City full-back reacts to Under-21 Cup exit
EXETER CITY full-back Connor Riley-Lowe expressed his disappointment at the Grecians' Under-21 Premier League Cup exit at the hands of West Ham United this evening, but paid tribute to the unwavering support from the stands, which gave the City players belief that they could draw themselves back into it for a large period of the game."I don't think it was a case of us not being able to recover from the early goal," Connor explained. "It was obviously so frustrating that that happened, and we probably weren't expecting them to go forward as quickly as they did. We should have been more narrow and compact, but they did score, and from there, we had to get on with it. It was frustrating and annoying.
"I thought that West Ham were a very good passing side, and at times they passed their way out of our pressing. They played their little triangles around us, and were very good at it. At 2-0, I think if we'd have pulled one back, we could quite realistically have pulled ourselves back into the game, because up to about seventy minutes we continued to press. By the time the third goal went in, that was it for us, really - our legs had gone, and it was too big a hill to climb for us.
"Everyone was saying in the changing room how good the supporters were for us. I don't think any of us expected that so many people would turn out for the under-21s tonight, so I think the fans should take a lot of credit tonight. They were excellent, and supported us all the way through. When we were 2-0 down and trying to get back into the game they were helping us, and it was just disappointing that we couldn't manage it."
Connor is in the midst of a successful loan spell at National League South side Truro City, and the left-back hailed the experience that he has gained from his time with the White Tigers.
"I've played over twenty games already for Truro this season, which of course is more than I would have had from staying here," he said. "I'm learning a lot, and I'm playing games, which is the main thing. It's men's football, and it's physical, which is what I need. It's been nice though to come back here to play alongside the lads again, playing a different type of football but ultimately with the same goal. I'm enjoying my time at Truro; it's helping me a lot."