Exeter City News

FA Cup Stories: Match Report for Exeter City v Accrington Stanley – January 1927

Hants

In yesterday’s article be brought you the run up to the FA Cup third round tie in the 1926/27 season between Exeter City and Accrington Stanley. Today we have the report from that match, which was published in the Western Morning on Monday 10th January 1927.

EXETER FAIL UNDER
PRESSURE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DISAPPOINTING DISPLAY AGAINST ACCRINGTON.

Exeter City’s cup match with Accrington Stanley at St. James’s Park attracted nearly 14,000 spectators, but if the “gate” was gratifying the play was the reverse, and Exeter City were deservedly beaten two clear harold_blackmoregoals. The football in the first half was dull, for while the home forwards displayed some pretty touches individually, the combination was faulty, and the Accrington defence always had a chance of recovering its equilibrium.

Hardly had the second half opened when Accrington took the lead. Martin, the outside left, moved to the middle in support of the other inside forwards, and they broke through at a surprising pace, Clarkson winding up the effort by beating with simple cross shot, the ball running over the goalkeeper’s arm and into the net.

ELECTRIC EFFECT.

The effect of this opening goal was electric. The Stanley forwards—by far the most workmanlike department on view either team – showed remarkable speed and understanding. The unorthodox play the attack and its penetrative power swept the City defence off its balance for a time, and the home goal had several very lucky escapes. Gradually the Exeter men pulled themselves together and then came the counter-offensive. But was too late. The Accrington backs, very nervous at the commencement of the Billy_mcdevittgame, had had an hour which to take the measure of the City attack, and had realized that Phoenix,the centre-forward, was the one real danger.

The visiting defenders, there-fore covered Phoenix with great assiduity, leaving to Haves the task of dealing with any scoring attempts from other quarters. Hayes had shown sound anticipation in the opening half, and he now made two brilliant saves from Phoenix, and held a snappy cross shot from Parkin, which looked like producing the equalizer.

EXETER CAPTAIN HANDICAPPED.

Then came mishaps to Pool and Charlton in turn, the Exeter captain being badly handicapped by a body injury. Ten minutes before the finish the Accrington forwards again showed remarkable liveliness, and Clarkson’s marksmanship was quite a feature. After Bailey had saved a shot from the centre forward, Martin netted the visitors’ second goal, and from that moment to the end Accrington were much the more dangerous team.

Twice the City goal was at the mercy the visiting forwards, but first Wyper and then Powell shot outside. Exeter had only themselves to blame for the unexpected defeat. Dazzled by the team’s success against Swindon Town a week before, the directors resolved rely on the same eleven again, and left out Compton, the regular outside left, now recovered from an injury, and unquestionably one of the most dangerous wingers in Southern Section football. His presence in the team would probably have made all the difference.

Parkin opened poorly, and much of Walker’s skill—he was the cleverest of the home forwards—was wasted. The Exeter right wing was a negligible quantity, and tha forwards repeatedly beat themselves by bad passing. On the one occasion in the opening half when Exeter looked like taking the lead McDevitt pushed an opponent over directly in front of the Accrington goal, so that before Purcell was able to shoot the whistle had gone for a foul. Victory went to the smarter team on the day’s play.

There were 13.647 spectators, and the gate receipts were £888.

Final Score: Exeter City 0 Accrington Stanley 2.

Exeter lined up: Bailey, Pollard, Charlton, Pullan, Pool, Purcell, McDevitt, Blackmore, Walker, Parkin.

exeter_accrington_Jan1927_feat

 

The Western Morning News reported on Tuesday 11th January 1927, the FA Cup 4th round draw:-

The draw for the fourth round of the English Cup, to be played on Saturday, January 29, was made yesterday in London by the Council the Football Association, and resulted:

  • Southampton v. Birmingham.
  • Bournemouth or Liverpool v. Southport.
  • Leeds United v. Bolton Wanderers.
  • West Ham v. Brentford.
  • Sheffield Wednesday v. South Shields.
  • Derby County v. Millwall.
  • Clapton Orient or Port Vale v. Arsenal.
  • Reading or Manchester United v. Bristol Rovers or Portsmouth.
  • Fulham v. Burnley.
  • Corinthians v. Newcastle United.
  • Barnsley v. Swansea.
  • Hull City v. Everton
  • Chelsea v. Accrington.
  • Darlington v. Cardiff City.
  • Wolverhampton W. v. Notts Forest.
  • Preston v. Middlesbrough.

Leave a Reply