Saturday, January 22nd 1910.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE MATCH
AT EASTVILLE
Bristol Rovers v Exeter City

There were few redeeming features about the Southern League match at Bristol, which ended in the defeat of the Grecians by one goal to none. The most important feature was the way in which the Rovers obtained the goal which gave them victory. Play had progressed rather tamely for about five minutes when Shaw sent the ball out to Laurie. Short crisp passing followed between Laurie and Roberts, until only Crelley remained to be beaten. That the outside-man accomplished very neatly, and placed the ball at the toes of Roberts, who drove it into the net. The whole movement was expertly executed, and it was a pity that it stood alone. Several times the Bristolians looked like increasing their lead, but the occasions on which they troubled Crossthwaite were few and far between. It is true that Jones and Crelley were not easily disposed of, and there were times when the City half-backs, particularly Tierney, tackled strongly. For all that, they did have chances, but their shooting was rarely dependable.
HOME BACKS BELOW FORM
There was less excuse for the failure of the City forwards to at least equalise, because McKenzie and Westwood, the home backs, were considerably below their customary form. Neither kicked cleanly, and in addition Westwood was very slow. This often left Exeter in good. positions, but they did little to cause Roney any serious anxiety. Once Bell tricked McKenzie, and got right into the goalmouth, but all he could do at the finish was to drive the ball wide. He did much the same thing following a free kick, while in the second half a centre from near the corner flag by Green saw Hartley get his head to the ball almost under the cross-bar without directing it into the net.

BRISTOL ROVERS: Roney; McKensie, Westwood; Handley, Shaw, Williams; Peplow, McColl, Corbett, Roberts, and Laurie.
EXETER CITY: Crossthwaite; Crelley, Jones; Tierney, Chadwick, Atkinson; Green, Watson, Bell, Hartley, and Copestake.

Thus it will be gathered that the match was more conspicuous for the mistakes that were made than for the good play it produced. There  was some excuse, perhaps, in the state of the ground. It was slippery to begin with, while later the frost got a grip of the turf again, rendering it more treacherous than ever. There was an attendance of just over eight thousand, including a number of excursionists from Exeter. The match was under the control of Mr J.R. Schumaker, the well known London referee.

City Reserves v Tavistock

This match, for Plymouth League points, at St. James's Park, was also a replay of the recent Devon Senior Cup-tie. It was therefore a double event, following a protest by Tavistock over the result of the game against the City Reserves on January 1st.

RESERVES: Sturge; Craig, Heppell; E. Wells, Ambler, Pym; Drew, Bevan, Martin, Hopkins, and Bates. Lavers
TAVISTOCK: Davey; W. H. Tapson, Huggins; Bromfield, Metters,
F.Minhinnick; Howe, B.Minhinnick, B.Tapson, James, Demellwick.

Result: Tavistock 2 Reserves 0. Scorers: Demellwick and James.