Exeter City U21s picked up their first Premier League Cup points of the campaign with a remarkable 5-3 win over Bristol City U21s at the Robins High Performance Centre.
Sonny Cox's stunning hat-trick, a goal for Ed Turns on his first match back in 8 months and a beautiful curling effort from Callum Grant sealed the points.
Manager Kevin Nicholson named a side that included Ed Turns, who was making his first appearance since February after recovering from hip surgery. Summer signing Dan Watts made his first start for the Grecians. Harry Kite and Saturday’s goalscoring hero Sonny Cox were also named in the starting XI.
The young Grecians were looking to respond to the 3-1 defeat to Norwich City U21s in their first group match of the competition.
First Half
City started the brighter of the two young sides and looked to peg back their hosts in the early stages. In just the fourth minute the Grecians had their first effort on goal. City worked the ball well through Cox and Watts, the latter found Williams out wide - he cut inside and shoots just wide of the post!
Minutes later it was the hosts on the attack as a ball through the middle breaks City's lines. The powerful Devont’e Ferguson burst forward before heads into the City area where he dragged a shot just wide of Phillips' far post!
The Grecians took a deserved lead in the 21st minute, and it was that man Sonny Cox who made it 2 in 2 appearances. City worked the ball well down their right, with Lang taking on his man before sliding into Kite just inside the box. Kite took a touch and crossed low across the six-yard box and Cox was the fox-in-the-box, who tapped home from close range.
City could have made it two just moments later as a stray Robins ball at the back saw Cox race forward, but his touch let him down and Finch was quickly off his line. The ball broke to Kite who tried his luck from deep, but the effort was wide.
The young Grecians lead would only last less than ten minutes however as the Robins hit back with a quick counter which saw Naylor run at the Grecians defence before unleashing a powerful drive from range, which Phillips got fingers to, but was unable to keep out.
Just two minutes later and the Grecians found themselves behind. Another quick counter caught the Grecian defence out and a ball was threaded through to O’Neill, who took a touch before firing low out of the reach of Phillips.
City’s heads didn’t drop and just over five minutes later the score was level at 2-2. Watts swept a cross in from deep, and it was misjudged by Finch and the ball fell kindly to Turns who tapped home from just a couple of yards out.
The Grecians continued to press and had their own turnaround in added time in the first half. Oakes was found in space down City’s right and sent in a beautiful cross on a plate for Sonny Cox to head home his second of the half, meaning the Grecians went into the break 3-2 ahead!
Second Half
Manager Kevin Nicholson made one planned change at the break, with Ed Turns completing his 45 minutes and being replaced by Joe Newport.
The Grecians started the second half just as they ended the first and Sonny Cox completed a remarkable hat-trick in some style. City fed Sonny the ball just outside the Robins box and he turned before unleashing an unstoppable rocket into the far corner of the net – a true stunner!
The goalscoring showed no signs of slowing down as Yeboah, on as a second half substitute for the Robins showed calmness to slot home from just inside the City penalty are to reduce the deficit back down to one goal.
City made a trio of changes on the hour mark as Percy Baker, Callum Grant and Ise Aworinde came on for Watts, Williams and hat-trick hero Cox. The Robins third really gave them an impetus in the game and they pushed hard to get level, but City defended deep and well to keep them at bay.
In the 74th minute a ball over the top almost catches City out as Hogg looks to swoop, but Phillips was quickly off his line to gather the ball.
In the 82nd minute City had a fifth in stunning style. Cayless picked out substitute Grant on the edge of the box, who twisted onto his weaker foot before unleashing a beautiful curling strike into the top corner, with Finch rooted to his spot in the Robins goal.
City absorbed some late pressure and went on to pick up their first Premier League Cup points of the campaign in some style.
Up Next in the Premier League Cup
The young Grecians make the trip to face Reading in a 7pm kick-off on Monday, November 2. Details coming soon.
Match Details
Bristol City XI: Issac Finch (GK), Tomos Gibbs, Josh Campbell-Slowey, Marley Thelwell, Taine Anderson (Ollie Williams 12’), Rhys Knight (C), Seb Naylor, Elija Morrison (Zac King-Phillips 70’), Leo Pecover (Ranel Young 66’), Billy O’Neill (Harry Hogg 66’), Devont’e Ferguson (Ephraim Yeboah 46’).
Subs not used: Stan Sainsbury, Pawel Kalowski.
Goals: Naylor 30’, O’Neill 33’, Yeboah 54’
Exeter City XI: Frankie Phillips (GK), Liam Cartwright, Tobias Alsop, Ed Turns (Joe Newport 46’), Ben Lang, Louie Cayless, Harry Kite (Jack Bellotti 72’), Liam Oakes (C), Dan Watts (Percy Baker 62’), George Williams (Callum Grant 62’), Sonny Cox (Ise Aworinde 62’)
Goals: Cox 21’, 45+3, 48, Turns 40’, Grant 82'
Yellow Card: Cartwright 64’
Attendance: TBC