Match 19
Kingswood Rovers (a)

FA Cup QF3
21st November 1908

Plymouth and District League
Looe (h)

Friendly
Okehampton (a)
25th November 1908

Saturday, November 21st 1908.

ENGLISH CUP,
QUALIFYING COMPETITION: INTERMEDIATE ROUND,
KINGSWOOD ROVERS v EXETER CITY.


In the intermediate qualifying round of the English Cup, Exeter City played Kingswood Rovers on the Chequers Ground, Warmley, near Bristol, Kingswood, having choice of ground as the result of the draw, asked for terms to come to Exeter for the match, which the Exeter management could not accede to. The Exeter City directors, in fact, regarded the Reserves match with Looe as likely to prove as good an attraction at St. James's Park as the visit of the Kingswood Rovers would be.

The Rovers are undoubtedly the best team in Bristol, apart from the first elevens of the two professional clubs, and in their progress towards the intermediate round had beaten Bradford, of Wiltshire.

Jack Robinson, the International goalkeeper, was not eligible for this round, and Fletcher played, otherwise the Grecians were at full strength. Kingswood picked exactly the same team as beat Bath City in the last round by two goals to nil. Demmery, their goalkeeper, is a relation of the old Bristol City goalkeeper.

The weather was overcast and cold, while the turf was in a good condition, though rather uneven. The crowd, at the start, was less than 3,000.

The teams lined up as follows:

KINGSWOOD ROVERS:
Demmery; Hill and Williams;
Pillinger, Smith, and Fudge; Robbins, Rogers, White, Watts, and Willmot.

EXETER CITY:
Fletcher; Craig, and Bulcock; Ambler, Chadwick, and Johnson;
White, Watson, McGuigan, Bell, and Copestake.

REFEREE: Mr S.T.Major, of Swindon.

The Grecians were first out and Kingswood won the toss, McGuigan starting the game. Watson was checked but White got away down the wing, and the ball was crossed over to Copestake, who skied it over the bar. After Craig had sent behind with a powerful kick Bell forced his way through between the backs, but cannoned his shot over the bar. A corner was forced off Pillinger, and Demmery made a fine save from Watson's header. Kingswood then got down to the Exeter end, and their attacks for a time were very dangerous. They relied on rush and
dash in typical Cup football style. At the other end Demmery saved twice, fisting the ball out each time, but after play had been in progress for 30 minutes the City attacked down the left, and Copestake got through to the bye - line and centred. McGuigan secured the ball, and swinging round, scored the first goal with a well aimed shot. Demmery saved from Watson, and the Grecians, having more of the game now, nearly increased the score,
but Bell skied over the bar and McGuigan put the ball wide. Half time came with the City pressing, but only one goal to the good, and the Rovers were given quite an ovation on leaving the field. They had held their own very well, but by some quite unorthodox ways.

Half time:
Exeter City 1, the Rovers nil.

THE SECOND HALF


Kingswood started with close formation, and for a short time looked dangerous, but Bulcock came on the scene and cleared. In a hectic skirmish Fudge was temporarily laid out, but resumed after treatment. Fine combination by Chadwick, Exeter's White, and Bell saw the latter checked by Hill, and Kingswood took up the attack. The forwards got well in towards the City's goal and the position seemed hopeless, when Bulcock rushed across and fouled Watts. The referee immediately awarded a penalty, and White (Kingswood) was entrusted with the kick, but to the chagrin of the crowd and the surprise of the Grecians he sent a cannon-like drive about two yards wide of the posts.

ANOTHER PENALTY

Twelve minutes after the restart Watson got possession outside the penalty area and scored the second goal for Exeter with a fine shot which beat the goalkeeper all the way. Five minutes later Bulcock gave away another penalty when Kingswood were close on goal, and Watts this time skied the ball right over the bar. This was the second penalty that Kingswood had missed.

Disheartened by these failures, the Rovers fell away, and to add to their ill fortune Williams left the field, injured. The Exeter team continued to hold the upper hand in the gathering darkness, and ended the game comfortable winners by two goals to nil.


CITY RESERVES v. LOOE

Plymouth and District League 


In the absence of the chiefs at Bristol, Exeter City reserves were at home to one of the strongest teams in the Plymouth League, playing Looe for League points.

It was decided early in the week to play the match at Looe, while the St. James's Park turf was being repaired in places, but extra workmen were engaged with the result that the original venue was agreed to. The Exeter team included five of their professionals, namely Robinson, Crelley, Tierney, Wake, and Drain. A fine and fast game was anticipated, but a win for the Reserves was expected.

The game began early, and accordingly there was not much of a crowd, not above 500, when Angear kicked off for Looe. The ground was now in much better condition, strips of new turf having been let into the bad places.

CITY RESERVES:

Robinson; Fenwick and Crelley;
Tierney, Wake, and E. Wells;
Eveleigh, Badcock, Drain, Turner, and Singlehurst.

LOOE:
Palmer; Hill and Stephens;
Cox, Prideaux, and Sammells; Sharpe, Pengelley, Angear, J. Bartlett, and H.Bartlett.

In the first attack by the visitors Pengelley sent in a shot that Robinson cleared, easily eluding the attempts of two opponents to rush him into the net. Exeter were now attacking in fine style, and several times came near to scoring. Eventually Badcock, after a pretty bit of dribbling, centred, and Turner easily beat Palmer, coring the first goal of the afternoon with a quarter of an hour gone. Although the Reserves did most of the attacking, the only goal of the second half was scored by H.Bartlett for the visitors, fifteen
minutes from time.

Result: City Reserves 1, Looe 1.

The referee was:- 
Mr Tompson, of Tiverton.

Wednesday, November 25th 1908. EXETER CITY AT OKEHAMPTON.

Exeter City took a strong side to Okehampton for an exhibition match, and won by seventeen goals to nil. The locals could not match Exeter for skill or speed and were 5-0 down at half time. In the second half, which was played in pouring rain, the City ran riot and scored another twelve goals. The scorers were Singlehurst (7), Drain (6), Pridham (3), and
Biddick, of Okehampton, who put through his own goal.

Exeter City: Fletcher; Craig, Crelley; Tierney, Chadwick, Wake; White, Pridham, Drain, Singlehurst, and Copestake.

Referee: Mr F.Smith, of Plymouth.

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