Two goals apiece in the first half from Sonny Cox and Pedro Borges was enough to give City a convincing 4-1 victory against Brentford B under a blazing hot sun at the Cliff Hill.
City provided the perfect response to Brentford’s first minute opener with a double from both Cox and Borges overturning the Bees early lead before a contrasting second half of few chances followed.
The Grecians played their first of two matches on Tuesday, with the early kick-off against Brentford B preceding a trip to the seaside to face Torquay United later on at 7.30pm.
Gary Caldwell named a line up consisting of both first team and PDP players, with Sonny Cox leading the line complimented by Mitch Beardmore and Pedro Borges sitting just behind.
The game started in quick fashion as the visitors from London took the lead inside 20 seconds. Ashley Hay made the most of a stray back pass that was too heavy for Ed James, allowing the striker to drill it low past Shaun MacDonald.
City were keen to respond soon with Niskanen’s teasing cross to the back post headed away at the last second by a Bees defender, before Pedro Borges again tested the alertness of the Brentford backline with a powerful drilled delivery. Mitch Beardmore should have equalised when he scuffed an effort wide from Vince Harper’s ball in, but a nick from a defender put the City man off.
Brentford’s chances largely came from Grecian giveaways and it was Ollie Shield who next stung the palms of MacDonald.
Moments later though City would earn the equaliser that their response would deserve. Cox latched onto a lofted ball over the top, crossing for Borges, who confidently fired in at the back post.
Just seconds after the restart, City swiftly spun the game on its head. Borges’ shot was spilled by goalkeeper before falling right into the path of Sonny Cox, who put the Grecians ahead.
Even a water break couldn’t halt City’s momentum. A play resuming free-kick from Ryan Woods was played up to Niskanen on the right. He sent another cross into the box that was converted again by Cox, and suddenly a one goal deficit turned into a two-goal lead.
Minutes later, Cox nearly secured a hat-trick as he burst down that same right wing, but with options in the middle the young striker chose to shoot from a difficult angle which went over the crossbar.
City’s fourth goal almost came from a corner; the initial cross to Pedro at the back post had to be worked back to MacDonald midway inside his own half. The keeper then found Sonny Cox with a long ball over midfield, who cut it back to Mitch Beardmore in the D. Running towards the back post was Borges, who curled a first time shot into the far corner to extend the lead to 4-1.
The second half began with Brentford attempting to exploit a gap between Niskanen and Sweeney, but their resulting cross was cleared, leading to an inconsequential corner.
Cox and Borges seemed to be in a race for a hat-trick, with the Portuguese midfielder first to test the keeper after the restart. His shot though resulted in a simple save down low in the centre of the Brentford goal.
A series of substations disrupted the game’s flow, with few chances breaking for either side at the Costa Del Cliff Hill, as academy players like Louie Cayless and Harry Crees were brought on.
Cox tried to carve another chance for himself when Purrington’s cross was initially cut out by a defender before the striker nicked it off him. However, the chance was difficult on the turn with a man in front and went over.
In the final few minutes, Borges and Richards both had opportunities but Pedro shot over before his teammate rolled an effort wide, concluding an uneventful second half.
The Grecians now swiftly travel to Torquay where a different eleven will take to the field tonight at 7.30pm.
Exeter City XI: MacDonald (GK) (Lee), Niskanen (Crees), Sweeney (Dean), James, Purrington, Harper (Cayless), Woods (Oakes), Richards, Beardmore, Borges, Cox.
Subs: Lee (GK), Cayless, Dean Crees. Oakes
Brentford B XI: Tavaziva (GK), Shield, Trialist, Trialist, Grey, Headman, Holland, Brierley, Hay, Trialist, Dickov.
Subs: Trialist, Samuels, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist, Agyei, Trialist.