Pre-Season Match
Tuesday. July 9 . Ian Moorcroft Stadium
Tiverton Town 1 (Parker 26)
Exeter City 2 (Watts 31, Cox 77)
Attendance: 1,010
OUR visitors arrived at Ladysmead with a squad full of a core of players that served them well last term, blended with new signings and promising youngsters.
Whereas, on previous visits by the Grecians, former manager Matt Taylor often went with both older age-group Academy sides complimented by senior pros, before finishing with almost a full strength side, his successor Gary Caldwell utilised a large majority of his first-team squad throughout the evening, with the odd exception.
The Yellows gave an extremely positive account of themselves, bearing this in mind, the industrious Jay Murray epitomising a busy press that not only asked questions of our higher opponents, but also saw us play impressively with some promising link-up play between Joe Parker and Leighton Thomas and the former Weston player.
Ex-Forest Green teenager Jack Carter, possessing no shortage of technical ability, also had some notable moments in an assured display.
Parker opened the scoring on 26 minutes, after a typical Niall Thompson foray forward, the resulting cross from the former Truro man finding the lethal Parker who powerfully headed home. The calming Asa Hall, with his clever manipulation of the ball, was also a significant factor in us trading blows with our more illustrious opponents.
Five minutes later, Caleb Watts evened things up after a sustained period of Exeter pressure saw a misjudgement from the unfortunate Manning.
Despite a clear opportunity to take the lead being squandered by a Grecians' player before the break, a pacy, disciplined and skilful Yellows outfit were worthy of being level when the first half concluded.
The second half saw Exeter exert more control, especially after Parker and Thomas were withdrawn. However, Trialist B will have given our management team food for thought as he led the line well in the final third, and the energy and quality of players like Dylan Jones, Thompson, Matt Britton and Josh Jones meant we were always competitive.
Adapting to the levels of our opponents proved reasonably undaunting for fan favourite and man-of the-match Dylan Jones, whose impact and influence on the game was an undeniable success from his full-back berth.
With 77 minutes gone, the decisive blow was struck in an entertaining affair for the fans, when the visitors went ahead through their home-grown talent Sonny Cox.
This was an excellent workout for both sides, whose fitness is testament to their respective coaching staff.
The Yellows can be proud of their efforts and will be back in action at Cullompton Rangers on Friday evening.
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