A young City side suffered a heartbreaking exit from the St Luke’s Devon Bowl, losing on penalties after a battling 2-2 draw against Barnstaple Town.
The hosts took an early lead before Kieran Wilson’s strike brought City level, but a superb curling effort restored Barnstaple’s advantage. Tobias Alsop made it 2-2 before half-time and despite a competitive second half, the match went to penalties.
Dan Layer saved two spot kicks but it would be Barnstaple who progressed in sudden death, beating City and heading into the semi-finals.
For the trip up ton North Devon, under-18 Lead Coach David Oldfield led a young team, made up of under-18 and under-16 players. Dan Layer started in goal, with Jacca Cavendish leading the side as captain. FA Youth Cup goalscorer Harry Appleton, who's only an under-16, led the line against Barnstaple's first team.
First half
Both teams looked to get forward early, sending crosses into their opponent’s box, with the hosts flashing one through City’s area before Kieran Wilson drove a wide free-kick into the wall, after a City player was dragged back.
However, it was Barnstaple who took the lead after 10 minutes with a well-taken header. Louie Cayless made a fantastic sliding challenge to knock the ball out of play, but from the resulting throw, Town quickly worked the ball into the box. Their forward met the cross in the middle of the penalty area, and his header beat Layer to make it 1-0.
The Grecians stuck to their approach of passing out from the back, but Town threatened again minutes later. Josh Parry mazed his way through City’s midfield before laying it off to Tommy Rogers on the edge of the box. The forward struck his shot first time but sent it well over the bar.
Barnstaple looked most dangerous when running directly at City, with Ellan Washbrook the next to drive forward. He carried the ball down the right, cut inside, and fired a shot goalwards, but Layer made a good save before Jacca Cavendish cleared the rebound.
The game soon turned into a midfield battle, with both sides tested on a difficult pitch. Barnstaple sent several dangerous balls into City’s box, but it was the Grecians who struck next.
A pass played across midfield was misjudged by the Town full-back, who slipped, allowing Kieran Wilson a clear run down the right. The Scotsman cut into the penalty area and fired a shot that squeezed underneath the keeper and in.
The hosts almost responded immediately from kick-off, sending a curling effort from the edge of the box just wide, before quickly retaking the lead.
Rogers picked up the ball around 25 yards from goal, turned, and curled a stunning effort into the top corner - well beyond the reach of any goalkeeper.
This game was turning into an entertaining spectacle though, and City would equalise again before the break thanks to an under-16 combination.
Bellotti darted down the inside right channel away from a couple of men in red before he played in Tobias Alsop. The winger took a touch inside before shooting low across the goalkeeper and in to level the scores at 2-2.
Second half
The interval had disrupted both sides’ momentum, with City seeing more of the ball but taking time to create chances again.
A series of corners couldn’t be converted, with Wilson coming closest - his shot was blocked just a yard the wrong side of the post.
Alsop was the first to force either keeper into a meaningful save, striking from 25 yards in the 65th minute. His effort was well-hit but lacked the power to truly test the Town stopper, who batted it away.
Several stoppages in play followed as players received treatment, breaking up City’s positive rhythm and allowing the hosts to push forward. Barnstaple tried their luck with a couple of long-range efforts, both deflected away, before nearly regaining the lead from a corner.
A deep free-kick was cleared behind by a Grecians defender, giving Barnstaple a set-piece opportunity. The delivery was sent high and deep to the back post, where an unmarked player met it with a header that clipped the top of the bar on its way over.
With City making a double switch in midfield, Barnstaple struck the bar again with 10 minutes to go. A short pass out from defence was mishit by a City player, and with Layer out of his goal, a Barnstaple man hit it first time. The ball sailed over the Exeter keeper but rattled the top of the crossbar before going out.
The game fizzled out from there, with both sides seemingly resigned to a penalty shootout, which was confirmed by the referee’s full-time whistle.
Penalty Shootout
Barnstaple stepped up first and scored before Wilson responded. The shootout remained level at 2-2 after Cayless calmly slotted past the keeper. Layer then produced a fine save, but the Town stopper immediately responded in kind, denying Appleton’s effort.
Cartwright had the chance to win it for City after Layer’s second save, but his strike clipped the post. Barnstaple converted their next penalty, and when Anthony’s effort was saved, the Grecians bowed out in the cruellest of fashions.
A tough test for a young City side, who exit the St Luke’s Devon Bowl at the quarter-final stage. However, after playing against a leading senior non-league side in the county they will be better for it.
Barnstaple Town: Mead-Crebbin, Washbrook, Grigg, Rose, Montague, Gardener, Piper, Piper, Rogers, Hopcroft, Parry
Substitutes: Deemer, Dennis, Scott, Davey, Wilson
Exeter City: Layer, Cartwright, Cavendish (C), Anthony, Cayless, Oakes (Aston, 46'), Bellotti (Swift, 81'), Wilson, Bowers (Baker, 79'), Alsop, Appleton.
Substitutes not used: Shanahan (GK).
Goals: Wilson 33', Alsop 42'
Attendance: 443