Tuesday, December 28th 1909.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE:

EXETER CITY v READING.

BOTTOM LEAGUE CLUB AT ST. JAMES'S PARK

Another Southern League match was played at St. James's Park today, Exeter City's opposition being furnished by Reading, the team which has fared disastrously this season, and occupied the unenviable bottom place in the League table. 
P.C.Evans was unable to play for the City, and Green was tried at centre-forward. Crelley, who was hurt yesterday, stood down for Craig and Hartley, who was also damaged playing against the Argyle, gave, place to Ambler.
The "Biscuitmen", who were defeated last year at St. James's Park by five-nil, made one alteration from the side which was beaten at Croydon yesterday, Kilsby, late of Northampton, taking the place Wilks at centre-forward. The weather was overcast, but the going was better than it was yesterday. The crowd was small compared to that of the Plymouth match, but there were quite 5,000 present at the kick off.
EXETER CITY:
Crossthwaite; Craig and Jones; Ambler, Chadwick, and Atkinson; Copestake, Watson, Green, Bell, and Garside.
READING:
Caldwell; Wilson and Henderson; Bartholomew, Hancock, and Redford; Reynolds, Lee, Kilsby, Craig, and Burch.

Watson won the toss, and the City at once attacked. Green sent Bell through but the latter was pulled up for offside. A minute or two afterwards Caldwell saved from Watson, and the City continued to have the better of the argument. On one occasion, however, Craig (Reading) raced off, but was charged by Jones and shot hopelessly wide. Caldwell luckily saved a dropping centre by Copestake, while Watson obtained a corner from which Bell screwed the ball just wide. Ten minutes after the start the Grecians drew first blood, Watson trapping the ball and scoring with a first time drive. Subsequently Caldwell saved on his line in great style, and Reading repeatedly had narrow escapes. Wilson, for instance, conceded a corner, from which a rare scramble ensued before the ball was cleared, while on another occasion a hard drive by Green cannoned off Redford for another abortive corner. Up to this stage the home forwards had shaped in very promising fashion, and when at last the Biscuitmen got away the best they could do was to fire the ball sky high into St. James's Road. At the other end Copestake tricked the defence into giving away a flag kick, and this was quickly followed by a second. Neither, however, led to any tangible result. Followers of the club are wondering whenever Exeter City are going to score from a corner!
Atkinson put in a fine straight volley from fully thirty yards out, overworked backs. Jones did well in Exeter's defence, but for the most and play continued mainly in the neighbourhood of Caldwell and his part the City kept play at the Reading end, and once Bell headed only inches wide from Garside's centre.
Crossthwaite handled for the second time in the game just afterwards, but a minute later had a narrow escape when he mistook a call by Atkinson, and running out of his goal, failed to take the latter's pass. Reading were playing the wide passing game, and Crossthwaite had to run out to save from Kilsby, who lying well upfield, had evaded both Jones and Craig (Exeter). Caldwell then brought off a couple of
sensational saves, both from Bell. Having done about nine tenths of the attacking, Exeter went in at half-time leading by a goal to nil.
SECOND HALF:
Exeter City had to play against a strong wind in this half, but nevertheless were soon on the attack. They were temporarily checked by free kick against them, but quickly returned, and Bell sent in a terrific drive less than a yard off the mark. Two minutes later he got his reward, ramming the ball home with a cross-drive from an almost impossible angle. It was a clever goal, and served to arouse some enthusiasm from the crowd, which had been rather silent. The Grecians carried all before them for a time, but Reading still made occasional bursts, which, however, were more pluckly than skilful. Hancock tried a shot from thirty yards out, but Crossthwaite was in waiting. For a time Reading had more of the game, but the wind was now stronger than ever. Chadwick put in a great drive, which went over the bar, and then there ensued an exciting melee with Crossthwaite lying on the ball on his line. Half a dozen of the visitors rushed into the fray in an effort to get him over the line, and the referee eventually stopped play and gave a free kick against them. Nothing daunted the visitors came again and forced a corner, Copestake eventually clearing with a flying kick. Amusement was caused by the ball going out into the St. James's Road and smashing a street lamp, and it was just after this incident that Watson was fouled by Redford in the penalty area when threading his way through. The referee promptly signalled a penalty, and Chadwick registered the City's third goal. A free kick for a foul on Copestake brought further trouble for the visitors, but Atkinson shot wide. Lee got away with a clear field, and Crossthwaite, rushing out, took the ball from the forward's toes. The Reading man was rather badly hurt in the process, and was helped off by his trainer. A good run by Watson almost led to a goal, and then Lee, amid encouraging cheers, came on to the field again. The visitors stuck to their guns with any amount of pluck, forcing two corners, and with practically the last kick of the match Kilsby reduced the lead.
Exeter City 3, Reading 1.

NOTES ON THE GAME.
The City deserved to win, and the margin of 3-1 about represents their superiority. There was an all-round improvement from yesterday, but one would hesitate to say that today's form is good enough to account for Southampton next Saturday. Reading seemed to take their defeat as a foregone conclusion. The team is a poor one, and they rely entirely on the game of long sweeping passes, and the kick and rush methods.

Caldwell was the outstanding man in the team, and brought off many fine saves. Reading are almost for certain doomed to relegation after their recent defeats, and the management appear to regard the outlook of the club as about as bleak as it could be. Bell has discovered his shooting boots again, while Ambler had very much improved upon his form of early in the season. Copestake again played well, but did not get the ball nearly as much as one would like to have seen. The goals of Watson and Bell were both of the highest order.

DEPARTURE OF HARRISON.
Dick Harrison, who came from Manchester with a big reputation for goalscoring, failed to sustain it at Exeter, and has left the club. He scored five goals in League matches, including the "hat-trick" against Portsmouth, but was never at home with the rest of the team. He was too individualistic to make an ideal pivot, and too ready to throw up the sponge when things did not come his way.