Exeter City were 2-0 victors in a visit to Weston-super-Mare with goals from Sonny Cox & Josh Gordon.
Exeter City journeyed North to the Optima Stadium for a tie against Weston-super-Mare in the Grecians’ second pre-season game of the 2026/27 campaign. Looking for a sharper performance from the previous week's defeat against Truro City, Matt Taylor provided newest-arrival Taylor Perry with his first start in an Exeter City shirt since signing little over a week prior. Further changes came with the introductions of Jayden Wareham, George Birch, Jack Fitzwater and more.
First Half
Weston-super-Mare began the game sharply with Brad Ash snatched the ball high up the pitch before dribbling into the City penalty area before crossing. Jack Fitzwater was called upon to clear the ball behind for a corner, one which the Grecians defended comfortably before recouping and gaining more of a foothold in the affair.
11 minutes in, and City’s first real chance of the game arose when George Birch won the ball in the midfield area before manoeuvring his way past the Seagulls’ back line and getting a shot off. The effort from the academy graduate rose just too high and flew over the crossbar, though it was certainly a promising sign for the Grecians.
City would go on to enjoy the better of the play as the half wore on, and the breakthrough finally came in the 29th minute with Ed James crossing towards the back post where Sonny Cox was waiting to pounce. A well-placed header from the City man was enough to find the bottom-right corner of the goal and open scoring in the encounter.
Almost ten minutes on, and the Grecians again bore down on the hosts’ goal with Birch’s cross from a corner resulting in numerous blocked shots inside the penalty area. The ball finally rolled out as far as Charlie Cummins, whose effort met the same fate and ended a brief spell of possession in a dangerous area.
A handful of opportunities for each team came in the dying minutes of the half, yet Cox's opener remained enough to ensure the Grecians went into half-time leading.
Second Half
City won a corner seven minutes into the second 45, one that saw Gwion Edwards cross from the flag to force a move from Max Harris between the sticks. The Weston goalkeeper's attempt to snatch the ball resulted in it finding the head of James, his effort cruelly denied by the crossbar and allowing the home side to clear upfield.
Summer signing Josh Gordon saw sight at goal minutes into being introduced to the field of play, forcing Harris into another save from a tight angle. The subsequent corner, seemingly battling the wind, fell on the edge of the box before Liam Oakes shot hard & low to test Harris yet again, yet it was another comfortable save for the Gulls man.
With the game ticking past the hour mark, Cummins shone once more against his former loan side. Picking up the ball in midfield, he ran through to the edge of the box before shooting and forcing a save from Harris. Minutes later, it was deja-vu for the Irishman, this time however opting to pass wide to Pedro Elewar who pulled it back for Jayden Wareham inside the area whose shot was narrowly tipped over.
Brought on in closing minutes of the affair, Tom Dean set straight to work and found himself in plentiful space out wide before crossing towards the back post towards Gordon who rose high to meet the ball and head home from close range, a much deserved second goal for the Grecians.
The referee's whistle brought an end to the encounter minutes later, with ever-valuable pre-season minutes in the tank and an encouraging performance for City.
Up Next
Matt Taylor’s men are back in action on the evening of Friday, 31st July when they take on Torquay United at Plainmoor in a 19:30 kick-off, the penultimate game of the pre-season calendar.
Tickets for this game are available now and can be purchased here.
Match Details
Weston-super-Mare Starting XI
Harris (GK), Jagger Cane, Avery, Coulson ©, Pope, Ash (Britton 46'), Martin, Robesten (Hulbert 46'), Sercombe, Trialist A, Trialist B
Weston-super-Mare Unused Substitutes
Dawes, Hewlett, Taylor, Trialist C, Trialist D
Exeter City Starting XI
Bycroft (GK), Edwards (Elewar 68'), Fitzwater ©, James, Yfeko (Cayless 68'), Oluwabori (Cartwright 75'), Cummins (Dean 75'), Perry (Woodhouse 46') , Birch (Gordon 59'), Cox (Oakes 46'), Wareham
Exeter City Unused Subsitutes
Phillips (GK), Wilson
Exeter City Goalscorers
Cox (29'), Gordon (81')