Youngsters to play third round tie against Wigan Athletic at 7.30pm on Tuesday
Academy manager Simon Hayward says he is very pleased with how well the under-18s have done in the FA Youth Cup so far this season.
The Grecians will play Wigan Athletic in the third round of the competition on Tuesday night at St James Park, having recorded the highest margin of victory in the first round, with an 8-0 win away at Radstock, and then knocked MK Dons out of the competition with a 3-1 win at home in mid-November.
“I am very pleased to have made it into the third round,” said Simon.
“We are really trying to treat the game as normal as possible and keep the players in the usual mindset that they have for their week to week league games, but I think it is my ninth year of being involved with the under-18s in the FA Youth Cup and only the third time we have been this far.
“Last season we made the fourth round and we lost away at Blackpool a few years back in the third round. It is just a nice experience for the players to progress that little bit further in the competition.
The under-18s are also top of the South West Youth Alliance Division having won eight and drawn three of their 15 games so far this season. However, whether that good form transfers into a good result against Wigan is another matter.
“That is the beauty of football, isn’t it? It will depend on how the game will go on the night,” said Simon. “They (Exeter City under-18s) are a good group and they have certainly made a good start to the season, but it will depend on if we play at our best or do Wigan play at their best. Is there a bit of luck or a refereeing decision that goes in favour of one team or another?
“I’d like to think this group has got the potential and the capability to go further than we have been before. They are certainly capable of making it to the fourth and fifth round and beyond, but who knows?”
Tickets for the match against Wigan will be available on the gate with entry prices as follows -
Adults: £5
Seniors: £3
Under-18s: £1