Exeter City picked up another pre-season win with a 3-0 victory over Weston-Super-Mare away from home.
A first half goal from Ryan Bowman added to two late finishes from Joel Randall and Jack Sparkes was enough to give City the win in an entertaining match.
With three games in a week, manager Matt Taylor named a side with a blend of youth and experience as Ryan Bowman, Lee Martin and Nicky Law all started alongside the likes of Jack Sparkes, Harry Kite and Ben Seymour.
The game started at a lively pace with the home side forced to defend a number of early crosses from the Grecians. Jack Sparkes’ curling free-kick was also punched away well by Niall Maher.
Despite that, the opening 20 minutes was relatively even with the home side also looking to threaten the City goal in behind, but neither team were able to stamp their authority on the game by the way of clear-cut chances.
City then managed to push themselves in front on 26 minutes when some good play in the centre of the field from Lee Martin saw him turn well and thread the ball through to Bowman, who continued his pre-season goal scoring form with a calm finish into the bottom corner.
Nicky Law was next to have a chance for the Grecians after he burst in behind to latch onto a long ball, but at a tight angle, his chipped effort was blocked well by Maher.
The Grecians almost went 2-0 up a couple of minutes before the break when more good play from Lee Martin found Bowman once again. The striker managed to shrug off a defender before firing at goal, but for the onrushing Maher, who made a strong save down to his right as the Grecians took a narrow advantage into half-time.
The home side’s best chance fell on 56 minutes when they managed to work it well on the edge of the City box before the ball found its way to Owen Howe who’s effort came off the onrushing trialist keeper and almost deflected into the net, but for Jack Sparkes to get back and clear.
It was then City’s turn to go close on the hour mark when Bowman peeled away to latch onto an excellent through ball from Jordan Tillson, and the striker sent in a teasing low cross, but Ben Seymour was unable to make a connection at the far post.
Both sides then went close in a matter of seconds when Lee Martin was found by Bowman but he shot straight at Maher before Weston counter-attacked and the ball found Howe, who drove into the area and forced another good save from the trialist shot stopper, before the rebound went well over the City goal.
It was two of the City youngsters who would combine well next as they looked to further the Grecians’ advantage. After good build-up play down the right Will Dean put in a superb cross for Seymour to head well but he was unable to keep his effort on target as it edged just over the bar.
Sam Hendy then had another opportunity for Weston when good work from Isaac Pearce saw the ball fall to the substitute, who hit a fierce shot, but for the trialist keeper to stand tall and block excellently.
An entertaining match then saw Sparkes go inches from doubling the lead when his curling free-kick was tipped onto the post from Maher before the resulting corner flashed across goal and somehow evaded Bowman from tapping home.
The Grecians finally got their second after good work from Sparkes on the left saw him cross dangerously before the ball deflected into the path of substitute Randall who fired home with a powerful effort.
Then, just moments before full-time, Sparkes got his reward for a positive display when he fired an effort towards goal from out wide on the right and it evaded everyone in the area before ending up in the bottom corner, as City picked up another pre-season win.
Weston Super Mare: Maher, Parsons, A. Byrne, Madden (Hendy, 25), Cook, Tindle, Llewellyn, Laird, Howe, Malshansky, Pearce
Subs: J. Byrne, Jones, Welch, Goodall, Briscoe, Kingston
Booked: J. Byrne
Exeter City: Trialist, Dean, Warren (Dyer, 83), A. Martin, Sparkes, Kite, Tillson, Law (Randall, 78), L. Martin (Smerdon, 78), Bowman (Simpson, 83), Seymour (Lawrence, 83)
Subs not used: Ward
Booked: