Exeter City were beaten 3-2 by Torquay United in a friendly at Cliff Hill on Monday afternoon.
Both of City’s goals, including one from the penalty spot, came from Nicky Law, while Torquay won the game late on with a 86th minute goal from former Grecian Dean Moxey.
The game was organised to give crucial minutes to those players who have not featured regularly so far this season following last weekend’s cancelled friendly against Bristol Rovers, and included in the line up the likes of Nicky Ajose, Pierce Sweeney and Johnny Maxted.
City had the first chance of the game when Law set his sights from a free kick on the edge of the area, and was unlucky not to hit the target as his effort flew just wide of the mark, but it was the Gulls who would draw first blood. A corner was swung into the six-yard box and headed in from close range to give them the lead.
They had a good chance to level when Sweeney played a long ball over the top to Ben Seymour, but it had just a tad too much on it for him to take it down. Had he been able to control it, he would have had a great chance to finish the target.
Matt Taylor’s side did get the leveler when Law latched onto a brilliant through ball from Jake Caprice to smash it past the goalkeeper. Caprice, who has returned to match fitness, looked impressive on his side and was making some decent runs down the wing and into the channels.
Ten minutes after the break Torquay took the lead as a loose ball was drilled under Maxted from the edge of the box, but just minutes later the Grecians were level again.
Jack Sparkes was brought down by a strong challenge in the area and City were awarded a penalty, which Law duly converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
An unnamed trialist then came close to putting City back in the lead, testing the reflexes of the goalkeeper down to his left. The post may also have had a part to play.
The Gulls then piled on some pressure towards the end of the game and came close to a winner when their man hit it from distance. It took a huge deflection and came out for a corner, from which penalty area pinball ensued. City couldn’t clear their lines but were able to put in several blocks to keep the scores level.
They eventually did find their winner late on when Moxey popped up to lash the ball home from 10 yards after City failed to clear the ball.
City XI: Maxted, Caprice, Sweeney (Diabate), Dyer, Hartridge (Trialist), Sparkes, Dean, Kite, Law (Iseguan), Seymour, Ajose.
Subs: Ward, Morison, Smerdon.