First Match on Extended Pitch
NEW FLAG HOISTED:

Saturday, October 14th 1911.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE:
CITY V WEST HAM
EXETER CITY 3 WEST HAM 3.


Last season: City 0 West Ham 0.
In 1909-10: City 1 West Ham 0.

Today's Southern League meeting between Exeter City and West Ham was one that is likely to be remembered for more reasons than one. Importance attached to it primarily because it was the first match played on the new pitch, and before the kick off an interesting little ceremony took place, during which Miss Duke cut a red and white ribbon stretched across the space dividing the old and new portions of the ground, and then proceeded to hoist the new Exeter City flag, presented to the club by Mr J.I.Pengelly. It is unnecessary to repeat the familiar facts as to how Mr H. E. Duke, K.C., M.P., came to the assistance of the Grecians, and by purchasing the whole of the adjoining property solved a very serious difficulty for the directors. Suffice it to say that the management's invitation to Miss Duke to perform today's ceremony was a recognition of the club's indebtedness to Mr Duke.

As to the match, Exonians were hopeful that today the City would gain another point on last year's record, and also atone in part for the heavy defeat at Millwall last week. The home side were at full strength, whereas the Hammers were making several alterations.

West Ham's New Goalkeeper.

The Londoners have seriously felt the loss of Kitchen, their former brilliant goalkeeper and captain, and Geggus, the new man, has not always given satisfaction. The club, however, have been unable to better him. Fairman, who was born at Southamp ton, was fit again, but Glover could not play and Rothwell was reintroduced. Piercy hurt himself against New Brompton, and Massey, a local reserve, filled his place, while Harrison and Morrison were tried on the left wing. Harrison, of course, is Southampton's old centre-forward. He went from the "Saints" to Fulham, and left Craven Cottage for West Ham this season. George Webb, the Amateur International, was at centre, and Danny Shea, the sharpshooter, at inside right. Randall is the brilliant left-half who has been representing the Southern League this season, and despite their changes, therefore, the Hammers had a very fair team.

The Opening.
Across the lower part of the ground where formerly stood the goal-posts had been strung red and white ribbons. The new fencing behind was in its permanent position, with cinder banking beyond it. The St. James's Road end had also been put back a yard or two, and the whole ground looked strangely different to last season.

Archdeacon Sanders was an early arrival, and he was shortly followed by several members of the City Council and well known citizens and their wives, the party who accompanied Miss Duke to the tape drawn across the enclosure numbering about fifty. The breaking of the cord was followed by cheering, and the playing by the band, under Mr George Newman, of the National Anthem.

The Presentations.
Afterwards Mr Archibald Lucas, as architect, presented Miss Duke with a solid silver inkstand as a memento of the occasion, while Mr J.H.Stile, the contractor, presented Miss Duke with an inscribed silver penholder. The inscription on the inkstand stated: "Presented to Miss Duke, October 14th 1911, by the Architect, Mr J.Archibald Lucas". A handsome bouquet of red geraniums and white carnations was presented to Miss Duke by little Miss Kendall, daughter of Mr Norman Kendall, director, and subsequently the club's new flag was unfurled amid loud cheering.
Mr H.E. Duke had written expressing regret that he was not at present in sufficiently good health to make the journey from Harrogate, but that he wished his daughter to represent him.

The Teams.
West Ham arrived an hour before the start, accompanied by the secretary, Mr E.S.King, and two directors. It was learned then that the risk would be taken of playing Glover, although he was not quite fit. Fairman, too, had his hand in bandages still, having recently dislocated his thumb. In the City side Griffiths continued to deputise for Prideaux at left half, and the following teams therefore took the field just before 3.30.

THE CITY:
Whittaker
Evans Coates
Bassett Pratt Griffiths
Parnell Watson Rutter Lockett Garside

Referee: Mr G. Bennett, of Bristol.

Morrison Harrison Webb Shea Ashton Randall Massey Whiteman
Glover Fairman
Geggus
WEST HAM:

There were 7,000 present when Watson led out the Grecians. Fairman lost the toss, and George Webb started the game from the far end punctually at half past three. Bassett robbed Morrison, but West Ham regained the ball, and Webb, from an awkward angle, sent behind. However, two minutes later Evans failed to clear, and Webb scored from short range with one of his "specials" which gave Whittaker no chance. Scarcely had the game been restarted than Garside was set going with a long pass by Rutter. The centre came in from the left and was met by Watson, whose shot was parried by Geggus, but before the goalkeeper could get out of his difficulty the Exeter skipper rammed the ball home for the equaliser. This had all taken place inside five minutes.

Full of Incident.

Whittaker saved a header by Shea, and at the other end a dangerous situation was averted by Fairman clearing in front of the posts. Play was wonderfully fast and full of incident. West Ham attacked with plenty of bustle and energy, and again came near to scoring when Griffiths charged the ball down. Exeter, however, then took up the running, and Geggus saved in turn from Watson, Pratt, and Parnell. At the Exeter end Coates conceded a corner with a miskick, slicing the ball high in the air, and Whittaker barged his way through a ruck of players to catch the corner kick. Twice Webb got offside, but the second time was allowed to go on, and Whittaker fell on his knees and took the ball from the burly centre-forward's toes. Whittaker was again in busy action, saving from Ashton, and following the goalkeeper's long clearance Garside centred to Lockett, who headed over the bar. Watson then put an intended centre over and Parnell did the same. Webb was brought down by a fair charge by Coates, and when the City got moving Parnell got the ball into the net but was given offside. The City continued to press until Webb got away, only to be pulled up for offside, much to his disgust. It looked a clear enough case, but the amateur walked away shaking his head.

