Match 37
ECFC v Queen’s Park Rangers 24 February 1909

Wednesday, February 24th 1909.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CITY v QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS.


The return Southern League match against the Rangers was played at St. James's Park in brilliant weather, and a large crowd attended. The turf was a little hard on the surface owing to the frost, but other wise the conditions were perfect. At the kick-off about 3,500 were present, and the number was subsequently increased to above 5,000, a fine "gate" for a midweek match. Teams :

CITY:

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

RANGERS:

Shaw; Macdonald, and Fidler; Duff, Morris, and Downing; Bright McNaught, Rogers, Snellgrove, Drake, and Barnes.

Referee: Mr. Armitt.

Watson lost the toss, and Bell set the ball rolling towards the City end, and at once attacked, the move ending with Fidler conceding a corner, which was cleared. Wake and Ambler between them checked the counter-attack, and Watson tried a long shot which lacked the power necessary to test Shaw. Watson again attempted to get through but was tripped up, and from the free kick Bell made a good attempt to get in a scoring position, but was stopped by one of the Rangers' backs.

Play continued to be fast and interesting, and mostly in Exeter's favour, and Shaw had to punch a high dropping shot from Watson behind for a corner. He also made a good save from a cross shot by Bell a minute or two later. The last ten minutes of this half were mostly in favour of the Rangers, but at the interval there was still no score.

CITY 0-0 RANGERS

Play opened quietly in the second half, but a mistake by the home defence let Drake through, although with an open goal in front of him he delayed his shot until Robinson was able to come out and kick the ball clear. Just afterwards Robinson again came to Exeter's rescue, saving a stinging shot from Rogers. A free kick for a foul against Robinson gave Parnell an opening, but as he was making tracks for goal he was badly fouled by Fidler, who was cautioned by the referee for this action. The City were now monopolising play, and Parnell again dribbled through and centred. All the inside men missed the ball, but it bounced back again towards Parnell, who jumped and headed it into the net amid tremendous cheering.
The City claimed a penalty when Bell was tripped up in the area, but the referee waved play on. Shaw saved further shots from Parnell, Bell, Drain, and Wake, and had the City won by three or four goals it would have been no more than they deserved. It was generally agreed that this was the best midweek match seen at St. James's Park this season, apart from the Wrexham cup-tie.

Result:
Exeter City 1 Queen's Park 0.

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