Saturday, February 13th 1909.
Southern League:
Exeter City v Leyton.

Before a crowd of about four and a half thousand, at St. James's Park. The match was remarkable for a smart performance by Bell, who, being shifted from inside left to centre forward for this game, not only brought about a noticeable improvement to the City's forward play, but succeeded in bringing off a "hat-trick" in spite of the close attention paid to him by Cressor. The Exeter City management made five changes from the side which was so badly beaten by Coventry City on Monday, Crelley appearing for Bulcock at left back, Bell, as mentioned, displacing McGuigan at centre forward, and Drain and White making up a new left wing. Arthur Chadwick reappeared at centre half after missing the Coventry match.

EXETER CITY: Robinson; Craig and Crelley; Ambler, Chadwick, and Wake; Parnell, Watson, Bell, Drain, and White.

LEYTON: Whitbourne; Busby and Longworth; Buchanan, Cressor, and Gray;Nicholls, Seeburg, Renneville, Ryder, and Mayo.

Referee: Mr W.E.Russell, of Southampton.

Defence was Leyton's strong point, although one would have admired it more had Cressor, in his anxiety to checkmate Bell, not departed from the fair methods which characterised his play in the opening quarter of an hour. Of the forwards, Ryder and Seeburg were the best, but the line relied on straight dashes for goal, with long passes, rather than on any studied combination from a football point of view. Leyton were outplayed by quite the margin of the final score, but the defence was always plucky, and their forwards always willing to have a try at goal. In the City team Bell, of course, was the star performer, showing great skill in snapping up difficult chances. White and Drain, brought into the team on the left wing, were more prominent than Parnell and Watson on the other wing, the half-backs were consistently good, and Crelley made a creditable reappearance at left back. Robinson made one brilliant clearance, but was generally well covered by Craig. Ryder scored for Leyton two minutes after the start, beating the City backs with astonishing ease. For some minutes Leyton had all the play, but Exeter then took up a more aggressive attitude, and only fine defensive work by the Londoners kept them from equalising before the interval.

Half time,
Leyton 1-0 Exeter City
Bell's first goal came immediately after the restart, the centre forward rushing the ball through from a corner kick well placed by Parnell. Twenty minutes elapsed before the second score, and then Bell just managed to reach a centre from White, and outmanouevring both backs, shot into the far corner of the net as Whitbourne came out to intercept him. Towards the close Leyton attacked again and Ryder put the ball in the net, but the City players loudly protested, claiming that Ryder had handled. The appeal was upheld by the referee, and with almost the last kick of the match Bell scored his, and Exeter's, third goal.

Result:
Exeter City 3 goals, Leyton 1.

Wednesday, February 17th 1909.
FRIENDLY MATCH:
EXETER CITY v SALISBURY CITY.

At St. James's Park. In the first half play was practically without incident, although there were several good moves made by both sides, the game being very equal. The pace quickened in the second half, and McGuigan, playing at inside left, opened the scoring for Exeter. The visitors quickly replied with a goal from Cavendish and the game ended in a draw 1 goal each. McGuigan had to retire in the second half due to injury. 

Exeter City: Fletcher; Craig, Crelley; Tierney, Chadwick, Oliver; Parnell, Drain, Bell, McGuigan, and White.

Salisbury: Stead; Heslam, Cooper; Wentworth, Rowley, Mantell; Cook,
Cavendish, Trodd, Davies, and Prytherech.

Referee: Mr Sturdy, of Exeter.