Exeter City U21s exited the Premier League Cup after suffering a 2-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion U21s at St James Park.
The young Grecian team led by David Perkins would need to secure all three points to maintain any hope of progression to the knockout rounds. West Bromwich Albion U21s sat on level points with City only creeping ahead in the group by goal difference, though with one less game played.
Recovering from injury at the start of the season, Carlos Mendes-Gomes was given the nod to start the game. Goalscorer in the team’s loss to Luton two weeks prior and Torquay United loanee, Kieran Wilson would start up top and look to continue his scoring streak in the tournament.
First Half
With two minutes on the clock, it was the visitors who created the first clear-cut opportunity of the game. Baggies skipper Humphries received the ball on the edge of the six-yar box from a cut-back, his shot blazed over the bar.
Sustained pressure from West Brom in the opening minutes continued, Mandey and Ntege forcing Bycroft into two low stops at his near post. A half-chance for the Grecians would follow, Graham and Mendes-Gomes combining down the left-wing to get the ball to Birch 20-yards out whose shot was caught by Brady.
The 15th minute saw the Graham once again combining with the City skipper to create a shooting chance. An impressive cutback from a tight angle was met by Birch in a similar position again, this time his shot peeling wide of the far post.
It would be the visitors who would open scoring, Mandey’s strike from close range finding its way past Bycroft and into the City net. Just over ten minutes later it was Mandey looking for a second, his shot from close range after a goalmouth scramble over the bar.
After a period of sustained possession from the visitors, an impressive run from Cartwright down the right wing would see him cross to Mendes-Gomes who was unable to cleanly connect. The pressure from the Baggies would eventually tell once more, Mandey capitalising on a poor clearance and volleying the ball into the bottom left to double his side’s lead.
The halftime whistle would come minutes later, halting a meeting that had grown decidedly one-sided.
Second Half
The opening phases of the second half would see a cross from Oakes met by Rickhuss, his shot from close range met by Brady who cleared the ball from danger.
After an impressive display in the reverse fixture, Bycroft was once more able to showcase his ability between the sticks, leaping to save a close-range shot from Asomugha and creating a chorus of applause from the City fans in the process.
With the hour mark approaching, Birch would once again step up with a shooting opportunity for the Grecians. Finding himself with the ball on the edge of the penalty area, he waited for an optimal position before letting fly, with his shot wide of Brady’s far post.
Birch would once again find himself in a similar situation five minutes, his timed run leaving him through one-on-one with Brady, forcing the young keeper into a save and gifting City a corner. The Baggies would launch a counter-attack from the resultant corner, Mandey and Seven-Seven appearing to trip themselves up before the linesman’s flag went up.
With five minutes added on after the 90 had been played, second-half substitute George Williams would claw one back for the Grecians. Running through one-on-one against Brady, the young Grecian would poke the ball past the keeper and give City a constellation with second left to play.
The quality that the Baggies showed in the first half proved to be too much for a young City team, exiting the Premier League Cup.
Up Next
City are back at SJP this weekend when they host Barnsley in the final bit of Sky Bet League One action before Christmas. With Gary Caldwell’s side looking for a strong end to 2025 ahead of a busy January period, he and the team will look to rely on the unwavering support that has been shown so far this season. Limited tickets for this fixture are still available, and can be bought following this link.
Exeter City XI
Bycroft (GK), Cartwright, Cummins, Allsop, Richkuss, Graham, Oakes (Appleton 65’), Cayless, Birch (C), Mendes-Gomes (Williams 46’), Wilson
Exeter City Unused Subs
Phillips (GK), Bown, Bellotti
West Bromwich Albion U21 XI
Brady (GK), Nelson, Asomugha, Mohammed, Humphries (C), Parker, Gompe (Bastafield 80’), Mfuamba, Mandey, Seven-Seven (McDonald 67’), Ntege
West Bromwich Albion U21 Unused Subs
Jackson, Sankoh