CITY FINISH 0-0 IN GAME OF MISSED CHANCES 

Watford better in attack;
Exeter sound in defence

By LIONEL WOTTON

INJURIES to Bill Ellaway and Frank Houghton forced the City to make changes in their team against Watford, at St. James's Park this afternoon.

Centre-forward Ellaway, who twisted a knee in the mid-week match with Colchester and is not expected to be fit for a fortnight, was replaced by Paddy Doyle. At outside-right, Gerald Priestley returned in place of Frank Houghton, who damaged a shoulder during training.

PROGRAMME

The line-up
City Bell; B. Doyle, Douglass: Dunne, Davey, Mitchell: Priestley, Anderson, P. Doyle, Mackay, McClelland.
Watford. Bennett: Bewley, Cooke; Kelly, Shipwright, Mitchell: Cook, Bowie, Brown, Hermon. Adams.
Referee-S. V. Davis, Cheltenham.

Watford, who had Shipwright at centre-half for Nolan, had lost six time's and drawn twice at St. James's Park since the war. Their last win at Exeter was in season 1938-39. Making his first home appearance for the City, Alec Bell took over from Hugh Kelly, who went down with Rheumatism in the forearm on Wednesday. The City attacked the St. James's Road end and Brian Doyle initiated the first movement by passing to Priestley, From the winger's short centre, Mackay flicked the ball the wrong way and the visiting defence was not troubled. After a spell of midfield exchanges. the City advanced again, and Doyle, showing the right idea at centre forward, opened out the game with a long pass to McClelland.

Bowie danger
An unproductive corner resulted. and from the clearance Watford took control. Bowie, a clever schemer in these early stages, was constantly switch ing the point of attack, with the re sult that both the Watford wingers were bemg brought into the game Brown. the coloured Watford leader, headed into Bell's arms. The same forward headed over an empty net just afterwards, when Bell had been drawn out and unable to reach back pass from Davey.
Angus anguish

Dunne's pass into the open space was a model of accuracy. and Mackay had a clear run goalwards. It was a chance that Mackay would have taken usually, but this time he shot weakly and into Bennett's arms. The next culprit was McClelland. City had forced a corner kick, and Mackay headed the ball down to his wing partner, who shot yards over at point-blank range. Dunne was a polished half-back, and Mitchell also shone, notably when he dashed in and dispossessed Bowie, to avert a dangerous situation. Resourceful work by Brian Doyle held up the Watford Jeft wing most times, but one threatening cross from Adams passed inches beyond the far post. with the fast following-up Brown just failing to connect.
Half-time:
EXETER CITY 0-0 WATFORD

There had been few thrills in the first half, and the City attack again suffered through weaknesses on the wings. Watford were clever in approach. but finished poorly.A Bowie-inspired attack had the City worried on the restart, and the defence was relieved when Cook's angled shot missed the far post by a fraction. More Bowie brilliance the inside man tricked three men before forcing a corner kept Watford in the picture, and Exeter were working over time in defence. Two good chances came to Adams. He wasted both by shooting wide. Apart from a breakaway from which Anderson's first-time left footed drived missed the objective. Exeter were seldom in the game. The constructive touches were a near-Watford monopoly, and it was well for the City that the home defence was steady. Davey twice tore across to foll Cook, and Bell leapt to gather Mitchell's free kick in great style.
City revival
Mitchell was later cautioned for using needless vigour, and from the resultant free kick against the Wat ford skipper Mackay had a header well saved by Leader Showing more determination than hitherto, the City came more into the game, and the crowd cheered, lively sorties. There was, nowever, more method about Watford, and the home goal survived luckily when Adams headed against the crossbar.
Excitement mounted as the City swept down the field. A tense goal mouth tussle ended in favour of the Watford rearguards, and next Ben neit fumbled and only cleared Priestley's low slantwise shot at the second attempt
Result
Exeter City 0-0 Watford 

Comment 
There was more method in the Watford attack, which possessed a grand craftsman in Jimmy Bowie, the ex-Chelsea star who remains a powerful force in Third Division football. Exeter's main strength was in defence, and Doyle had a particu larly good game.

Dunne stood out as the best player in the City's side, and there was no better half-back on yiew. The City's attack, however, was below standard, notably on the wings, in the first half.

SOUTHERN LEAGUE
HASTINGS ROUT CITY RESERVES
5-0

HEAVY morning rain had softened the pitch when Hastings kicked off in their Southern League game with Exeter City Reserves, but conditions were ideal, and with a clearance in the weather there was a gate of over 4000

Hastings were early on the move. and goalkeeper Ellis was no doubt relieved when a header from Parks went just wide of an upright. Only five minutes had gone, how ever, when ASHER gave Hastings the lead. Exeter had a great chance to equalise when Rees crossed the ball, but Setters completely missed his kick. Hastings had more thrust in front of the goal, though, and a header from Huckstepp was only just wide. After 13 minutes a picture move finished with ASHER heading in Hastings' second goal. Exeter were tending to panic under heavy pressure, and another Hast ings' goal looked possible at any time. Then Exeter attacked, but Setters was off-side as the ball was passed forward.

Offside trap
A brilliant interception on the goal line by Harvey after Taylor had been beaten saved a third Hastings goal. Centre-forward John and right-back Walton had now changed places. It was half an hour before Exeter's first shot, which came from Rees, but his drive was easily saved by Ball. Exeter were unimaginative in their attacks, and they were broken up with little difficulty. Walton did get a shot in, but it was well wide. Another barrier to Exeter's pro gress was that they were con tinually falling into Hastings' off-side trap. Five minutes before half-time. Hastings went further ahead when HUCKSTEPP headed in Asher's centre.
Half-time: 
HASTINGS UNITED 3-0  CITY RES.

There was a quiet start to the second half, and it was Hastings who made the first attacking move. Taylor was off-side as the final pass was made, otherwise it might have been the fourth Hastings goal. Exeter forced a corner, but the ball was cleared and Walton shot into the side of the net. Hastings were slacking off, but Exeter were slow to take advantage of this. After 16 minutes there was a corner and DARLING, seeing a gap, shot through a crowd of players to give Haetings a four-goa! lead. Walton was playing hard, but again he shot wide when well placed. After 22 minutes in the second half HUCKSTEPP scored Hastings fifth goal. There was no further score. Result:
HASTINGS 5-0 CITY RES.


EXETER AND DISTRICT LEAGUE
AXMINSTER v. EXETER CITY "A"

In the early exchanges both forward lines missed chances. Elson saved well from Somers, and then Axminster did most of the attacking. A Hutchings' header skimmed the bar, and Mills also shot over. Axminster took the lead when Brown's ground shot was deflected past Elson by ENTICOTT.
Exeter equalised when Banfield crossed the ball to TOWARD, who netted. Axminster went ahead when Elson mishandled, and Hutchings passed across for SOMERS to score. Marks increased the lead.
Half time:
AXMINSTER 3-1 EXETER CITY "A
Full Time 
With second half scorers:- 

AXMINSTER 6 (Broom, Somers, Enticott); Exeter City "A" 2 (Mill).