Monday, December 27th 1909.
BOXING DAY FOOTBALL.
EXETER CITY v PLYMOUTH ARGYLE Return Match at St. James's Park:

HUGE CROWD
St. James's Park presented a record scene this afternoon. the on occasion of the return Southern League match between Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle. On Christmas morning, at Home Park, the "Dandies" won by 1-0, and made two alterations this afternoon from the team which was victorious on that occasion. Horne re-appeared in goal vice Sutcliffe, who has hurt his hand, and Fagan substituted for Butler. Bell, having recovered from his recent injury, was at inside left for the City, but Chadwick stood down and Tierney played centre-half. Over 500 Plymouth excursionists arrived in the city ring the course of the morning, and at 2 p.m. there were 7000 people on the ground, with every prospect of a record crowd eventually being present.

EXETER CITY
Crossthwaite
Crelley Jones
Atkinson Tierney Hartley
Copestake Watson Evans Bell Garside

Referee:- Mr. J.H.Smith, of Doncaster.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Horne
Fagan Atterbury
McCormick Wilcox Baker
Griffiths Raymond Hindmarsh Burch Lamb

The ground presented a very animated scene before the start, and for the first time a number of people crowded on to the banking before the lower goal. Long before the start every corner was crowded, and streams of would-be spectators were still coming in. Exeter City were first out, in all-white, and the Argyle, in green and black, received quite an uproarious reception. Palpably they had a large following. Bells and hooters kept up an overwhelming din, and coloured umbrellas were everywhere. Before the start both goal keepers were presented with their Club colours by supporters. There was an ominous breaking of the fences at the St. James's Road end just before the start, and the City directors, together with Police, hurried over to prevent the crowd from encroaching on to the field. At this time people had clambered on to the advertisement hoarding overlooking the railway, and the crowd must have numbered from 12,000 to 14,000.

THE GAME
The Argyle kicked off towards St. James's Road, and Crossthwaite was soon called upon. He ran out and punched away, and then the City mounted their first attack. The ball went out near the corner flag, and Copestake from the throw-in put across a good centre. The Argyle backs hesitated, and Evans, dashing in quickly, drew first blood amid tremendous cheering. Two minutes later, with the City still attacking, Bell was hurt in attempting to head the ball, and retired. This was a disaster indeed for the City, and the Argyle, breaking away, almost succeeded in scoring, but Raymond's shot went two feet wide. At the other end Hartley narrowly missed, then Bell, amid tumultous applause, reappeared with his nose plastered.
ARGYLE PENNED IN BUT EQUALISE
The City continued to go great guns, and the Argyle were penned in their own half. The game was being fought out at a great pace. Raymond headed wide from a centre by Lamb, and Copestake put across a lovely square pass which Fagan was lucky to intercept. Tierney was playing a good game in defence, but the Argyle forwards began to combine well, and Lamb sent behind after a good run. Griffiths failed badly with an open goal, then a free kick against the City led to a corner being forced by the Pilgrims, but the flag kick went behind. Lamb, with a brilliant sprint, forced corner number two, and from this Griffiths equalised with an overhead kick into the far corner of the net. He was unmarked. Hartley saved in one exciting scrimmage which followed, then Exeter attacked with vigour, and Copestake narrowly failed with a surprise shot at goal. The Argyle got away up the field with a forward rush, Watson saw Copestake put the ball wide from the free kick, taken by Jones having to nip across and tackle Lamb just in time. A foul on Atkinson, and directly afterwards Jones robbed Hindmarsh and put the ball into touch. Bell made a splendid effort to regain the lead, but Horne saved. He also tipped over a storming shot by Garside, and the City were now doing all the attacking. Exeter were pulled up for off side, and Bell and Garside, not hearing the whistle, ran on and forced Horne over the line, a lucky "let-off" for the Argyle. Crelley saved under stress, and Jones and Hartley were also doing plenty of good defensive work for the City. Crelley and Copestake were both 
hurt in tackles reminiscent of some of the exchanges at Plymouth on Christmas Day, but resumed, and then Bell, dodging through, scored with a great shot from twenty yards out, giving Horne no chance. In the few remaining minutes before the interval Burch equalised with a long shot. Half-time:
EXETER CITY 2-2 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Second half. The Argyle got away but Exeter were soon at the other end, and Bell shot into Horne's hands. A fine forward movement by the City ended with Copestake taking a flying kick, the ball going yards wide, while Watson did the same a moment later. Garside burst through on his own but failed to control the ball, which rolled over the goal line. Against the run of the play Plymouth took the lead. Hesitation on Tierney's part allowed Burch to get within shooting distance, and he ran on unopposed to slip the ball past Crossthwaite, just inside the post. Thus the City, for the first time in the match, were behind. It was a soft goal, and ought never to have been scored. The City responded gallantly, and Copestake gained a corner, but this proved of no benefit. Once again the Argyle broke away, Crelley was beaten for pace, and the ball was passed across to Griffiths, who scored easily.
A CHANGED ASPECT
Copestake cleverly forced a corner off Atterbury, and Crossthwaite twice saved at the other end. The whole aspect of the game had now changed, and a winning chance for the Grecians appeared to have turned into a hopeless position. The Argyle were now playing a winning game, their forwards continually beating Jones and Crelley for speed and skill. Some feeling crept into the game, and Tierney was cautioned by the referee. In the last ten minutes Bell and Evans changed places, but it made little difference, and Exeter finished up a well beaten side.
RESULT:
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 4 goals, EXETER CITY 2. Scorers: Griffiths (2), Burch (2) for Plymouth Argyle. Evans and Bell, for Exeter City.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE 
ARGYLE RESERVES v CITY RESERVES 

Damp weather prevailed at Home Park this morning, when the reserve teams of Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City met in a return engagement before 2000 spectators. Exeter kicked off, but the opening exchanges went all in favour of the Argyle, Wells having to clear from Leavey. In the next minute Haynes dropped across a beautiful centre, but the chance was missed by Leavey, who shot too hurriedly. Bates and Martin
brought relief, but Cudlipp drove them back, Wells having to clear a good shot from Meager. Clever work by Letheren transferred play to the home end, but the City's stay there was only brief, and the game again settled in neutral territory until the Argyle once more assumed the aggressive. Nothing resulted, but in the ensuing play Exeter had to defend, the backs proving safe. Half-time, no score.
The second half opened in the Argyle's favour, but Drew dribbled away and sent across for Black to clear. Haynes secured the ball and set his forwards going, and from Peard's centre Meager headed over the bar. The Argyle kept up the pressure, and eventually Worden headed out of Wells' reach into the net. Exeter had a few chances, but Martin and Bates proved weak at finishing, and Lovelace was seldom troubled. In another attack Leavey scored the Argyle's second goal, but the closing stages were all in favour of Exeter, whose shooting nevertheless was weak, the forwards never seeming to be able to get together properly. Wells played a masterly game in goal, and saved the City from a heavy defeat.
Result: Argyle Reserves 2 goals, Exeter Reserves nil.

ARGYLE: Lovelace; Cudlipp, D.Black; Simmonds, Boyd, Haynes; Peard, Meager, Worden, Hoskings, and Leavey. CITY: W.Wells; White, Heppell; Letheren, Pym, E. Wells; Drew, Bevan,
Hopkins, Martin, and Bates.