagement, especially as they have, in Fletcher, a goalkeeper already on their books who has never let the club down in any way. Nevertheless, the appearance of Robinson in goal for Exeter, especially as it was against his old club, considerably added to the interest taken in the fixture. Teams:

CITY:
Robinson
Craig Bulcock
Ambler Chadwick Johnson
White Watson McGuigan Bell Copestake 

Referee: Mr C.W.Gillett, London.

Holden Raymond Wilcox Ingham Cook McIntyre Clark McCormick
Cudlipp Atterbury
Sutcliffe
ARGYLE:

The crowd began to assemble as soon as the gates were opened. The threatening clouds of the morning had eased off, the weather being bright and mild. The turf was just a little on the heavy side, and the bare patches at the lower end showed up rather unfavourably. Twenty minutes before the kick-off the flower-pot stand was three parts full, and there was then nearly 5,000 in the ground altogether, though very few of the Plymouth following had arrived. The grandstand was also quickly filling up, and the enclosure in front of it was packed, but behind the St. James's Road goal there was plenty of room, and when Watson led his men out there were not so many present as there were at the Crystal Palace, Southampton, and Bristol Rovers matches, about 6,000 being the total.

A big reception was given to Robinson as he came on the field. in the rear of the City team, accompanied by his old clubmate, Chadwick.

THE GAME

The Argyle won the toss, and McGuigan set the ball rolling, amid great enthusiasm, towards the City end. The first movement was checked by McIntyre, but the Grecians were soon on the attack again. A free kick against McGuigan gave Bulcock a chance for his first clearance, and the City, in a forward rush, were stopped by Clark, who put back for Cudlipp to clear. Another free kick against the City in dangerous ground was hooked out of the goal mouth by Bul cock, and Raymond put the ball behind. At the other end a cross-drive by Copestake saw Sutcliffe scoop up the ball, and send into touch, while a long speculative shot by Chadwick just afterwards went wide by only a few feet. Exeter, in these early stages, did practically all the attack ing, and once, when Holden had a chance for the Argyle, he tamely screwed the ball over the bar

ROBINSON IN ACTION

A clearance by Sutcliffe at last got his forwards going, but Wilcox, after a poor clearance by Bul cock, could do no better than weakly put the ball into Robinson's hands. With Exeter in the ascendant Clark was frequently prominent in the visitors' defence, and he prevented first Copestake, then McGuigan, from getting through.

The Plymouth following had now arrived, and the gate was by this time over 8,000. The Argyle forwards were twice pulled up for offside, the second time after Robinson had rushed out, lost the ball, and then recovered himself. From a long clearance by Atterbury the ball went to Holden, who raced down the wing at great speed and put in a high shot which Robinson punched out of danger. It was a fine shot and an even better save.

Half-time was now approaching, and a corner to the Argyle was followed by two in the City's favour. From the second of these Watson got the ball into the net, but Sutcliffe had been impeded and a free kick was given. Just after this, however, amid great excitement all round the ground, Bell scored for Exeter, a magnificent individual triumph. He gathered the ball from his left, and plunging between the backs ran on and pushed the ball into the corner of the net. Sutcliffe made only a feeble effort at saving, apparently believing the ball to be going wide.

INTERVAL:
CITY 1, ARGYLE O.

At the restart the crowd was not much less than 9,000, and only that at the Crystal Palace game had exceeded it. Plymouth kicked off, and in the centre of the field a free kick was given against Chadwick for "hands". For a minute the Argyle pressed, but Bell regained the ball and was going through when he was fouled 15 yards out. Johnson sent the kick out to the right wing, but Atterbury came to the rescue, as he had done many times. Sutcliffe saved from White, and Watson struck the outside of the net with a great drive. Twenty minutes after the restart, after a splendid bout of passing Copestake centred to Bell, who tapped the ball through for Exeter's second goal. For a time it looked as though the City must increase their lead, but the unexpected happened. The Argyle went away in a rush, and Clark, getting the ball 15 yards out, drove it into the corner of the net, the City goalkeeper being taken by surprise. The light began to fail, and towards the close there was a lot of aimless kicking by both sides. However, Exeter were still doing most of the attacking, and well deserved their lead. With Exeter doing by far the bulk of the attacking Sutcliffe had more work to do than Robinson, but the goalkeeping of both the old Internationals was a feature of a good, fast game. The Argyle changed their team round in the second half, with Ingham at centre-forward, but he was no more effective than Wilcox had been previously.

Result:
Exeter City 2, Plymouth Argyle 1.

A SUMMARY OF THE "DEVON DERBY"

The keenest local rivalry was in evidence when the Devonshire clubs met for the first time for Southern League points. Exeter were the better side right from the start and Plymouth were hard pressed to defend their goal on several occasions. Chadwick was the best player on view, and a great stumbling block to the visiting forwards. The only score of the first half went to the City, for whom Bell put the ball through after a fine individual effort.

Bell scored again in the second half, of which Exeter City had considerably the better. Robinson let a soft shot from Clark into his net, but when Atterbury had the Exeter goal at his mercy he kicked too high. Right at the end Robinson saved the City a point when he made a magnificent save.