Att: 388
The Grecians suffered their first totesport.com home league loss of the season despite a second half comeback, as Torquay United ran out comfortable winners thanks largely to a scintillating first twenty minutes.
City fielded a young side, including the likes of Jack Furzer, Aaron Dawson and Kyle Bassett. The only real 'experience' was provided by Jake Thomson and Ben Watson, who was to play a full 90 minutes.
Torquay started the game brightly and fashioned a chance after just 2 minutes when Ashley Yeoman forced Artur Krysiak into a smart stop. City replied immediately when Elliott Frear made a run from midfield that continued into the box, but his effort fizzed just wide of the far post. A minute later though the Gulls took the lead. A pinpoint cross from the left by Danny Sender was powerfully headed home by Billy Kee
Although Torquay were having the lions share of possesion, City could have equalised when Jake Thomson curled in a free kick that was headed narrowly wide by Kyle Bassett. The Grecians though were being over run in midfield and in the 16th minute the Gulls scored a second. Saul Halpin outpaced the City defence, rounded Krysiak and slotted cooly home from an acute angle.
Four minutes later it was 3-0. This time the City defence failed to clear a cross, and after what seemed an eternity of the ball bobbling around the six yard box Ashley Yeoman toe poked home.
The Grecians were not having the best of times, and it was a lack of decisiveness again at the back which presented the Gulls with another chance. The impressive Yeoman forcing Krysiak into a good save after getting on the end of a Lloyd Macklin cross
Finally, City seemed to grow into the game after the half hour, Jack Furzer found Kyle Bassett in the area, and the young forward forced a great point blank block from Potter. City really should have scored on 36 minutes when Ben Watson and Bassett linked up well to put Frear in the clear, and it was only a tip over from Potter that prevented the Grecians getting on the scoresheet.
Torquay noticeably took their foot of the gas somewhat in the second half, although that would probably be an injustice to the Grecians who were the better side for the majority of the second period. However, it was Torquay who added to their tally first on 50 minutes with what was their only real chance of the entire half. Scot Bennett failed to deal with a ball to the far post, and the pacy Macklin duly nipped in and fired passed Krysiak.
The rest of the half was mainly played out in the middle of the park, City dominating possession, but just lacking that killer final ball. It wasnt until the 86th minute that the Grecians created a clear cut chance. A long ball down the right from Scot Bennett caught out the Torquay full back and Ben Watson ran through, Potter once again though palming the striker's effort away at the near post.
As the clock ticked onto 90 minutes City got their just rewards for their second half display. Tom Nichols, who had replaced Bassett showed great persistance in the box and was promptly hauled down by Danny Sender. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Watson stepped up, and much like Ryan Harley on Saturday against Charlton, fired powerfully down the middle. The Grecians werent finished. Their tenacity was rewarded when a free kick was awarded thirty yards out, Thomson this time shooting from distance and bringing the best out of Danny Potter. However, the former City glovesman could only palm the ball into the path of substitute Ethan Phillips who fired home from close range.
That brought an end to a breathless final five minutes, and the Grecians would have taken heart from their second half performance, but would have been equally dissapointed with the first.
Final Score:
Exeter City Reserves 2-4 Torquay United Reserves
City MOTM: Jack Furzer
