Monday, December 13th 1909.
STOKE v EXETER CITY
Replayed Cup Tie,
at Craven Cottage

After playing a pointless draw at Stoke and then finishing up with one goal apiece at Exeter, the two clubs finally disposed of their tie in in the fifth qualifying round of the F. A. Cup Competition at Craven Cottage, Fulham, when Stoke proved victorious by two goals to one, front of a crowd of about a thousand spectators. It was typical cup-tie football, with plenty of vigour, but not a vast amount of good play, and the award went not so much to the better team as to the one which missed fewer chances in front of goal. In this respect both sides were sinners, but Exeter were the worse, their inside forwards signally failing to take advantage of numerous fine centres slung in by Copestake and Green, the latter of whom played a very smart game at outside-right. Stoke owed a great deal to the robust spoiling tactics of their half-backs and still more to their goalkeeper, Jack Robinson, whose sterling display between the posts did much to win the game for them after they had placed themselves ahead early in the second half.

STOKE:
Robinson; Turner and Hay; S.Baddeley, Hall, and Tomlinson; Leigh, Smith, Griffiths, A.Baddeley, and Milward.
CITY:
Crossthwaite; Crelley and Jones; Atkinson, Chadwick, and Hartley; Green, Watson, Harrison, McGuigan, and Copestake.

Referee:- Mr A.E.Farrant, of Bristol.

There was a poor attendance of not much more than a thousand when Exeter kicked off. The tie had to be played at the Fulham ground, as the Chelsea enclosure at Stamford Bridge was not available. Stoke were the first to break away, and Crossthwaite had a long shot from Leigh to negotiate. The next few minutes saw Exeter much the more aggressive side. McGuigan and Hartley both sent a trifle wide, while at the other end A.Baddeley, with an open goal, shot behind. Robinson then saved miraculously from McGuigan by conceding a corner, which was abortive. A breakaway by Stoke saw Jones mis-kick from a shot by Smith, which beat Crossthwaite, Stoke thus taking the lead after ten minutes' play. As a result of a splendid piece of dribbling by McGuigan, who three times had shots charged down, Exeter equalised the score 20 minutes from the start. Watson was the man to score, but it was McGuigan's effort that earned the position. The City made another fine attempt a moment later, a lovely shot from Green going right across the goal.

EXETER THE BETTER SIDE.
For some moments Exeter were clearly the better side, and they got plenty of encouragement from a few exiled Devonians. Robinson, the old City goalkeeper, was once fortunate in being struck by a fierce shot from Copestake, which Hay kicked behind for a fruitless corner, while another to the Grecians was also useless. Stoke now made one of their few incursions, and with Crelley beaten Jones tackled Milward when a dangerous situation appeared likely to develop. With the half time interval approaching play was now even, neither custodian being much troubled, although Hay once saved well.
HALF-TIME:
STOKE 1-1 EXETER CITY.
The game was resumed before an increased attendance, and quite early Turner robbed Watson very cleverly, while at the other end Crelley had to kick out on two occasions to relieve the pressure. Following this, the Exeter forwards made a determined rush, and McGuigan was left with a splendid opportunity. He preferred to pass, however, and the best Copestake could do was to force a corner. After a while Stoke put on some pressure, and twice they missed practically open goals with no opponents near them. Baddeley had the first chance, but was altogether too slow, and Crossthwaite easily cleared. Then Milward shot behind with all the goal to aim at. But directly afterwards Milward forced a corner, from which Leigh headed a second goal for the "Potters" ten minutes after the change of ends. The City were now being hard pressed, and the Stoke forwards played a lively game.
BRILLIANT GOALKEEPING BY ROBINSON
It was now a splendid struggle, Exeter putting any amount of dash and vigour into their attacks. From a free kick Robinson saved well from Chadwick, while a moment later he just succeeded in hooking out a shot from Harrison with his left hand, - a magnificent clearance. Immediately the play was transferred, being most exciting now, and Chadwick was somewhat fortunate in checking Griffiths, but so fast were the exchanges that Exeter promptly earned a corner. Robinson saved again from Harrison. The Grecians forced still another corner without success. Stoke attacked occasionally, but were dangerous only once, when A.Baddeley broke clear, and as a last resort Crossthwaite came out and just succeeded in diverting the shot past the post. Exeter were attacking to the end, but could not score.
RESULT:
STOKE 2-1 EXETER CITY 1.
There was an element of luck about Stoke's first goal, and the same remark applies to the equaliser, eight minutes later. Crossing over on level terms, Stoke missed a couple of easy chances, but ten minutes after the resumption scored the winning goal. The City made desperate efforts to restore the balance, but were met by a resolute defence in which Robinson figured conspicuously, and nothing further was scored.
Stoke thus qualify to entertain Newcastle United in the first round of the Competition Proper on January 15th.