Match Report: King’s Lynn 1 Exeter City 3. FA Cup. 24th November 1951
Saturday 24th November saw Exeter City set off on the long trip to Norfolk to play King’s Lynn in a FA Cup first round tie. King’s Lynn of the Eastern Counties League were to be no pushover for the Grecians. A record crowd of 12,931 crammed in to the Lynn Walks ground.
The Eastern Football News (The Pink Un) reported on the match thus:-
Line-ups
King’s Lynn: Hooper; Bell, Stephens, Smith, Howe, G Heagren, Morris, Whitelum (A), Everritt, Whitelum (C), Dix
Exeter City: G Leark; Warren, Clark, Fallon, Goddard, Davey, McClelland, Smart, Smith, Mackay, Regan.
Referee: LAM McKay (London)
Lynn made a great show in the second half to try to pull the game out of the fire. Had they done the same and played with the same determination in the first half the story might well have been a different one. As it was, Exeter, in the first half anyway, always used the ball to better advantage, and during that time there never was any question of their superiority.
When Lynn did equalise it looked as if they might have a chance of pulling it off, but the hope was only of brief duration. Exeter can thank their goalkeeper Lear, who during a sustained period of heavy Lynn pressure in the second half made three brilliant saves. Exeter deserved their victory.
Exeter were showing neat touches and went ahead in 17 minutes, McClelland, robbing Howe, beat Hooper in a low cross shot. Whitelum (A) missed a chance but his brother Whitelum (C), equalised in the 27th minute.
The crowd went wild with excitement when Witelum (C) scored the equaliser. Goddard, challenged by Morris on the right, crossed the ball towards his goalkeeper, but Whitelum and Everritt both chased after it. Whitelum beat Lear to the ball and crashed it into the net. For a time Lynn were doing well but Exeter were nevertheless, the more impressive side.
Exeter went ahead again in the 33rd minute. McClelland beat Stevens and his short pass was cleverly deflected out of Hooper’s reach by Smart from close in. McClelland made it three two minutes later following a solo effort. His shot swerved over Hooper who had dived prematurely. While Lynn’s marking was invariably at fault, Exeter’s was close. Lynn’s passing, too, was much below the standard of Exeter’s.
Half time – King’s Lynn 1 Exeter 3.
With the game virtually settled, Exeter were not over exerting themselves. Lynn had a greater share of this half, but in Exeter attacks McClelland was in his element, his wizardry leaving the defence standing. Whitelum (A), again made a good effort, but was unsuccessful. Morris was virtually a passenger on the Lynn right-wing, the whole of the second half following a first half injury.
Result – King’s Lynn 1 Exeter 3.
Goal scorers. McClelland (Exeter) 17th min, Whitelum (C) (Kings Lynn) 27th Min, Smart (Exeter) 33rd min, McClelland (Exeter) 35th min.
Other interesting FA Cup results that day include:-
Guildford 4 Hereford 1
Millwall 1 Plymouth Argyle 0
Torquay Utd 3 Bromley 2
Barnstaple 2 Folkstone 2
The report in full (click on the image to expand)
