Three goals in five frantic second half minutes secured City an emphatic 4-1 victory, marking the perfect start to their under-21 Premier League Cup campaign.
The Grecians had the better of the first half chances but found themselves trailing after an excellent curling shot into Harry Lee’s top corner five minutes before the interval. However, Charlie Cummins’ header on the stroke of half-time ensured the teams into the changing rooms level.
Whatever was said during the break motivated City, as they came out all guns firing in the second half, and a scintillating attacking performance was capped off by three quickfire goals.
First, on the hour mark, Tom Dean curled in an exquisite free-kick. He then tapped Mitch Beardmore’s cross onto Theo Cutler for City’s third. Exeter then made it four almost immediately from kick-off, winning the ball back and then a corner that Pedro Borges headed home.
City had several chances after this to make it a five-star performance, but some solid defending and several crucial blocks kept the young Grecians at four goals.
Leading the team on a sunny evening in Bromley for the first match of the group stage, PDP coach Dan Green named a young side including a mix of under-18s and first team players. Jack Fitzwater and Cheick Diabate started as City’s overage players, while their centre-back partner Ed James wore the captain’s armband.
City began the game brightly, with several well-worked passing moves creating opportunities on the edge of the hosts’ penalty area. The first of which saw Liam Oakes, playing at the base of midfield, slide in Pedro Borges down the inside-left channel. The Portuguese midfielder broke into the penalty area but slid a low shot narrowly wide.
Bromley then had their turn to attack with a triple-threat chance. Breaking down City’s right-hand side, a Ravens forward sliced a shot into the path of a teammate, whose first-time effort was blocked, before a third follow-up was bicycle-kicked into the stands.
After that opening, Bromley didn’t look likely to threaten the Grecians’ net, with several chances falling City’s way on the outskirts of the penalty area, none of which troubled the Ravens’ keeper. Dean went closest just before the half-hour mark when, after a corner, Fitzwater’s blocked shot deflected to him at the top left corner of the box, but his low curler went wide.
City were left to rue this missed chance ten minutes later when Bromley took the lead. Danai Hassan led a counterattack into the Grecians’ half and played in Dennis Kelmendi on the edge of the box. The winger sent a pinpoint curling shot into the top corner of Harry Lee’s net, putting the home side ahead.
However, both teams’ half-time talk changed when, just before the whistle, City won a corner on the left. Dean swung a cross to the back post where Charlie Cummins, left unmarked, headed home to level the match.
Second Half
The Grecians came out with renewed energy in the second half, eager to make their good play count with strong early possession. However, they still had to be wary of the Ravens’ counterattack, and Hassan reminded them of this when he hit the outside of the post after a good run.
That was the last major chance for the home side, as a free-kick sparked City into life. Around 25 yards from goal, Tom Dean sent a curler over the wall and into the back of the net, giving the Grecians the lead.
Cutler then attempted to round the keeper from the kick-off, but the angle was too tight, and his shot went into the side netting.
That was just a prelude to City’s striker getting on the scoresheet. Beardmore found space on the left to whip in a low cross. Dean poked the ball to Cutler, who slotted it into an empty net for City’s third.
City’s comeback was then capped by Borges. Almost immediately after Bromley’s restart, City won the ball high up the pitch and earned a corner. Dean swung it in, and Borges, dead centre of goal, headed it home to put the Grecians 4-1 up.
Not content to stop there, City searched for a fifth, coming close when Cutler threw his body at another Beardmore cross, but the ball went just wide of the post after connecting with his chest.
Confidence surged through City’s veins as they played some beautiful football, but Bromley’s defence stood firm, blocking more shots before 15-year-old Louie Cayless broke free, only for his effort to find the side netting.
Both goalkeepers made excellent saves to keep the score at 4-1 and deny both sides any further goals. In Exeter’s net, Lee made a brilliant double save to deny the same Bromley forward twice in quick succession from close range, before the Ravens’ David Azaiya came out to the edge of the box to thwart Beardmore when he broke the offside trap.
With three assists and a goal, Tom Dean delivered a man-of-the-match performance to kickstart City’s Premier League Cup campaign perfectly. The Grecians left London pleased with their strong start.
Up next in the competition is a home fixture against Norwich City on September 11th at 7pm.
Exeter City: Lee, Beardmore, James © (Cartwright), Diabate, Fitzwater, Cayless, Oakes, Cummins, Dean, Borges, Cutler (Graham)
Substitutes: Phillips, Anthony, Graham, Cartwright, Hodgetts