Wednesday, March 10th 1909.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE v EXETER CITY.

Exeter City were severely handicapped in their return Southern League match against the Argyle, at Home Park, Plymouth. Three of the best players were out through injuries, namely Robinson, Chadwick, and Ambler, and the side on duty was:
Exeter City 
Fletcher; Bulcock, and Craig; Johnson, Tierney, and Wake; Parnell,
Watson, Drain, Bell, and Copestake.

Plymouth Argyle fielded the following team:- Horne; Butler, and Atterbury; McCormick, Evenson, and Wilcox; Leavey, Hakin, Hindmarsh, Warburton, and Holden.

Great interest was shown in the first ever League match at Home Park between the two Devonshire rivals, and railway excursions were run from all parts of the county. Several hundred people travelled from Exeter on the G.W.R., and about six or seven thousand were present at 4.30, when Bell set the ball in motion. Exeter were the first away, and Tierney placed the ball well for Copestake to make progress. The City winger went through on his own, but Horne was equal to his final shot. Holden got possession of the ball in midfield and raced through, Fletcher tipping his shot over the bar for a corner. This was finely placed, and Hakin headed through, just two minutes after the start. The Argyle forwards continued in fine fettle, and with the City defence "all at sea" a second goal appeared likely at any moment. However, the danger was averted for the time being, and Atterbury had to clear from Bell and Copestake in rapid succession. Watson was fouled just outside the penalty area but Johnson lofted the free kick over the bar. Exeter were coming more into the game now, and Copestake was pulled up for offside. Parnell all but levelled the scores, and Butler had to concede a corner in trying to clear. Craig dispossessed Leavey in fine style when the latter had a clear field ahead of him, while Tierney similarly stopped Hindmarsh. Bell carried play to the Argyle end and gave to Copestake. The City winger centred, and Bell promptly put the ball in the net amid the frenzied applause of the Exonians present, but the referee ruled that "Daisy" was offside. Five minutes later Hindmarsh scored for Plymouth, to the accompaniment of loud but fruitless appeals for offside from Exeter's backs. It looked just as illegal as Bell's goal, in fact more so, and this second misfortune took some of the heart out of the City players. Luck was clearly not on their side in this match.

TWO MORE GOALS

Wake was injured but remained on the field. Exeter City had another narrow escape when the Argyle nearly scored a third goal following a free kick. Copestake, who was Exeter's best forward, made a strong burst through but the ball ran over the goal line. Then the Argyle took up the attack again, and Hakin scored with a splendid long shot which gave Fletcher no chance whatever. The Argyle now appeared to have the game thoroughly in hand, and forced a corner, but nothing came of it. McCormick was injured, and it appeared serious, for he had to be carried off the field, but even with ten men Plymouth still controlled the game. Following a corner Hakin shot the fourth goal, and the only attempt by Exeter was a shot from Parnell that went behind.

HALF TIME: ARGYLE 4 CITY O

Plymouth had to play through the second half without McCormick, but still had the better of matters, though no further goals were scored. It turned out to be a very disappointing match for Exeter City, who were easily beaten, and in losing four goals the club suffered its heaviest defeat since January 2nd, when Bristol Rovers scored five to one.
The weather was dull, but dry, and the crowd eventually numbered about eight thousand.
Goalscorers for Plymouth: Hakin (3) and Hindmarsh (1).