City’s youngsters stole the limelight as the Grecians ran out 3-1 winners at National League Yeovil Town.
Sonny Cox’s early strike was backed up by fellow Academy starlets Santi Ohanaka and Kieran Wilson late on in a barmy second half.
Former Torquay and Plymouth striker Frank Nouble had pulled one back for the Glovers midway through the second half.
Joe Whitworth making his City debut after his loan from Crystal Palace saved a late Dylan Morgan Penalty to ensure the young finishing City side held o for victory.
It was sunny at Huish Park, and it was Sonny on the scoresheet in the opening four minutes. Cox’s perfectly timed run latched onto Josh Magennis’ through ball and he made no mistake to nestle it under the keeper.
City were dominant with the early play. The Grecians were pressing high and transitioning fluidly between attack and defence. A neat interchange between Magennis and Jack Aitchison saw the latter break into the Glovers box. His shot deflected out to Ilmari Niskanen on the right who steered wide.
Niskanen again tested the Yeovil back line on 17 minutes. The Fin intercepted a square ball and drove from distance, forcing a smart stop from Town keeper Ollie Wright who dived low to his right.
City continued to probe. Magennis was looking lively in the centre and the forefront of nearly everything the Reds threw forward. He almost pulled off a Bellingham-esque bicycle kick, though his connection was not quite as clean.
Niskanen had a gilt-edged chance to double the scoreline on the half-hour mark. Gorgeous one-touch play found Aitchison breaking the line and clipping to far post. All Ilmari had to do was hit the target, but his volley flew high.
Reece Cole, making his first appearance of pre-season, dragging a low shot from the edge of the box. The save was simple for Wright.
City made three switches at the break to the midfield. Cole, Aitchison and Ed Francis were replaced by Pedro Borges, Ryan Woods and, Jake Richards.
Seven minutes into the second period, Ilmari went chasing a loose ball into the box before seemingly being caught by the Yeovil full-back, yet the referee disagreed.
Cox went hunting for his second on 55 minutes. The striker was threaded on the right-hand side by Ryan Woods, before cutting onto his left-foot and rasping an effort at goal. Saved by Wright.
Jack McMillan came agonisingly close to getting onto the scoresheet from the resulting corner. City’s summer signing flung himself at Woods’ corner and his header came crashing off the underside of the bar.
The hour mark came at a relieving time for City, as Yeovil started to get on the ball more, bringing the crowd into voice. Substitutes across the park allowed the Grecians to settle back into a groove. More changes were made ten minutes later.
Santi Ohanaka was one of those hour mark changes. He danced hisway in the Town area before being fouled. Ohanaka dusted himself down and placed the penalty into the top corner to double City’s advantage.
Yeovil found themselves within one almost straight away when Frank Nouble captialised on a rare City lapse of concentration and rolled one past Whitworth.
2-1 soon became 3-1 though as City restored the two-goal cushion. Kieran Wilson showed calm and composure to steal in behind and notch his first of pre-season. A calm head on his shoulders.
And yet drama was still to come. Eight minutes from time Glovers’ Dylan Morgan was himself tripped in the area. Whitworth made amends from his earlier error to punce on the penalty and keep City two to the good.
Morgan came close to finding the net again in the dying embers. His pace troubled the young City backline and the Yeovil winger cut onto his right foot and whipped one towards the far top corner, skimming the woodwork on the way over.
Yeovil Town: Wright, Whittle, Cousin-Dawson, Wannell, Pearson, Worthington, Jarvis, Nouble, Lo-Everton, Smith, Cooper.
Subs: Fould, Williams, McGavin, Stevens, Morgan, Trialist, Woods, Koerner, Greenslade.
City: Whitworth, McMillan (Oakes 60’), Sweeney (Cayless 70’), Niskanen (Wilson 60’), Purrington (Cummins 70’), Fitzwater (Dean 70’), Francis (Borges 46’), Cole (Woods 46’), Aitchison (Richards 46’), Cox (Ohanaka 60’), Magennis (Beardmore 60’).