Albion Impress At Exeter 

SATURDAY 10th OCTOBER 1953, CITY SUFFER NARROW DEFEAT.

EXETER CITY 0.
Singleton: Walton, Doyle, Booth, Davey, Dodgin: Priestley, Dailey, DonaldsonMackay, McClelland, BRIGHTON 1
Gill, Tennant, Langley, McIlvenny, Suth, Wilson; Gordon, Sirrell, Addinall, Leadbetter, Foreman,

Scorer Brighton Leadbetter,
Attendance 12,044,
Receipts £1,088, 1s,

BRIGHTON and Hove Albion maintained their impressive away record this season by securing two points at Exeter on Saturday. Positional play in defence and keen tackling folled an attack which had thrived against Southampton, Albion's rivals, on the previous Saturday and scored four times without response. Not only did Brighton gain a well-deserved success, but the opposition were the first to admit that Albion were the best side seen at Exeter this season.,They went even further by adding that no other team they had encountered so far looked such likely promotion candidates, It is early days yet and this is the opinion of only one team, but such praise should give the side encouragement.
More penetrative power, how ever must still be shown before Brighton can be classed as really satisfactory. There is skill and Intelligence in the forward line  but, in the long run, it is goals that count and the stout hearted Albion defenders cannot always be expected to shut out the opposition for 90 minutes. Gill continues to improve, and Tennant and Langley have few, if any, superiors in the Southern Section. Alec South possesses splendid stamina, which he has certainly needed in his last two away matches, while he allies watchful defence to intelligent disposal of the ball. Wilson, as was the case last year, remains as consistent as ever. A sixth forward at times. he tackles keenly and success fully, and although he makes many thrilling dribbles, is seldom out of position when danger threatens Gill and his protectors. McIlveney, if not such terrier-like tackler as Wilson, fits into the middle line admirably and is always a craftsman, using the ball to advantage and prompting his forwards with helpful names. At Exeter Gordon and Foreman were eager raiders, ably assisted by Sirrel and Leadbetter, but, apart from Leadbetter's early goal, the Exeter defenders generally held their own, and Addinall could make much of the uncompromising centre-half opposed to him. He has not an enviable task as leader of the attack, and in his favour. Addinall has not, so far, been provided with many reasonable scoring opportunities. Too often he receives the ball in the air-at times this cannot be helped-and few centre forwards, unless they are in the Lawton class can make much of such transfers.

From Sussex Agricultural Express 16/10/1953 

Southern League
Tonbridge v City Reserves
10th October 1953 
ANGELS HELD ON TO ONE RECORD
More life is shown

TONBRIDGE continued their winning home vein on Wednesday, when they met Exeter City Reserves in a re-arranged Southern League fixture. Maybe it was because they were playing on their own ground perhaps it was the team changes that were made following their F.A. Cup defeat at Guildford. Whatever it was, they won by 2-0.

They deserved their success for they pushed more into the play than at the week-end, but at the same time the team changes were not altogether successful. Ian Taylor replaced Ashworth at centre-half, and while he showed more skill at distribution he was not entirely successful. He is still scared of the leg injury which kept him out of so many games.  Ashworth went to right-back to replace Bainbridge, who was not available, and he did not make a success of that position either, McGuire took the place of Mulheron at inside-left, and was extremely securate, but Mulheron. at left half. even though relieved of captaincy worries was not as good he can be. Even Peters and Mallen though better than at Guildford , could have played to more advantage, while Gallagher was considerably off colour although he tried hard. The form of Hamilton, now with the added weight of captaincy on his shoulders, was in complete contrast to that of Saturday, and he got through a tremendous amount of work to good effect. But it was Sid Belt at Left-bark who was the outstanding player in the team. Fearless in attack, he kept a tight hold on Setters a lively right winger, and even found time to help both Ashworth and Taylor out of difficulties. On three occasions he kept the ball from entering the  Tonbridge net when Jones was out of position for shots from the Exeter forwards.
NO EASY TIME
Constantine, leading  the attack did not have an easy afternoon He was opposed to Ware, an amateur centre-half who was on trial for the visitors, and who towered above him-he is 6ft. 3in in height.

Yet the 1.100 people present must have been satisfied with the result: it will take Tonbridge further up the league table. The game opened in somewhat startling fashion for after 90 seconds Tonbridge had taken the lead.  A Mullen centre enabled Constantine to steer the ball by the opposing defence with his head. It was a movement started by Belt which led to the goal and two minutes later a hard shot from Peters glanced along the underside  of the crossbar before the visiting defenders had got over the suprise of being a goal down in such a short time But from then on Tonbridge did not have matters too much their own way and it was only steady work by Taylor and Bell that prevented the visitors from scoring.
In the second half a shot from Knight was punched away for an unproductive corner by Jones with difficulty and Bell kicked off the goal line from an effort by Parker with Jones away from home

ANGELS HAD LUCK
Tonbridge were lucky to avoid having a goal against them and they were fortunate when, midway through the half a swerving centre-cum-shot by Peters  was missed by all the defenders  and Gallagher assisted the ball into the net. 
Tonbridge certainly deserved  their victory, but had the Exeter forwards been able to finish the resalt might have been different

Tonbridge  Jones, Ashworth, Bell, Hamilton, Taylor (I), Mulheron, Peters,Gallagher, McGuire, Mullen, Constantine.

