Goals in either half from Theo Cutler and Tom Dean sent the Grecians through to the next round of the Devon Bowl in a professional performance at Bovey Tracey.
Cutler opened the scoring just 13 minutes in from about four yards out, after the goalkeeper spilled Liam Oakes' shot. Despite dominating possession and having plenty of chances, City couldn't find a second until 15 minutes from time, when Dean dispatched a penalty after Kieran Wilson was fouled.
Managing the side this eveing, Under-18 Lead Coach Nicky Ajose named a young team on the edge of Dartmoor. Ed James captained a starting eleven that contained scholars Liam Oakes, George Birch, Theo Cutler and Kieran Wilson. Harry Lee was selected between the sticks, while one week on from his free-kick against Spurs under-21s, Jake Richards anchored the midfield.
First half
Beginning the match in a dominant mindset, the young Grecians looked to move their opponents from left to right by controlling possession. As City progressed up the pitch they won several early corners, but that early pressure was relieved when Tom Dean sent a shot into the trees behind the goal.
Foreshadowing City’s opener, Mitch Beardmore almost got the evening’s first goal when he burst down the left and into the penalty area. The keeper spilt his initial effort, but the Exeter winger wasn’t quick enough to snatch the rebound.
However, it wouldn’t take much longer for the Grecians to take the lead, 13 minutes in. Surrounded by defenders, Wilson was unable to find room for a shot on the edge of Bovey’s box, but he kept the ball and laid it on for Oakes. The right-back’s shot was parried by the keeper, but Cutler was there to tap the ball home from a few yards out.
Not content with just one, Exeter went on the hunt for another goal almost immediately after Bovey’s restart
Looking like a constant threat down the left throughout the evening, Beardmore skipped into the box again along the byline before playing it back for Tom Dean, but his low effort shot wide of the post.
Beardmore almost had one for himself in the 23rd minute when he landed a corner on top of the goalkeeper, who did very well to punch the ball out from under his crossbar.
Due to an injury to Bovey player Harvey Coggins, there was a break in play just past the half hour mark, but that didn’t halt City’s momentum.
Sitting in the middle of a midfield trio, Richards won the ball back and drove through the middle of the pitch. He worked it out to Wilson who cut in onto his stronger left foot, but the Scotsman couldn’t find the target.
City got closer and closer to doubling their lead as the half edged towards it’s close, but the closest they came was a shot from Dean. A corner was swung in from the right and landed at Dean’s feet in a crowded penalty area. He still managed to get the shot away but it rattled off the top of the crossbar.
Bovey had their closest chance right at the end of the half. Cal Leech played through Kai Swann on the left of the box, but his square ball was cut out by a Grecians defender inches away from a lurking home striker, hungry for a tap in.
Second half
The half-time break didn’t dent any momentum in City’s dominance. Just a few minutes after the restart Richards released Wilson down the wing and he cut the ball into the box for Cutler. The striker couldn’t get his shot on target though, instead hitting the side netting.
The game then settled into a rhythm of the Grecians keeping possession amongst their defence and midfield, but few chances came due to resolute defending from the hosts.
With few chances coming at either end, the game looked like it would be decided by who was more clinical.
In a rare attack forward, Bovey won a free-kick on City’s left in the 74th minute. The cross was met by a red and black head, but stood in the way was James, who deflected the effort with his face before the Bovey follow-up was blasted over the bar.
They would be made to rue that missed opportunity when City doubled their lead two minutes later. Kieran Wilson was fouled just inside the top of the penalty area, and Tom Dean stepped up and sent the ball past the goalkeeper’s reach into the bottom left corner.
City remained composed after that goal, seeing out the final 15 minutes against their more senior opponents in a professional manner and progressing into the next round of the Devon Bowl.
Bovey Tracey: McLean, Aggett, Horne, Walters (C), Humphreys, Coggins, Swann, Moranzoni, Leech, Burt, Howe.
Substitutes: Bouhton, Laughton, Brimming, Radford, Spurway.
Exeter City: Lee, Oakes, James (C), Cummins, Edgecombe (Anthony 46'), Dean (Crees 88'), Birch, J. Richards, Beardmore (Graham 73'), Wilson (Hodgetts 88'), Cutler.
Substitutes not used: Shanahan (GK).
Goals: Cutler 13', Dean 76'
Attendance: 437