Exeter City U18s suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Brentford in Merit League 2 on Good Friday, with all three goals coming in the closing moments of what was up to then a close encounter.
The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until the 87th minute, when Adam Poliakov opened the scoring for the Bees, before Brandon Annous added a second in the final minute of normal time. Emeka Peters added a third in stoppage time at Wheatsheaf Park, Staines.
There were two changes to the City line-up that were beaten 4-3 by Cambridge United last weekend, with Jake Richards and Giulio Marroni coming into the side ahead of Harry Crees and Callum Graham.
Brentford, who were looking to make amends for their own defeat by Northampton Town last time out, started on the front foot on home turf, but it took just over a quarter of an hour before they registered the first chance of the game – City stopper Dan Layer saving well from Michael McSorley.
Good defending from City, making crucial blocks, saw Josh Djoro denied for the Bees, before City came close to opening the scoring when George Birch saw his effort saved by Reggie Rose.
After some half-time discussions, the Grecians returned for the second-half with more attacking intent, adopted an aggressive press which nearly bore fruit early on as Rose was forced to be alert to Liam Cartwright’s volley.
There was little to separate the sides in the second half three subs from the Bees head coach Lydia Bedford made all the difference late on.
Poliakov was the first of the changes from the bench to have an impact as he forced Layer into another great save – the City keeper reacting well to a looping deflected shot.
The same player looked to have solely done enough to win the game for the London side with three minutes of normal time to go though, flicking the ball home after latching onto a header from Kerron Samuels.
Just two minutes later the hosts would once again find the target as Annous fired an effort into the top corner with a well-taken strike. In stoppage time, Peters struck from close range inside the box to round off the scoring.
After four games in the EFL Merit League 2, City now sit 7th.
Exeter City U18s: Layer, Oakes, Edgecombe, Cayless, Cartwright, Marroni, Richards, Birch, Cutler, Wilson, Ohanaka. Subs: Devon, Dean, Cooper, Crees