Exeter City began pre-season preparations with a commanding 6-0 win over Weston-super-Mare on a sweltering afternoon in the Somerset sun.
Jayden Wareham’s close range finish had the Grecians ahead at the break, before Harry Crees, Sonny Cox, Reece Cole, and a Kieran Wilson quickfire double added to the second half tally.
Gary Caldwell named two separate XIs for City’s first pre-season encounter by the seaside as he gave the majority of his squad a run out as preparations ramped up for the League One season which kicks off in three weeks’ time.
First Half
It was a fast start at the Optima Stadium as Louis Britton came close to opening the scoring early with a fine individual effort that he dragged just wide from the edge of the box.
City’s first chance came after a pacy run down the left from George Birch, who saw his cross poked to edge of the area by Kevin McDonald, where Jack Aitchison had a shot blocked. From the resulting corner, the post saved Weston as a defensive header crashed against the woodwork to prevent an own goal.
Birch again came close as he took McDonald’s lay-off around his marker and drilled a low effort wide of the post.
It was not one-way traffic however as Weston threatened on the overload as Luke Coulson volleyed wide at the back post following a delightful cross from Sam Pearson, moments before the referee signalled for the first much needed water break of the afternoon.
That allowed the planned switch of Luca Woodhouse replacing Johnly Yfeko, with City’s new centre half immediately called into action as he produced two big defensive headers to quell the danger of a Dan Martin delivery.
City eventual took a lead that was probably deserved on balance through summer signing Wareham as he poked home at the second time of asking after a delightful run down the left hand side from Liam Oakes. Picking up the ball midway inside the half, Oakes beat his man near the corner flag, bursting into the area to slide the ball across for the former Reading man to convert.
The pair combined again soon after and it could have been two had Wareham found the target, but sliding into the six yard box under pressure from the Weston centre-half, he nudged the ball wide of the post.
The hosts ended the half strongly, with City having Frankie Phillips to thank minutes before the whistle as he pushed a free-kick wide of the post.
Second Half
It was all change at the break as the second XI took to the field, with new boy Ethan Brierley amongst those featuring.
It wasn’t long before the Grecians doubled the lead as Crees fired home from close range. As the ball came in from the left, Sonny Cox managed to scramble the ball out of his feet and into the path of the academy star, who did the rest to make it 2-0.
The trialist goalkeeper set his intentions when he was called into action as he tipped a powerful low effort from Pearson round his post for Weston’s first effort of the second period.
Goalkeeping heroics up the other end prevented a third goal for the Grecians as Jack Fitzwater’s looping header was poked away with Max Harris’ fingertips before the shot-stopper grabbed the rebound.
City recycled play from the goal-kick though and did make it three when Ilmari Niskanen picked up the ball in midfield and drove to the edge of the box. The Finn dropped the shoulder and neatly threaded through Cox, who fired across the keeper into the far corner.
Charlie Cummins expertly stuck a boot in to win the ball back on half way and allow Kieran Wilson to thread in Cox, who saw his first time snap-shot gathered by Harris, but it wasn’t long before Cole made it four. He unleashed one of his trademark long-range efforts, with the midfielder taking a touch 25-yards out to allow his right footed strike to sail into the top corner. Wallop bosh is it, Reece?
The Grecians were in control, but the hosts still had their moments. Fitzwater had to be alert to hook a deflected off the line as an effort took a hefty deflection and over the trialist goalkeeper, with a goalmouth scramble ensuing from the resultant corner kick.
A lovely team goal made it 5-0 as Wilson found the back of the net, before the young Scot made it six merely a minute later. First, neat intricate footwork between Cole and Cox inside the area allowed Wilson to roll into the bottom corner, before his second came from the left hand side. Cox then added an assist to his afternoon’s work as Wilson connected to his aerial cross to emphatically turn the ball home.
City saw out the final action to conclude a comfortable afternoon in Somerset.
Weston-super-Mare XI: Harris (GK), Dawes, Wood, Coulson, Dodd, Britton, Waite, Pearson, Lewis, Trialist, Martin.
First Half Exeter City XI: Phillips (GK), Cayless, James, Yfeko (Woodhouse), McDonald, Francis, Birch, Aitchison, Dean, Oakes, Wareham.
Second Half Exeter City XI: Trialist, Cummins, Fitzwater, Cartwright, McMillan, Brierley, Cole, Crees, Wilson, Niskanen, Cox.