Exeter City Res: Singleton, Douglass, Doyle McLean. G. Ware,(Trialist), King, M Setters, Knight, Mitchell, Murphy. Parker.

City Reserves v Chelmsford 
Southern League 
12th October 1953 
LATE START -SHORT TIME ONE.GOAL AND FANS LEFT PARK EARLY

THINGS went haywire at St. James's Park yesterday after noon, writes "Nomad." The fun started when the Southern League burlesque between Exeter City Reserves and Chelmsford began ten minutes after schedule.

Harvey, the Chelmsford goalkeeper, did not put in an appearance until a quarter of an hour had passed. And Referee Wise, from Bristol. miscalculated and played four minutes short time in the first half. Harvey had no cause to worry. He Was late. City Reserves never started!

en by an on They were beaten by an only goal, shot by left-half Tiffin from outside the "box" after an Elmes corner kick had been partially cleared. Timin took his chance well in the 62nd minute. From that point Chelmsford were in command against the artless and unenterprising oppo sition.

Operating at inside-right in the winning side, George Curtis played havoc with the City's left defensive flank, which crumbled and finally collapsed. HUNKIN'S BAPTISM

The former Arsenal and Southamp ton player, good on the ball and intelligent in distributing it, had a birthday, and, due to his promptings. Gray was transformed from moderate into a useful-looking right winger after the interval.

Young Bernard Hunkin, a goal keeper who almost earned. a school boy international trial a year or two back, will not forget his Southern League baptism. Playing behind a jittery defence, he did reasonably well.

Two dropped balls in the first half were probably the outcome of over anxiety. Several smart saves after wards were efforts of a lad who should train on into a good 'keeper. I do not blame Hunkin for Exeter's defeat; nor could one fault Paddy Doyle, an honest-to goodness centre-half who, unlike 80 many of his colleagues, possessed the determination and strength to emerge successfully from the tackle. One word sums up the City Reserves forward play. In the word of a long-suffering supporter, it was pathetic. No wonder the customers trooped dejectedly from the terraces long before Mr. Wise's whistle mercifully a halt to the wearisome called a proceedings.

CITY Floodlit Friendly.
LIGHT ON SOCCER AT ITS BEST FOR CITY
Tuesday, October 13th 1953.

Everton, complete team, showed old skills at modern tempo 
NOMAD'S MATCH COMMENTARY

THANK you, Everton! You were the complete football side, at St. James's Park, Exeter, last night. Your perfectly executed movements were in the best tradition of a club whose name has been synonymous with Soccer artistry for many years.

The result was a four-nothing win for the Blues from Merseyside, but the memories which will outlast all else in this floodlit match are the rhythm of the Everton attack, the clare of the wing half-backs, and the outstanding defensive exhibition of Lindsay, the ex-Glasgow Rangere left-back.

"It was a football education," sald non-playing Norman Dodgin. How right the Exeter City team boss was. What a pity that not more than 6,400 onlookers were there. Accuracy, speed in running into the open spaces, and, above all, the ability to make the ball do the work. These were Everton attributes in a one hundred per cent display of football craft, to which was allied match-winning thrust. To a high-powered Everton team Exeter could offer no more than token resistance in the second half, The City forwards made little im pression throughout a one-sided game. The home defence was be wildered after the interval.

Great Fielding

Inside-right Wally Fielding was the man of the match. A compactly built stylist, he had the quickness to go through with the ball, the skill to part at the precise moment, and the intelligence. to take up position. Little Fielding was great. Such was his mastery that rivals were often going the wrong way, Almost on the game pinnacle was inside-left Parker, who shot Everton into a first half lead by beating Barney' Barney Singleton from close range. It was in the 27th minute that Exeter began the slide to defeat. The roving Ted Hickson, a forceful centre-forward, supplied the centre. Parker added the final touch. An example of Everton's speed and pin-pointed accuracy was demonstrated when the next goal was scored in the 63rd minute, after a corner-kick clearance from an Eddie Murphy' pile-driver had had been
dramatically parried by goalkeeper Leyland-the Blues advanced like a well-drilled squad of soldiers. Crisp, low passes travelled from man to man. Not one Exeter could halt the visitors. Player could hait The crowning point of a perfect movement came when Fielding shot past the powerless Singleton. The match had long ceased to hold an interest from the result aspect, but Everton's skill continued to captivate the lover of the Soccer skills, as the Blues demonstrated the polish of the masters of old, allied to the pace of the modern performers.

Unlucky Farrall
Buckle shot the third goal in the 75th minute. Ten minutes later the came player headed the fourth, and on each occasion the opening came from outside-right Grant, This commentary has been all Everton. Maybe, it is kinder to leave it that way, because the City were so outclassed.

For Alex Farrall, the 17-year-old ex-Youth international outside-right, It was an unlucky night. The Everton outside-right of rich promise travelled from Liverpool, and was pressed into service as a late stand in. He played for seven minutes, pulled a thigh muscle, and went off the field, to take no further part in the game. As a replacement Grant proved substitute of high quality.


Teams:
Exeter City: Singleton; Singleton; Storey, Goddard; Booth, Davey, King; Priestley, Mitchell, Donaldson, Murphy, McClelland.

Everton: Leyland: Donovan, Lind say: Farrall, Jones, Lello; Farrall (then Grant), Grant), Fielding. Hickson, Parker, Buckle,

Referee: D. King, Pontypridd. Attendance 6,400. Receipts: 2705.