Saturday, January 16th 1909.

English Cup : Competition Proper

FIRST ROUND:
WREXHAM v EXETER CITY

Exeter City had to journey to far North Wales for their first round tie in the competition proper of the Cup, to appear on the celebrated Racecourse enclosure at Wrexham, a ground which has witnessed many of the Principality's International matches. It is some few years since Wrexham got into the final stages of the Cup, but they are a very old-established club, and recognised as the premier Welsh soccer organisation. Wrexham belong to the Birmingham League, in which they have an average record, but their best result this season was in the last qualifying round of the English Cup, when they knocked out the famous amateur club, Oxford City, by no less than six goals to nil. Wrexham won the Welsh Association Cup in 1878, 1883, 1893, 1897, 1903, and 1905, and the Combination championship four times in 5 seasons, namely 1900-01, 1901-02, 1902-03, and 1904-05. The Welshmen's colours are, like Exeter City's, green, but for to day's match they turned out in white shirts.
Snow fell heavily during the night at Shrewsbury, where the Exeter party broke their journey, and on arrival at Wrexham a blustery north wind was blowing, with intermittent falls of snow. There were about four thousand spectators present when the teams took the field at a quarter past two. The referee was Mr H.L.Jones, of Birmingham. The Grecians, in their usual green, were first out, and met with a cordial reception, being quickly followed by the Welshmen. Watson won the toss and Rankin kicked off against the wind, which was blowing straight down the ground from goal to goal.

WREXHAM:
Husbands
Chappell Blew
Hufradine Williams Davies
Berry Wynn Rankin Smith Price.

Copestake Bell McGuigan Watson Parnell
Wake Chadwick Ambler
Bulcock Craig
Robinson
EXETER CITY:

The first advance was made by Exeter, but Watson's pass to Parnell went into touch, and Bulcock had to relieve pressure on the City's goal. Watson and McGuigan between them got the ball through to Bell, who went off in a rush towards the Wrexham goal, but he was pulled up. by one of the home backs. Despite the heavy ground the City forwards were passing with delightful accuracy, and Copestake got across a centre which McGuigan sent just wide of the upright. Chappell gave away a corner, which was cleared, and Rankin went more than half the length of the field, Robinson having to dive full stretch to parry his final shot. Play was very fast, and Bulcock miskicked, with the result that Berry got away on the right wing and passed to Smith, who scored with a well directed shot which gave Robinson no chance. This occurred after ten minutes' play. The ball went through Wrexham's goal from a corner kick taken by Copestake, but no second player had touched the ball, and the point, therefore, did not count. After 15 minutes Exeter were awarded a free kick against Husbands for carrying, and Watson headed just wide.
Another free kick to Exeter saw Chadwick bring Husbands to his knees with a tremendous drive, and the visitors continued to have all the play, but could not score. Robinson saved a good header from Price, Wrexham vainly appealing for a goal. Back came the City, and Parnell shot just over the bar following good combination between Watson and Ambler. At the end of 25 minutes the Wrexham half backs got in each other's way, and Watson, quick to seize the opportunity, dribbled through and scored with a long shot, thus equalising. A free kick to Wrexham, given against Wake for tripping, saw the Iball flying right across the front of the goal, and Smith kicked it over the bar, missing a chance in a thousand. The home side's rushes were very dangerous and they were making a fine show against the wind, Rankin narrowly missing with a cross drive. Bulcock saved Exeter when he kicked off the line with Robinson out of his goal.
HALF TIME:
WREXHAM 1 EXETER CITY 1

Exeter opened the second half against a strong wind, and this fact made the locals regard their chances as very rosy. Indeed, Wrexham started off with a rush, but Craig pulled them up, and the City, led by Parnell, made ground nearly to the corner flag.In midfield a free kick was given against Chadwick for fouling Davies, and Bulcock relieved the subsequent pressure with a good tackle on Wynn. A further free kick led to Robinson tipping a shot from Berry over the bar. Wrexham were now monopolising the play, and the Grecians were hard pressed. To make matters worse Bulcock was limping, the result of a kick sustained in the first half. At last Chadwick set Watson and Parnell going, and the ball bobbed about in the vicinity of Wrexham's goal until Berry nipped in and kicked clear when a goal seemed certain. Free kicks were frequent, and Wrexham were more than holding their own. Robinson made a fine save from Wynn, and the inside right, in the next attack, shot just wide. Exeter at last got going, and after Parnell had tested Husbands the goalkeeper had to save a ferocious drive from Watson.

THE LAST 15 MINUTES

Husbands saved again from McGuigan, and in a melee which followed Wrexham were lucky to escape. Berry was pulled up for offside, and the Grecians raced to the other end once more, but the raid was checked by Blew. There were now only fifteen minutes to go, and it was just a question of who could score and settle the game, for one goal seemed certain to determine the issue. Wake put in some grand defensive work, and Berry skied over the bar when well placed.
Chappell stopped Bell when the latter was bursting through, and in clearing with all the forwards rushing at him. Wrexham were desperate the last few minutes came an exciting spell at the other end, Robinson triers, but were driven back, and in the last minute Exeter went all out for the winning goal, but failed in a gallant attempt, and a gruelling cup-tie ended with the score:

Wrexham 1, Exeter City 1.

Plymouth and District League:
CITY RESERVES V LISKEARD.

Liskeard paid their first visit to St. James's Park to play Exeter City Reserves in the Plymouth and District League. The Cornishmen are new in the League, and before today's match were ninth in the table. Exeter City, with five matches fewer, were one place above them.
The City fielded the following team:- Fletcher; W. Wells, and Fenwick; Eveleigh, Tierney, and Oliver; Sillick, Badcock, Turner, Drain, and White.

The game started in fine weather, but the ground was in a sodden and slippery condition. Turner kicked off for the City towards the St. James's Road end, facing the sun. Turner and Drain took the ball up the field but White kicked behind. The visitors pressed, but Fenwick cleared, and then Liskeard had two successive shots at goal, which Fletcher saved easily. After a goal by Turner had been disallowed for offside, Wiseman scored for Liskeard, the ball going between Fletcher's legs.
Half time: Liskeard 1,City Reserves 0
Exeter pressed hard after the interval, but were unable to break through a stubborn defence. Despite this, the Cornishmen got to the Exeter end by two or three long kicks, and scored a second goal, a shot from Dingle sailing high into the top corner of the net. In the last seven minutes Drain scored twice to earn the City a draw. Result: City Reserves 2 goals, Liskeard 2.