A goal apiece in the opening ten minutes defined City’s trip to Weston-super-Mare as the Grecians had to settle for a draw in their second friendly of the 2024/25 campaign.
Once again in pre-season the Grecians named two separate elevens, swapping at the interval. First-team coach David Perkins was a surprise inclusion in the second half team, and Gary Caldwell explained his inclusion as a move to add experience to a young midfield.
The first opportunity of the match fell to City academy graduate Jason Pope, who headed narrowly wide from a freekick swung into the penalty area.
That seemed to wake Exeter up, as just thirty seconds later the Grecians worked themselves up the other end of the pitch with a smart passing move. Josh Magennis held the ball up well in the box and fed Yanic Wildschut, who placed a low finish underneath the Weston keeper to put the Grecians 1-0 up just three minutes in.
However, Weston fired back and levelled the match four minutes later, as a loose pass and slip in the City backline allowed Luke Coulson to shoot beyond Harry Lee and finish into the bottom corner.
Weston’s high press caused City problems, with cries for a handball against Pierce Sweeney turned down by the referee as he tussled with former Grecian Rueben Reid.
Harry Lee then made a great save with his feet 10 minutes later, as Morgan Lewis’ shot from 10 yards out deflected off a man in red and white, by the City stopper was alert to keep the ball out.
Just past the half hour mark, Pedro Borges had a golden opportunity to run unchallenged into the penalty area after Pope gave the ball away. But, after jinxing his way past one defender the Portuguese midfielder could only shoot into the side netting from a difficult angle.
The final chance of the half fell to City’s new-found dead ball specialist Sweeney. After a foul on the right wing 30 yards from goal, the centre-back fizzed in a curling shot that the Seagulls keeper parried wide of the post with his chest.
A different City XI entered the field for the second half and began brightly, with Caleb Watts played into space on the right of the box. His shot bundled underneath the goalkeeper and across the goalmouth but, unfortunately for the Grecians, right into the path of a Weston defender who managed to clear despite pressure from Illmari Niskanen.
From then on few chances were created as an orange sunset fell over the Optima Stadium, with the resilient Weston backline catching City out with several offsides.
Weston went close ten minutes from time as Jordan Bastin’s corner was cleared out to another former Grecian, James Dodd, who’s wayward shot was deflected towards goal by a yellow foot, but it went just wide of Shaun MacDonald’s posts.
Millenic Alli made sure the Weston keeper was paying attention when he sprinted past two defenders, driving into the box but his shot went straight at the stopper following a close range shot.
That proved to be the final chance of another productive 90 minutes for Gary Caldwell’s troops, as they shared the spoils with Weston-super-Mare.
City are next in action on Monday with the long trip down to Mousehole.
City first-half team: Lee, McMillan, Oakes, Sweeney ©, Purrington, Wildschut, A. Trialist, Dean, Ohanaka, Borges, Magennis
City second-half team: MacDonald, Watts, Cayless, Fitzwater, James, Niskanen, Cummins, Perkins, Beardmore, Richards, Alli
Weston-Super-Mare: Absalom, Thomas (Avery), Pope, Jagger Cane, Reid © (McCootie), Waite (Dodd), Coulson (Soule), Kempster (A. Trialist), M. Lewis, E. Lewis (Bastin), Chamberlain (Crawford)
Substitutes: Bastin, A. Trialist, Avery, Dodd, Croft, Soule, Crawford, McCootie
Attendance: 708