Saturday, March 5th 1910.
Exeter City v West Ham.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE FOOTBALL
AT ST. JAMES'S PARK

Hammers Depleted: Lost by a Goal

Although the City only defeated West Ham by a goal to nil, they were by far the superior side, and deserved to win by a much wider margin. But the Hammers were unfortunate in having to field a depleted side because of injuries. Notable absentees were George Kitchen, goalkeeper and captain, and George Webb, their amateur centre-forward.
EXETER CITY:
Crossthwaite 
Crelley Jones
Atkinson Ambler Hartley
Copestake Watson Green Bell Garside

Referee: Mr. A. Hall, of Birmingham.

WEST HAM 
Caldwell Blackburn Silor Shea Ashton Randall Piercy Woodards
Fairman Shreeve
Dawson

It was an ideal day, quite the best Exeter have been favoured with for their home matches this season, and between six and seven thousand people were present. The game was fast from its commencement, but the exchanges were marred by quite a number of accidents, culminating in Piercy, who captained West Ham in the absence of Kitchen, having to be assisted off the field with a fractured rib. The Grecians opened in spirited fashion, Green, in the first few minutes, sending over the bar. For a time play was mainly confined to midfield, but eventually the West Ham forwards came down towards the Exeter goal in a line, and a score seemed certain, but Ashton from a difficult angle shot wide. Exeter quickly responded, and got round the vicinity of the West Ham goal, Dawson saving well from Bell. Two corners to Exeter were brilliantly cleared by Dawson, but the City were not to be denied, and Copestake cut in from the wing to put the Grecians in the lead. Some exceptionally clever footwork on his part enabled him to get into a scoring position, and his final shot was too good for Dawson. The Hammers retaliated strongly, but some magnificent heading by Ambler saved the situation several times, and at the interval Exeter still led by Copestake's goal.
Early in the second half West Ham were at Exeter's goal, Crelley intervening with a fine clearance, but Copestake changed the scene by forcing a corner, this being negatived by Atkinson shooting wide. The visiting attack was seen more than Exeter's in the concluding stages, Blackburn and Shea working hard to get their wings going. The game became rough, with numerous free kicks given to both sides, and Copestake had to retire as the result of a kick on the knee; in the last five minutes the accident to Piercy occurred, each team being thus reduced to ten men. No further scoring took place, Exeter City winning a hard game by the narrowest margin.
AMBLER'S SUCCESSFUL RETURN
It was a much-needed victory, and although Exeter's position in the League Table is not very convincing it is strengthened as the result of today's match. It was pleasing to note the improvement in the half-backs, for they gave a better display than for several weeks. Ambler, on his return to the team, was a tower of strength in the centre, and if his placing of the ball was not always accurate, his fine heading and reliable work in defence easily counterbalanced this defect. It would be invidious to single out any of the forwards for special commendation, with the possible exception of Copestake, for the whole line played well, although in the matter of shooting Dame Fortune was against them. Crelley was in excellent form at back, and his work, coupled with that of Jones, was responsible for the comparatively easy time which fell to Crossthwaite.

Plymouth and District League 
South Staffs Regiment v City Reserves 

In the Plymouth and District League the Reserves were defeated by the South Staffs Regiment, 3-0, at the Brickfields, Devonport.