Exeter City suffered a heart-breaking defeat in the last 16 of the Premier League Cup as they exited the competition on penalties to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Wolves started the match, played at the Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, brightly with Archie Collins having to head Ming-Yang Yang’s goalbound shot clear before Niall Ennis had a shot comfortably saved by Paul Jones.
City responded though with Robbie Simpson almost setting up captain Matt Jay with a shooting chance before the Grecians took the lead in the 16th minute.
The goal came from a corner that had been well won by Kyle Edwards. Jay swung the ball into the box and Simpson’s header deflected off a Wolves defender into the back of the net.
It could have been 2-0 moments later as Wolves keeper Jon Flatt kicked a clearance straight to Jack Sparkes and the youngster, from 30 yards out, hit an effort just wide off the mark. Ryan Brunt then shot narrowly over, following good work from Simpson and Collins.
Sherwin Seedorf, the cousin of former Dutch international Clarence, then volleyed over from Conor Levinstone’s ball towards the edge but City went into the half-time break in front.
City started the second half strongly with Alex Byrne and Brunt going close before Wolves started to apply some pressure on the visitors and equalized when Oskar Burr Rasmussen’s ball across the face of the goal was turned in by Yang.
The Grecians went close to taking the victory in the closing stages of the match when Rasmussen almost turned the ball into his own net but the match went into extra-time.
Ryan Loft came closest to winning the match for City in the extra 30 minutes but, after he was teed up by Sparkes, his effort was just over the crossbar.
That meant penalties and, while Jay scored his spot-kick, City missed one and saw two of their other efforts saved giving Wolves progress to the next round.
Exeter City: Jones; Collins, Seaborne, Croll, Hartridge; Sparkes, Jay, Byrne, Edwards; Simpson, Brunt. Subs: Williams, Loft, Seymour, Key, Dean.
Wolves: Platt, Buur Rasmussen, Breslin, Levingston, Goodliffe, Leak, Heredia, Yang, Ennis, Ashley-Seal, Seedorf. Subs: Ofosu-Ayeh, Odoffin, Xavier, Hanne, Otasowie.