A young City side exited the Devon St Luke’s Bowl in cruel fashion as they lost away at Okehampton Argyle on penalties.

After the initial 90 minutes finished 1-1 - Harry Crees’ first-half opener cancelled out by an equaliser just seconds after half-time - the match went to a shootout. Crees scored City’s opening spot kick, but two subsequent misses while Okehampton netted four out of four, meant it was the Grecians who exited the competition.

David Oldfield took charge of a side made up entirely of City’s under-18s who usually feature in the EFL Youth Alliance. Sam Down started in goal, while Louie Cayless was joined alongside Aidan Bown and captain Crees in midfield, with Callum Graham and Jack Bellotti starting behind Harry Appleton up top.

First half

After a cagey start - the closest either side came being an Okehampton low cross slid wide at the far post - City carved out the first real chance through their top scorer Appleton. Just before the 20-minute mark, a direct ball forward found him inside the area, but his shot was blocked.

Struggling against the hosts’ low block, the Grecians had to mix up their play, and another direct ball soon picked out Crees in the box. His low delivery across goal beat the keeper but found no one waiting to turn it home.

When City did manage to move the ball around their opponents, they looked sharp - and it was that approach that led to the opener in the 33rd minute. Crisp interplay brought the ball to Appleton on the edge of the box, and he slipped a pass into Crees down the inside right of the area, who finished low across the keeper and into the far corner for 1-0.

Within seconds of the restart, City had to be on their toes to keep that lead intact. A lapse in concentration at the back allowed an Okehampton forward to round Down and shoot, however on the line was Logan Aston covering to block the shot out for a corner.

The hosts’ best chances came towards the end of the half, with a header from the edge of the penalty box grazing the top right corner of the woodwork, before a shot across goal was well-held by Down.

Second half

That momentum carried over into the second half, and within seconds of the restart Okehampton were level. A shot from inside the busy penalty area was saved by Down, but the rebound was tucked away by another forward to make it 1-1.

Direct balls into City’s box seemed to then be where Okehampton were getting the most joy, with a long throw headed straight at Down before a cross from the right, just before the hour mark, was met by a header at the back post which was aimed just over.

City needed a spark, and Appleton looked to provide it on 63 minutes. Driving from halfway, he combined with Bown before crossing for Graham, who headed narrowly over.

That lifted the Grecians, and just a minute later they created again. Cayless carried the ball across the pitch before finding the overlapping Liam Cartwright on the left, who slipped it inside to Bellotti, but his strike was deflected wide.

Okehampton still posed a threat though, firing just past the post from the edge of the box. But in the 72nd minute, City thought they had regained the lead. 

A free-kick swung into the area caused chaos, the ball eventually dropping to Appleton, whose header came back off the bar. Bown followed in to score, only for the flag to go up for offside as he wheeled away to celebrate.

If that was unlucky, worse was to follow in the final seconds. Substitute Percy Baker squared across goal for Appleton at the back post, but with the goal gaping he failed to connect and the chance was gone.

Cayless saw one final effort deflected wide before the referee’s whistle signalled penalties.

Penalty shootout

The hosts went first and scored, before Crees levelled for City. But with Bown and Cayless both denied from the spot, and Okehampton scoring all four of theirs, the Grecians went out in the shootout 4-1.

It was a tough end to the night and this season's Devon Bowl campaign, but a valuable learning experience for City’s youngsters against senior opposition.

Exeter City XI: Down, Horn, Aston, Rickhuss, Cartwright, Cayless, Bown, Crees (C), Bellotti, Graham, Appleton.

Subs: Murray (GK), Baker, Swift, Dunlop.

Goal: Crees 33'