Five first-half goals for Swindon Town handed Exeter City’s under-18s a tough defeat in their Youth Alliance South match on Friday afternoon.
Andy Struthers made a single change to the side that had beaten Portsmouth 5-3 in the Youth Alliance Cup, bringing under-16 player Louie Cayless into the starting eleven in place of Kye Cooper.
City started strongly and nearly took an early lead when George Birch’s shot, set up by Kieran Wilson’s cross, hit the crossbar after beating the keeper.
Just eight minutes later, City’s missed chance proved costly, as Harry Chard curled a low free-kick into the net to put Swindon ahead.
Swindon then doubled their advantage 20 minutes in through Botan Ameen, who finished a well-crafted move from the edge of the box. A third goal followed when City struggled to clear a corner, with Ali Stewart’s shot taking a deflection and looping past Dylan Shanahan.
The Grecians struck back just after halftime with a high press that saw Theo Cutler capitalise inside the box, slotting calmly under the keeper.
However, any hopes of a comeback were cut short with two quick goals before the interval. George Alston curled one in from the left, and Abu Kanu followed up just before the half-time whistle, rocketing a shot high into the net.
While Swindon created further chances in the second half, Exeter’s defense, bolstered by Shanahan’s saves, held firm in the second half to keep the score unchanged.
The under-18s will look to bounce back when they face Portsmouth again on Saturday, this time in the league.
Exeter City under-18s: Shanahan, Cayless, Cartwright, Anthony, Cavendish, Oakes, Graham, Birch, Cutler, Crees, Wilson.
Substitutes: Luke Hodgetts, Santino Ohanaka, Aiden Bown.