Exeter City's under-23s were beaten 5-0 by Nottingham Forest in the Under-23 Premier League Cup.
Three goals from Virgil Gomis, one from Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel and a late penalty from substitute Idris Kadded did the damage for a clinical Forest.
Under-23 coach Dan Green gave starting spots to new signings Randell Williams and Jaden Brown and there were also starts for the likes of Matt Jay and Aaron Martin at St James Park as the Grecians looked to further their push towards a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
The away side began the match with more possession, but it was City who would have the first real chance of the match when Jack Sparkes’ corner found Martin, but despite heading powerfully, Liam Bossin saved well in the Forest goal.
The home side continued to threaten on the break through Williams who looked dangerous throughout. He created a good chance when he burst forward before laying off Brown to cross low for Jay, but his effort was well blocked as Forest cleared.
The visitors almost went in front on 21 minutes when they broke forward before the ball fell to Brennan Johnson at the far post, and after taking a touch, he fired an effort towards goal, but James Hamon made a strong save with his legs to deny the Forest man.
But the opening goal arrived on 36 minutes through Gomis after good play on the right saw the ball fall to the forward before he fired home to give his side the advantage.
It almost got worse for City just a couple of minutes later when Anel Ahmedhodzic rose well to meet a corner, and despite being close to the City goal, he could only send his header over the crossbar as the sides went into the break with the score at 1-0 to the away side.
Hamon was once again called into action soon after the restart when Lawrence-Gabriel broke down the right-hand side. After finding himself a bit of space, the full back shot powerfully, but the City keeper did well to block once again.
Forest then found their second of the night on 55 minutes when they won the ball back in midfield and Jake Taylor threaded the ball through to Gomis to claim his second of the evening.
City looked to hit back just a few minutes later, and they almost did when a corner found its way to Will Dean on the edge of the box, but his fantastic effort was palmed away expertly by Bossin in the Forest goal.
Despite an initial positive response, it would get worse for the Grecians when they conceded a third with Gomis sealing his hat-trick on 68 minutes. A long ball over the top wasn’t dealt with by the defence and Forest pressed to work an opening before a rebound fell into the path of the striker who tucked home from a few yards out.
Lawrence-Gabriel then got himself on the scoresheet when he robbed the ball outside the City area before bursting inside and finishing well past Hamon to make it 4-0 to the visitors on 74 minutes.
City almost got themselves on the scoresheet on 85 minutes after good play on the right from Josh Key who darted inside. The youngster then crossed well for Ben Seymour, but his header crashed against the post.
City were then reduced to 10-men when Alex Hartridge was sent off for a second bookable offence before Kadded netted Forest's fifth of the night from the penalty spot.
Exeter City: Hamon, A. Martin, Williams (Randall, 45), Jay, Brown, Kite (Dodd, 60), Key, Sparkes (Dyer, 45), Hartridge, Seymour, Dean
Subs not used: Norman, Smallcombe
Booked:
Sent off: Hartridge
Nottingham Forest: Bossin, Lawrence-Gabriel, Gallacher (Fornah, 78), Coveney, Ahmedhodzic, Stewart, Johnson, Taylor, Gomis (Hayes, 75), Edser, En-Neyah (Kadded, 75)
Subs not used: Soloha, Hefele
Booked:
Attendance: 333