Replayed Cup-Tie in Wales

Thursday, November 23rd 1911.

EXETER AND MERTHYR DRAW AGAIN

Merthyr Town and Exeter City replayed their F.A. Cup-Tie at Penydarren Park, Merthyr, today. Mr Neale, of Bristol, was the referee.

The Grecians played Lockett and Cornan in the inside forward positions, with Griffiths leading the attack, and Chadwick came out of retirement to play centre-half. The Merthyr team was also rearranged, Russell being centre-half, and White and Holmes the backs. Gates and Taylor were unable to play.

MERTHYR TOWN:
Lewis White Holmes McCormick Russell Churchill Craig Dodds Costello Lowe Savage

Garside Cornan Griffiths Lockett Whittaker(E) Prideaux Chadwick Bassett Coates Evans
Chapman 
EXETER CITY:

The attendance numbered three thousand. Garside won the toss, and Exeter played with the wind in the first half. The Welshmen launched the first attack, but Coates kicked clear, and Lewis was called upon to save from Griffiths. Exeter kept play in the Merthyr half for some time, and Lewis saved from Griffiths and Whittaker.

Exeter continued to press, and kept Merthyr penned in, but as on Saturday, the Welshmen's defence was very strong, and scoring opportunities were few and far between. A free kick gave Merthyr temporary relief, and they made ground with a series of passes between Lowe, Costello, and Churchill, but Evans came to the City's rescue with a timely intervention. Craig was injured and left the field for treatment, but was soon back. Merthyr now attacked, and Savage attempted a header which just failed to find the net. Russell missed the best chance of the match so far, when he forced his way through and then shot over an open goal from ten yards out.

Half-time: No score.
After the interval Merthyr had the advantage of the wind, and made several brief attacks, but their finishing was very weak, and Chapman easily dealt with the few shots which came his way. When the Grecians returned to the attack Lewis was called into action to save shots from Griffiths and Cornan, while Holmes stopped Whittaker before he could get his centre across. The City remained on the aggressive, and Lewis was in evidence several times, while Garside and Griffiths were in turn pulled up for offside. Merthyr tried their hardest to get a goal in the closing stages, and a shot from Russell cleared the crossbar by only a few inches.
Final:
Merthyr Town 0, Exeter City 0.

An extra half an hour was played, according to the rules of the F. A. Cup, but the defences on both sides remained well on top, and the longer play continued the less likely it seemed that anyone would score.
The game was keenly contested all through, with neither side ever gaining complete mastery. Furthermore the high wind made accurate football very difficult. Chadwick, on his return to serious football, was in grand form, showing much of his old skill, and Garside gained the admiration of the crowd for his quickness and clever placing of the ball. Craig and Holmes did well for Merthyr, and Russell came the nearest to scoring but put his shots over the bar.

The match will have to be played for a third time, at a neutral ground.

• EXETER PLAYERS AND TRAINER SUSPENDED.
  Quite a sensation was caused in football circles in Exeter yesterday when it was announced that Watson, the club captain, Parnell, the outside-right, and Banks, the trainer, had been suspended. A special meeting of the directors was held on Tuesday evening to consider a report in regard to the men mentioned, and after hearing evidence and interviewing the players concerned, the directors informed them that their services would not be required for the F.A.Cup-tie against Merthyr Town.