Exeter City FC

Exeter City continued their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over Tiverton Town at Ladysmead.

City had the better of the chances as they limited their opponents to very little by the way of opportunities at goal and it was Ben Seymour who made the difference when he fired home from close range shortly after the interval.

Manager Matt Taylor named a mixture of experience and youth in his starting line-up with Craig Woodman making his first appearance in pre-season alongside the likes of Jordan Tillson and Aaron Martin. The Grecians also named the likes of Joel Randall, Ben Seymour and Jack Sparkes alongside Bristol City loanee, Robbie Cundy.

Randell Williams had City’s first chance of the match when he found space on the edge of the Town box just two minutes in before he fired a powerful effort towards the top left corner, but it edged just wide of goal.

Joel Randall then went inches from scoring on 15 minutes when the Grecians won the ball back high up the field. Jack Sparkes then found Williams, who crossed for Randall, and his shot took a deflection which sent the ball just wide of goal.

The Grecians continued to dominate much of the play in the opening 30 minutes without creating too many clear-cut chances despite seeing much more of the ball in and around the Town box.

Williams was one of the main threats for Matt Taylor’s men, and he then had an attempt saved by Lewis Williams in the Tiverton goal after beating his man on the right and cutting onto his left foot before shooting low.

Jordan Tillson then had an effort from distance go wide of goal as he was left in space on the edge of the Town area.

Just moments before the break former Grecian Chris Shephard sent in a dangerous looking free-kick from the right which caused a scramble in the City box before the ball was hooked away as the sides went into the break goalless.

The Grecians made three changes to the XI for the second half as Harry Kite, Will Dean and Alex Hartridge all came on for the second 45 minutes.

It took just three minutes for the Grecians to go ahead in the second half when more good play from Williams saw him dart into the area before crossing low for Seymour to fire home from just a few yards out.

Matt Jay tried his luck with a speculative volley with his left foot from distance on 53 minutes, but despite connecting well, the Town keeper was equal to it.

Jay then went close again when the Grecians broke well before the ball found the forward centrally. He then turned well onto his right foot before sending an effort just wide of the top left-hand corner.

The Grecians made more changes on 65 minutes with more young players gaining minutes as Ben Chrisene, Louis Morison and Lewis Wilson came on, as well as new signing Noah Smerdon.

More chances came for the Grecians when Jordan Dyer thumped a header against the crossbar on 78 minutes, moments before Smerdon saw his curled left footed edge just wide.

The Grecians then saw out the remaining minutes comfortably as they now set their sights on the trip to Bath City on Friday evening.

Tiverton Town: Williams, Bentley, Bastin, Colwell, M. Landricombe, Grimes, Nancekivell, Allen, Lewington, L. Landricombe, Shephard
Subs: David, Belsten, Hall, Yetton, Cane, S. Rogers, G. Rogers, Burton
Booked:

Exeter City: Ward, Dyer (Dean, 45), Cundy (Hartridge, 45), A. Martin (Diabate, 69), Woodman (Kite, 45), Tillson (Dyer, 69), Jay (Chrisene, 65), Randall (Wilson, 65), Williams (Morison, 65) Sparkes (Smerdon, 65), Seymour (Simpson, 69)
Subs not used: Maxted
Booked: