Important Match at St. James's Park
RECORDS AT STAKE:

Saturday, September 30th 1911.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE:

EXETER CITY 1,
QUEEN'S PARK RANGERS 1.

Last season: City 2 Rangers 2.
In 1909-10: City 0 Rangers 0.

Today's match at St. James's Park between Exeter City and Queen's Park Rangers was by far the most important on the Southern League list. The City's home record and the Rangers' unbeaten record were both at stake, and moreover the Londoners until this morning had scored ten goals without response from the opposition. Apart from all this, too, the Rangers' lead at the top of the table was in jeopardy, for a win by Brentford or Swindon, and defeat for the Park Royalists would mean a re shuffling of the premier positions. No more important League match, in fact, has yet been played at St. James's Park.

CITY:
Whittaker (W)
Evans Coates
Bassett Pratt Griffiths
Parnell Watson Rutter Lockett Whittaker(E)
Referee:- Mr. A. Curtis, of Bristol.
Barnes Thornton McKie Revill Smith
Wake Mitchell Butterworth
Ovens Macdonald
Shaw
RANGERS:

The Rangers came to Exeter at full strength, except that Fidler had been called up at the last minute to assist the Southern League side at Belfast, Robertson having dropped out. His place at left-back was filled by Ovens, who was secured from Chelsea. Before going to Stamford Bridge, Ovens was with Bristol Rovers, and enjoyed a big reputation there. Revill, inside-right, was Chesterfield's top scorer last season. The City were not so fortunate regarding their team, for Garside, like Fidler, was away at Belfast, and Prideaux was still unfit. Cornan played a good game at Plymouth in the friendly match on Wednesday, but since then his old knee trouble has partly reasserted itself, and it was decided to rest him today.

The rains of last night and this morning had left the pitch in perfect condition, but the weather became very threatening later on, and a strong, gusty wind blew slantwise down the enclosure, rendering the prospects of good football somewhat remote. Though the weather was far from perfect, however, the flower-pot side, now extended twenty yards or so, rapidly began to fill up at three o'clock, while a number of people preferred to watch the game from the new fencing at the back of the higher goal. Barnes beat Watson with the toss, before an attendance which numbered quite six thousand, and Exeter attacked, but Griffiths sent the ball wide.

A Fair Result.
The result at St. James's Park was probably a correct indication of the trend of the play. Although Queen's Park Rangers preserved their unbeaten certificate, their defence was penetrated for the first time during the present season. With the high wind in their favour in the first half, the Rangers were a dangerous side, but they met a most determined and resolute defence. The visitors had a splendid conception of forward play, and McKie led his line with distinction, and distributed the ball accurately.

Narrow Escapes.

On two or three occasions, however, the Rangers' goal had some narrow escapes, and McKie and Thornton missed two easy openings. There was no score at the interval, but almost immediately on the restart Exeter played with such skill and determination that they were rewarded with a goal. Clever inter-passing between the forwards took the Rangers off their guard, and Rutter beat Shaw with a fine shot from 20 yards. A fine goal it was, too, and the cheering which greeted it could surely have been heard the best part of a mile away. The Rangers just afterwards had a glorious chance of equal ising from a melee in front of goal, but Revill shot wide.
Then, however, came a disaster for the City. The referee signalled that Pratt had handled the ball in the penalty area, although this was disputed by the City players, and pointed to the spot. Mckie took the kick and put the ball well into the corner of the net, low down.
As the end drew near the City made great efforts to secure the winning goal, but the Rangers packed their men into the defence, and did not hesitate to kick to touch whenever danger threatened.

Notes on the Game.
It can rightly be said that the game was quite the best at Exeter this month. Right from the commencement there was plenty of excitement; in fact, the six thousand spectators were constantly kept on the tip-toe of expectancy. Exeter gave a capital display, the forwards combining well and making the best use of the excellent service they received from Pratt and company. Watson, Rutter, and Lockett were a clever trio in the inside positions, while Parnell was back to his best form on the right wing. The half-backs all played their parts well, Griffiths and Bassett frequently receiving applause for the manner in which they looked after the Rangers' speedy wingers.

Southern League Table.

Most of the games between the leading clubs were drawn, and the positions at the head of the table therefore show little change from last week:

1. Q. P. Rangers  
2. Swindon Town 
3. Brentford
4. Exeter City
5. Bristol Rovers
6. Crystal Palace
7. Reading

Friendly 

BABBACOMBE v CITY RESERVES.

The Reserves beat Babbacombe by a goal (Chapman) to nil, in a friendly match at Plainmoor.

Reserves:- J. Chapman; Fort and White; Clarke, Trimmer, and Mogridge; Arscott, A. Chapman, Taylor, Bailey, and Lewis.


Wednesday, October 4th 1911.

EXETER V CARDIFF:
FRIENDLY AT ST. JAMES'S PARK.

Cardiff City, who are doing very well in the second division of the Southern League, appeared at Exeter in a friendly match against the City. The Grecians fielded several reserves in an experimental eleven, captained by Walt. Whittaker. Watson, in fact, was away at Middlesbrough to attend the funeral of his father.

Exeter: Walter Whittaker; Fort and Coates; Rigby, Clarke, and Griffiths; Arscott, Enos Whittaker, Rutter, Bailey, and Kent.

Cardiff: Husbands; Duffy and Leah; Lawrie, Thomson, McDougall; Tracey, Pinch, Featherstone, Abley, and Evans. 

Cardiff City 1, Exeter City 0. 
The victory of Cardiff at St. James's Park will do them any amount of good, far more than it will do the City harm. Their two backs played a really good game, and Leah, on this showing, is good enough for First Division football. Of course, Cardiff beat what was almost an experimental side, and they won a match, too, which the City, for some reason or other, never took very seriously. On the run of the play, however, it must be confessed that the Welsh side deserved their victory, and on this showing the football in the second division of the Southern League is not as bad as it has been painted.