Exeter City came from behind to earn a draw with Taunton Town in their second pre-season friendly of the 2020/21 campaign.
Alex Fisher scored the only goal of the match, midway through the second half after Toby Holmes the visitors an early lead against the run of play.
Manager Matt Taylor named a strong line-up for the match, with fives changes from the opening pre-season friendly against Bristol Rovers. In came Jonny Maxted, Pierce Sweeney, Nicky Law, Josh Key and Alex Fisher for Lewis Ward, Jake Caprice, Jake Taylor, Matt Jay and Randell Williams.
Collins was first to go close as Josh Key won the ball high up the pitch and played a pass into Fisher. He cut the ball back for Collins who curled a shot against the post. Ryan Bowman then had a couple of chances before a straight ball over the top of the City defence caught the home side sleeping and Holmes was able to nip in and lift the ball over Maxted to give the visitors an 11th-minute lead.
Further chances came City’s way in the first half as Fisher tested the Taunton keeper Lloyd Irish with a couple of headers and Rory McCardle glanced an effort just wide.
The start of the second half saw Nigel Atangana fire a first time shot wide of the mark before Law rippled the side netting with a shot from inside the box. However, it was Irish in the Taunton Town goal who continued to frustrate City as he instinctively push a goal-bound header from Bowman onto his crossbar with 64 minutes on the clock, before then denying Fisher with a similar effort 10 minutes later.
However, the Grecians were not to be denied and were deservedly level when Collins played a ball to Fisher in the box and he produced a fantastic turn before placing a right-foot shot into the corner of the net.
Matt Taylor had promised changes on 80 minutes though and duly sent on nine substitutes, with Cheick Diabate, Nicky Ajose, Will Dean, Sonny Cox, Harry Kite, Lewis Wilson, Louis Morison and Noah Smerdon, taking to the field. That disrupted the rhythm of City’s play somewhat and the Grecians were unable to fashion any further chances in the final 10 minutes and had to be content with a draw.
Exeter City: Maxted, Sweeney, McArdle, Parkes, Sparkes, Key, Atangana, Collins, Law, Fisher, Bowman. Subs (all used): Hartridge, Diabate, Ajose, Dean, Cox, Kite, Wilson, Morison, Smerdon.