Saturday, March 6th 1909.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CRYSTAL PALACE v EXETER CITY.

One scarcely knows whether to admire most the hardihood of the players or the one thousand spectators who braved the elements at the Crystal Palace ground at Sydenham. It is true that the snow had been removed from the playing arena, but where there was not an inch or so of slush remaining there were great pools of water. In fact, more tha half the field was under water, only the small spaces at each corner being completely free. The rain also came down heavily during the entire game to add to the discomforts of the players and the small handful of spectators who were not under cover.

MORE LIKE WATER POLO
Under such conditions it was remarkable that there should have been any football in the proceedings at all, and it must be confessed that it was more like water polo than soccer. The sudden stopping of the ball in the pools of water proved very disconcerting to the players, and provided many diverting incidents, and when, as frequently happened, a player had an unexpected bath of watery slush, those watching could scarcely refrain from being amused. On the whole, however, the players ploughed through the slush and water with astonishing vigour and not a little success, which is most certainly a tribute to the average professional footballer. Particularly in the first half the Exeter forwards brought off some clever passing movements, for Bell and Watson appeared to surmount the difficulties of the unstable footing better than any of the other men. For most of the first half the Exonians were nearly always attacking, which only bad shooting, excusable under the circumstances, brought to nothing. Drain got a goal which was judged offside, and Bell failed badly on two occasions when right in front of goal. On the Palace side only Bauchop seemed capable of taking the ball along, and that mainly by sharp kicks and fast following up. Once he headed over the bar, and on another occasion shot behind.

EVERYBODY DRENCHED

The players were not allowed to leave the field at the interval, and if possible play was even more farcical afterwards. The incessant heavy rain had made the ground even worse, and the ball often sent up shoots of water which temporarily incapicated a player whilst he recovered his eyesight. It was largely water splashing and mud-larks, and every man on the field was thoroughly drenched long before the close. Only once was either goal seriously threatened, and that was when Swann missed a great opportunity, just failing to get his foot to the ball when it came over from Woodger on the Palace left wing. However, on such a day it would be pointless to subject the players to any form of detailed criticism, for either side would have had a good excuse for losing under such conditions.
Result, a goalless draw.

PALACE: Johnson; Collyer, Needham; Lewis, Brearley, Thorp; Garratt, Bauchop, Swann, Lee, and Woodger.

CITY: Robinson; Craig, Bulcock; Ambler, Chadwick, Wake; White, Watson, Bell, Drain, and Copestake.

Referee: Mr A.E. Farrant, Bristol.

This was Exeter City's first visit to the vast enclosure at the Crystal Palace grounds, Sydenham, which has for many years been the venue for the English Cup Final; it was a pity that the occasion was ruined by the weather.

Reserves Match Postponed 
The City Reserves' match against Torpoint in the Plymouth League at St. James's Park was postponed in order not to use the pitch, which is partly under water following the recent thaw.