Wednesday, January 26th 1910. Southern League Match. 
EXETER V SOUTHEND

Snow-covered Ground at St. James's Park

The postponed Southern League match between Exeter and Southend was played at St. James's Park in wintry weather this afternoon. The game was of considerable importance to both clubs, especially to Southend, for a victory would ensure their going up two places in the League, and thus materially free them from some of their fears in regard to relegation. Last Saturday, following their English Cup victory over Gainsborough Trinity, the Thames-mouth men beat Luton Town by 4 - 1, and no doubt have much improved of late.
Exeter City, who have won the last three home matches off the reel, decided to give McGuigan a trial at centre forward. Unfortunately, however, he fell and injured his knee in training yesterday, and the City therefore relied upon the same team as on Saturday. Southend had Parkes for Brown at outside-right. The ground was covered with a thin crust of snow, and appeared likely to cut up rough. It was not nearly as bad, however, as when Southend were here last year, when the pitch was like a quagmire.

EXETER CITY:
Crossthwaite Crelley Jones Tierney Chadwick Atkinson Green Watson Bell Hartley Copestake

Referee:- Mr. Milton, of London.

Crews Sugden King Frost Parkes
McLellan Lavers Emery
Molyneux Murray
Toone
SOUTHEND:

Watson won the toss and Southend kicked off. Atkinson immediately put Watson through with a ground pass, and the skipper transferred the ball to Bell, who in turn slung it out to Green. The winger drove it across to the other side of the field, and Copestake centred for Bell to direct a header towards goal, but over the bar. This was a bright start by the City, and the visiting defence was slow to settle on the treacherous ground. Crews passed Crelley but his centre was captured by Jones, and the City again carried the attack into their opponents' territory. Watson worked out a fine opening for Bell, who dashed in and with a left foot drive gave Toone a difficult shot to deal with. When Southend got to the Exeter end King tried a ground shot that was only a yard wide, and in the next City attack Toone missed a flying centre from Copestake with Green unable to reach the ball in time. Atkinson was prominent in defence for Exeter, but the "Shrimpers" forwards began to combine effectively, and kept their footing well in the difficult conditions. Copestake was given a glorious chance close in, but his shot went high over the bar. Toone punched a fearsome shot from Bell over the bar, and later saved on his knees from Hartley.

The half-time interval arrived with the score sheet still blank, and as far as Southend were concerned their goalkeeper was chiefly responsible for this state of affairs. The second half opened with a run on the right by Green. The ball went into touch, but Green got it again, and from his centre Bell obtained possession and opened the score with a fast rising shot, which struck the upper part of the net. Bell received another chance within seconds of the restart, but mis timed his shot, the ball sailing about six feet over the crossbar. Toone then diverted a square centre by Watson, and for a few minutes Exeter could do everything except score another goal. Lavers tried to stem the tide with a long shot, but Exeter were quickly attacking again, and when the second half had been in progress for fifteen minutes the second goal was scored. Copestake worked his way down the touch-line and Toone came out to meet his centre. It looked certain that he would get the ball, but Bell darted forward, and seeming to take it off the custodian's very fingers, simply walked it into the net. It was a quiet touch in dexterity on Bell's part which gained that point.
ALL THE PLAY IN SOUTHEND'S HALF
Southend stuck to their task well despite the second goal against them, and Crossthwaite touched over a good drive from King, but apart from a few isolated raids all the play was now in the Southend half, and their defence was under almost continuous pressure. In fact the game was as good as won, with more than 20 minutes remaining.
Tierney fired over from a corner, and just afterwards, following centres by Copestake and Green, Hartley got the ball just underneath the bar and drove it home for number three. Watson brought off one of his inimitable dribbles and also shot wide from Bell's pass. With only about three minutes to go Southend broke away, and Frost being given the leather by Parkes, scored a fine goal with a long shot. The Seasiders came near to further reducing Exeter's lead just after their goal had been scored, and in the closing stages played as well as they had done in the first half.
Result: City 3 goals, Southend 1.

NOTES ON THE GAME
On the snow-covered pitch the visitors had an equal share of the opening play, and Sugden should have scored, but shot feebly. Toone played an heroic game in goal for Southend, two of his saves, from Bell and Hartley being remarkable. Toone was lucky to clear a shot by the Exeter leader by fisting the ball over the bar, and Exeter City were well on top when the interval was signalled. Immediately after the restart Bell put through from a centre by Green, and "Daisy" then missed two excellent chances, but after some minutes of featureless play he added a ridiculously easy goal from Copestake's centre. Hartley cleverly got another after half an hour, the City having had almost all the play up to that point. Southend were only dangerous twice, and on the second occasion Frost scored with a capital shot. The attendance was 3,000.