Shea Scores.
Later on Randall seemed to clearly handle in the penalty area, but Mr Bennett passed the incident over. Geggus saved a swinging shot from Watson, then Garside came away in a lovely run and sent across a flying centre which went begging. Hands was given against Pratt, and the City defence had difficulty in clearing the free kick. Twice Whittaker saved, diving at full stretch, with Webb almost on him, while a minute or two later Webb hit the post, the ball swerving outside. Fairman gave away a corner from which Griffiths shot over, and eight minutes before half-time Shea gave West Ham the lead after a run down by Morrison and a pass by Webb. It was a good goal, and well deserved on the balance of the play. Another misfortune befell Exeter when Bassett had to be led off with a damaged ankle. West Ham continued to press, and a shot by Shea was only a couple of feet wide. Parnell was fouled in the penalty area, and a penalty awarded, but Rutter was too hasty with his kick and put the ball a yard or so wide. It was the second successive penalty missed at St. James's Park.
At half-time the score was:
WEST HAM UNITED 2-1 EXETER CITY

It transpired at the interval that Watson had strained a thigh muscle and was seriously hampered, while Whittaker had broken a finger, and came out for the second half with his hand bandaged up. Bassett, who had injured his ankle, did not reappear. Watson dropped back and the City played with four forwards.
Rutter kicked off, and Garside put in a good run but shot over the bar. Webb did much the same for the visitors, then Parnell got in position to deliver a shot along the ground, which was well saved by Geggus. Bassett then returned to the fray, but the Londoners were proving one of the best teams seen at St. James's Park this season, and three times in quick succession Evans had to make desperate clearances when things were looking very black. Watson, who was limping badly, had now gone on the right wing with Parnell inside. Shea shot over from short range and West Ham came again in menacing fashion. Ten minutes after the change of ends Exeter were awarded their second penalty of the afternoon, against Fairman for "hand-ball". This time Parnell took the kick, and easily scored, thus equalising amid an outburst of cheering.

A Cracking Pace.

The pace was now a "cracker", and both sets of forwards were doing splendid work. Roars of cheering went up when the City rushed to the attack and Garside forced a corner. No sooner had this been frustrated than a flag-kick followed at the other end, and Shea, after the ball had bobbed about with no-one able to clear, scored with a quick first-time drive.

This further reverse took the heart out of the crowd, and the excitement which had followed on the equalising goal now, simmered down. Whittaker, with his middl finger broken, did well to clear a drive by Harrison, and just after he had to fist out a shot from the same player. The flag-kick failed, but West Ham, now in the ascendant, did nearly all the attacking. Shea had a good chance, but preferred to pass to Ashton, and a wicked looking centre from the winger went behind.

An Exciting Finish:
City Draw Level. 
Exeter then forced a corner, but could make no use of it, and with their three "crocks" they were hopelessly handicapped. Shea appealed against a decision for hands, and amused the spectators by his allegation that Coates had fouled him, and he was picking up the ball for a free kick to his own side.

Webb shot narrowly wide from a centre by Ashton, who had beaten Griffiths for speed. From a throw-down by the referee Parnell gave Watson a chance, but the captain's damaged thigh failed him at the crucial moment. Three or four minutes later Garside failed to gather the ball properly when he, too, had a chance.
West Ham, in the closing stages, did not hesitate to kick out to touch at every poss ble opportunity. But it was their undoing, for in an exciting finish Randall unnecessarily gave away a corner, and Griffiths, taking a huge leap, headed in for the third equaliser. His colleagues deluged him with their congratulations, and the crowd went wild with delight. The Hammers then revised their methods and tried hard to get back their lead, but without avail. Final:
EXETER CITY 3-3 WEST HAM 

Notes on the Game.
A drawn game of three goals each must be considered a fair result from Exeter's point of view, considering the handicap under which the City played during the second half. Whittaker kept goal with a broken middle finger, Bassett played with a twisted ankle, which had been heavily strapped up during the interval, and Watson suffered a breakdown of the muscles of his thigh. West Ham were a superior combination, but were denied the victory by Exeter's spirit and determination. Three times in arrears, the City refused to capitulate, and a thrilling game was brought to an end with Griffiths heading the third and last equaliser almost on the stroke of time. Apart from all this, Rutter headed against the crossbar and missed a penalty in the first half. The display given by Exeter was not as good as they are capable of, but they were full value for the draw. It was fortunate for them that their defence improved as the game went on, and Evans once more distinguished himself in that department. Bassett was probably the best of the half-backs, and Garside of the forwards. Webb was a fine leader for the Londoners, and was supported well by Harrison and Shea, while Ashton usually got the better of Coates. Geggus made several fine saves, while Glover and Randall were often seen to advantage.

PLYMOUTH AND DISTRICT LEAGUE.
The Reserves were beaten 2-1 at Crownhill by the Sherwood Foresters in a Plymouth League match. All the scoring took place in the first half, Murphy and Crisp netting for the soldiers, and Taylor for the Reserves.