Wednesday, January 20th 1909.

THE CUP EXETER CITY v WREXHAM

Replay at St. James's Park:

The replayed English Cup match, City v Wrexham, took place in mild springlike weather, in vivid contrast to the conditions at Wrexham on Saturday. By order of the F.A., the kick off was put forward to 2.15 instead of 2.30, as advertised.

The ground was in better condition than it has been for some time, but sticky and holding on the surface and likely to be quickly cut up. The Wrexham party, who stopped overnight in Bristol, were optimistic about their chances, and an old follower of the team spoke of them as being more optimistic than he had ever known them on an out-journey. Exeter made one change from Saturday, owing to a family bereavement sustained by Craig, whose place was taken by Crelley. The fact that if they won today Exeter meet Plymouth Argyle in the next round of the Cup added considerably to the interest in the tie. The alteration of the time made a difference to the crowd at the kick-off, but the attendance was subsequently much increased to about five thousand.
The visitors, playing in green, were first out, entering the enclosure to the tune of "Men of Harlech". The Grecians, to the inevitable music of "Widdicombe Fair", quickly followed in the green and white vertical stripes of the City Reserves. Watson won the toss and elected to play with the sun at his back away from the City end.

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

Referee: Mr Best, of Salisbury.

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

The City were the first to attack, but Wrexham quickly got on the move, and Robinson was the first goalkeeper called upon. Wake did some fine spoiling, but Wrexham forced a corner. This was cleared, Watson booting the ball away for Parnell to get moving on the right, ending with a corner to Exeter. Blew kicked down the field, but Exeter were soon around Husbands once more, and Bell only just failed to meet a pass by Chadwick in front of the goalposts.

RANKIN SCORES FOR WREXHAM

After this play became very fast and exciting, and Wrexham had a number of dangerous attacks to Robinson's charge. Parnell and Watson led a likely looking move, but Price burst away, and from his centre Rankin scored amid vain appeals for offside by the City. This early goal showed Wrexham up as a very dangerous side, and encouraged by their success they quickly returned play to the City end, and gained a corner. This was cleared, and Parnell burst right through but was hemmed in near goal, and Copestake's subsequent centre was cut out by Blew. Wrexham came again, and Robinson had to run out to kick away. From a free kick against the City Rankin shot behind. Wrexham were playing the typical cup-tie game, and the Grecians were often nonplussed by their long swinging passes. Rankin shot just over the bar, and then a rush by Bell saw one of the Wrexham backs kick over his own goal line for a corner with Husbands badly out of over position. Two further corners in the City's favour brought no tangible result, and nothing seemed to come right for Exeter. A dangerous rush by Bell, Watson, and McGuigan enabled Parnell to force yet another corner, but once more Blew cleared his lines. Bell headed into Husbands' hands just before half time.

Interval:
WREXHAM 1 EXETER CITY O

The City started in desperate earnestness, and were soon around Husbands' charge. McGuigan was tripped near the penalty area, and Watson headed just wide from the free kick. Parnell then sent in a great drive, which cannoned off one of the backs for a corner, but the defence, packing their goal, cleared after an exciting melee. Exeter City were now carrying everything before them, but the sun was very troublesome, and did much to baffle their efforts. A move started by Bulcock and continued by Chadwick and Copestake ended with Watson flashing the ball just wide of the upright, while McGuigan volleyed inches over the bar from Copestake's centre.

PENALTY REFUSED
In another severe bombardment Husbands saved brilliantly from Bell, and this pressure was surely good enough for the equaliser. Watson, from fifteen yards out, drove the ball only a foot too high. Bell was badly brought down near goal, but his appeal for a penalty was in vain, only a free kick being given. This was cleared by Chappell, and then Wrexham, for the first time in this half, went down as Robinson, but were repulsed, and a likely move at the other end was far spoiled at the fatal moment. McGuigan, when fairly well placed, shot wide, and Husbands saved finely from Parnell. as

THE CITY EQUALISE

With time running out for the City, Chadwick headed wide, and also kicked over the goal line, and Husbands made yet another save from Bell, following a fierce scrimmage in his goalmouth. Then at last came the equaliser. Hands in the penalty area was given against Wrexham, and Chadwick, amid a wild outburst of cheering, the like of which has never been heard on the ground before, scored with a low, cannon-like drive. Full time came with no alteration in the score, and an extra half an hour was started without the teams turning over.

Full time:
EXETER CITY 1 WREXHAM 1

Both goals had narrow escapes, and then, after Husbands had made a good save from Copestake, McGuigan headed in from a corner, and was overwhelmed with congratulations from his colleagues. The crowd was now raised to a a pitch of excitement, and well they might be, for in quarter of an hour a forlorn hope had been changed to every prospect now of a win with all its possibilities. At close quarters Husbands saved from Parnell, and Wrexham seemed to be tiring. At half time the score was 2-1 in Exeter's favour, and the teams were allowed to take a breather off the field. The second period of extra time brought a shock to the crowd, for once, after Bulcock had been injured, the ball was flashed right across the face of the City's goal, while in another instance Wrexham were pulled up only just in time. Towards the end the gruelling game s having an obvious effect on all the players, and time came as a was welcome relief.

Result:
EXETER CITY 2-1 WREXHAM