City's under-18s fell short in their comeback efforts after two first-half Cheltenham Town goals, with Theo Cutler's strike proving only a consolation in a spirited 2-1 defeat to the Robins.
For the trip to Cheltenham, Andy Struthers and Ian Parkes made two changes from the side that lost to Newport earlier in the week. Captain Jacca Cavendish returned to the eleven, while under-16 player George Williams was called back up to the 18s.
City started brightly, with George Birch winning an early corner, but it was quickly dealt with by the hosts. The game settled into an open, end-to-end affair, and City created the first clear opportunity when Santino Ohanaka sent Tom Williams’ low cross over the bar in the 10th minute.
That miss was swiftly punished as Cheltenham broke through Exeter’s midfield just a minute later. A Robins attacker was found in space on the right, and his low cut-back into the six-yard box was converted to put the home side ahead.
The hosts continued to threaten, narrowly sending a shot wide from the edge of the area as City worked to regain their composure. Exeter pushed for a response, but they had to remain wary of Cheltenham’s quick counters, with a superb last-ditch block from Cavendish and Jack Anthony preventing a clear scoring chance in the 21st minute.
Just after the half-hour mark, Cheltenham doubled their advantage. A loose ball in midfield was recovered by the hosts, who quickly worked it out to the right. A driven cross into the box took an unfortunate deflection off a Grecians defender, wrong-footing Shanahan and finding the net for 2-0.
City refused to lie down and halved the deficit just before the interval. Liam Oakes drilled a low cross into the area, and while Williams’ initial effort was saved, the rebound fell kindly to Theo Cutler, who bundled the ball home under pressure. Exeter nearly drew level moments later as Birch won another corner, but the ball bounced agonisingly wide after a scramble in the box.
The second half mirrored the first with chances at both ends. Oakes forced the Cheltenham keeper to punch a corner off the goalline in the 65th minute, and 10 minutes from time, substitute Kieran Wilson delivered a dangerous cross that looked destined for Cutler to tap home, only for the Robins keeper to close the angle and smother the chance.
City continued to press late on, and they were left frustrated in the dying moments when penalty appeals were waved away. Callum Graham’s strike appeared to deflect off a Cheltenham player’s arm, but the referee was unmoved, and the Robins held on for the win.
Despite their efforts, Exeter’s missed opportunities proved decisive, as Cheltenham took their chances to edge a tightly-contested fixture.
The under-18s are next back in action this Saturday as they travel to Stevenage in the FA Youth Cup. You can attend that fixture at the Lamex Stadium, with more details available here.
Exeter City under-18s: Shanahan, Williams, Cavendish, Anthony, Cartwright, Ohanaka, Oakes, Cayless, Crees, Birch, Cutler.
Substitutes: Cooper, Graham, Wilson.
Goal: Cutler 45'