A Keen Game Against the Cobblers

Saturday, November 4th 1911.
SOUTHERN LEAGUE: 
NORTHAMPTON 2 EXETER CITY 1.

Last season: Northampton 2 City 0.
In 1909-10: Northampton O City 0.

Played at the County Ground, Northampton, in dull weather. Exeter were the first to attack, and for a time the Cobblers defence was kept very busy. Watson was just too late getting to Parnell's centre, and Lloyd-Davies cleared. Exeter settled to their task very quickly, and Bassett and Griffiths were prominent in several promising moves. Chapman made two good saves from King and Walden, then Bradshaw had a good chance, but with Fort and Chapman closing in on him he shot too hurriedly, and the ball sailed over the bar. Bradshaw got through again seconds later, but this time shot wide. In a persistent Exeter attack Thorpe saved from Watson, and Pratt put the ball over the bar.
Appeal Disallowed.
Nineteen minutes from the start Northampton scored, an excellent move ending in Tull getting in a hard shot which Chapman turned round the post. Freeman took the corner-kick, and King rushed up and bustled both the ball and 'keeper into the net. The Grecians appealed for impeding the goalkeeper, but the referee allowed the goal. The Cobblers were playing up strongly now, and King made another good effort when he beat the defence and passed out to Freeman. The winger was pulled up for offside, this decision, like several others, being called into question by the crowd. Exeter were frequently in the picture, but the home defence was very sound. Freeman was fouled, and taking the free kick himself, just skimmed the bar with a beautiful shot. A clever run by Garside ended with the City gaining a corner, which was cleared. Freeman and Bradshaw were the most dangerous of the home forwards, and in fact the whole line was working together in splendid fashion, although faced by a hustling pair of backs in Fort and Coates. Not many shots reached Chapman, his most anxious moment being from a long one by Lessons. He caught a dropping shot from Tebbutt, and another long range effort from Lessons went just past the post. A quick bout of passing between Bradshaw, Tull, and Hampson nearly led to a second goal when Chapman saved Hampson's shot but nearly allowed the ball to slip over the line. He managed to smother it at the second attempt, however, and in the next minute brilliantly saved a header by King, directed with some force towards the top of the net. Exeter attacked towards the interval, but Watson shot too straight, and Thorpe saved easily. Garside put a centre over the bar, and at half-time the Cobblers were leading by a goal to nil.

Second Half.
Although Northampton still held the balance of play they soon lost their lead, for one of Griffiths's long kicks to Parnell saw the outside-right tap the ball across to Watson, and Bob scored at close quarters. For a time Exeter played the better football, but Northampton eventually gained the upper hand, and King headed the winning goal from Freeman's centre.

Northampton. Thorpe; Clipstone, Lloyd-Davies; Hampson, Lessons, Tebbutt; Walden, King, Tull, Bradshaw, and Freeman.
Exeter City. Chapman; Fort, Coates; Bassett, Pratt, Griffiths; Parnell, Watson, Rutter, Cornan, and Garside.
Referee: Mr B. M. Neville, of London.

FRIENDLY 
EXETER CITY RESERVES v CREDITON.

In the absence of a Plymouth League match, Exeter City Reserves were engaged this afternoon at St. James's Park in a friendly against Crediton United, a team which draws largely on Exeter players, and who have been doing very well this season. The City had a weak team out, the only professionals being Rigby and E. Whittaker.

RESERVES:- Lodge; White, Short; Rigby, Martin, Phillips; Whittaker, Chenneour, Addicott, Massey, and Climmer.

CREDITON:- Newton; Heppell, Gibson; Simpson, Neal, Lewis; Labbett, Stoneman, Hopkins, Frayn, and Watson.

The City started without White, who was late in arriving, and Rigby kicked away from the goalmouth in the first minute. A nice centre by Climmer was gathered by Newton, and Crediton rushed to the other end, Rigby conceding a corner off Frayn. The flag-kick was well placed by Labbett, and Hopkins, who has played a few times for the City Reserves, smuggled the ball through for the first goal. Frayn made a good attempt to increase the lead with a header, but was too high. White Arrives.
Upon White's appearance, fifteen minutes from the kick-off, Exeter attacked, and Whittaker was plied with effect by Rigby, and forced a corner which Gibson cleared after a lot of wild and high kicking. A free-kick for hands was placed into the goalmouth by White, but Rigby shot wide. Climmer was injured after a lengthy dribble, and retired for attention behind the goal-line. Just afterwards Chenneour got the ball from a rebound off one of the Crediton backs, and bustling his way through had no trouble in equalising, Newton making only a feeble attempt to save. Climmer now retired altogether, but Exeter, though playing only four forwards, still attacked, and Newton made a splendid save from Chenneour. Two minutes later Ben Massey, although hampered by three opponents, bored his way through and scored the City's second goal. Gibson cleared Chenneour's centre with a flying kick which went over the goal-line, and from the corner-kick Chenneour headed goal number three. Hopkins scored for Crediton, then Neal had to retire as the result of a kick on the knee, so that each side was left with ten men. Exeter's fourth goal was scored by Addicott with a perfect header from Whittaker's centre, and Newton saved a "stinger" from Massey. Half-time: Reserves 4, Crediton 2.

Crediton came out with their full complement of players, and came near to reducing the lead. In the first City attack some skilful dribbling by Chenneour led to a corner, from which the inside-right headed just over. Whittaker was given the ball by Chenneour, and ran right through, scoring with an unstoppable rising drive. With Crediton tiring on the heavy pitch Exeter kept play unceasingly at their end, and four more goals were scored, three by Whittaker and one by Chenneour. Whittaker's shooting, which gained him four goals, was the outstanding feature of the match.

Result:
City Reserves 9, Crediton United 2.