Exeter City under-18s were unable to recover from a clinical second-half blitz by Newport County, as the visitors ran out 5-1 winners at the Cliff Hill.
Despite a spirited response after going two goals down early in the second half, the Grecians couldn’t recover from a string of clinical strikes by the visitors. Harry Crees pulled one back for City, but Newport proved too strong, adding further goals to secure a comfortable win.
After a weather-enforced break due to Storm Darragh, Andy Struthers and Ian Parkes made one change to the side that narrowly lost 1-0 to Forest Green. George Birch returned to the starting eleven, with Jacca Cavendish named on the bench, while Kye Cooper was also back in the squad among the substitutes.
First half
On a blustery afternoon at the Cliff Hill, neither side managed to take control in the opening stages, as both teams delivered low crosses into the box that were comfortably cleared by the respective defences.
Liam Oakes produced the first real test seven minutes in. After the game’s opening corner was cleared back to him, the City number two attempted a high lob towards the Newport goalkeeper, who did well to claim it under pressure.
Moments later, Newport countered at the other end, with a curling shot from 25 yards drifting wide before Louie Cayless stepped in to block another attempt.
The match gradually became more engaging, with Harry Crees nearly capitalising on a loose pass from the visiting keeper. Spotting an opportunity from 35 yards out, the midfielder took a touch and fired a speculative effort, but the shot sailed over the bar.
After a period of midfield exchanges, Newport threatened again in the 21st minute. A determined wall of red and white shirts blocked their route into the box, but the ball rebounded off Cayless and fell to their number nine, whose curling attempt narrowly missed the target.
The end-to-end pattern continued, with Santino Ohanaka earning a corner after a strong run down the left. Oakes delivered an in-swinging cross that looked destined for the top corner, only for it to clip the bar and go over.
Despite their positive play, the Grecians fell behind on the half-hour mark. Cayless was dispossessed in a dangerous area, allowing the Newport attacker to drive towards goal and fire a shot with the outside of his foot into the net.
Despite a spirited response after going two goals down early in the second half, the Grecians couldn’t recover from a string of clinical strikes by the visitors. Harry Crees pulled one back for City, but Newport proved too strong, adding three further goals to secure a comfortable win.
It was almost two just minutes later, but for Shanahan making a quick save with his feet from County’s number 11.
City had territory throughout the remainder of the half, but couldn't create any meaningful chances.
Second half
Just four minutes after the interval, Newport doubled their lead. The ball went out wide to the number 11 on the left, and he cut inside before shooting through his laces and past Shanahan.
However, the Grecians galvanised and soon pulled a goal back just three minutes later. An attack down the right won a corner, which was swung into the box by Oakes. Crees reached the ball first, flicking it goalwards and off the post and in.
While the first half was an end-to-end contest with chances for both sides, the second became one of goals. County quickly restored their advantage with a third before adding a fourth less than 60 seconds later, as their number 11 finished from the edge of the box to make it 4-1.
City made a triple substitution as they sought to respond to the double setback and began to attack Newport once more. Crees came close with a free-kick that sailed just over the bar.
Next, Theo Cutler had his first opportunity of the game after latching onto a clearance. The number nine raced down the left and attempted to chip the ball to the back post. However, his delicate effort missed both the target and the onrushing Ohanaka, going narrowly wide.
County’s winger continued to torment City’s defence, and Shanahan had to produce a superb diving save in the 66th minute to deny him.
As the game wore on, the intensity began to fade, with both sides limited to speculative efforts that went high or wide. Birch had one such chance five minutes from time, skillfully dropping a shoulder to create space outside the box, but his difficult attempt flew well over.
As the game entered its closing stages, Newport added a fifth. Space opened up for County's number four, who rifled a shot past Shanahan to seal the three points for the visitors in this group stage encounter.
The under-18s will now turn their focus to their trip to Cheltenham this weekend as they aim to get back to winning ways.
Exeter City under-18s: Shanahan, Oakes (C), Anthony, Cartwright, Cayless, Crees, Birch, Graham, Ohanaka, Wilson, Cutler.
Substitutes not used: Cooper, Bown, Cavendish.
Goals: Crees 53'