The Lambs made a number of changes to their starting line up for this St Luke’s Bowl Devon County Cup competition. With Josh Oak unavailable, Reserve team Goalkeeper Kane Gregory made his first team debut along with Connor Spear. Another Reserve team player Sam Clifton was on the bench. Tyler Elliot returned from injury to make the starting line up.
The game was played in torrential rain, this with gale force winds made playing conditions very difficult. It was the Lambs that played against the elements in the first half.
The game got off to a fast start with both playing some good football in terrible conditions, and play was very even in the opening fifteen minutes. It was the home team that produced the real threat on goal when Jack Crago and Josh Grant combined well, Grant flashed a cross into the six yard box which was cleared for a corner kick by Hartsall-Henvil the City centre back. Playing with the wind the visitors found it difficult to penetrate the home defence as many of their passes ended up being too long for their forwards.
The Lambs were now on top, in the 25th minute a really good move saw Tegan Rosenquest’s great effort flash inches wide of the target. Three minutes later Jack Crago had a goal bound shot blocked by a City defender, following good work by Tyler Elliot.
The first real threat on the home goal came on the half hour when a fine move saw the ball find Seymour, his shot was blocked, the ball fell to team mate Gardener but he skied his shot over the bar. Minutes later Dan Evans was forced to go off with a slight groin strain, Warren Daw took his place.
City goal keeper Williams then made a terrific save turning away a powerful shot from Teigan Rosenquest for a corner kick. Just before the interval Sparks shot well over from twenty five yards so the half remained goalless.
The Lambs started the second half well and began to get control of the game, creating several shooting opportunities on goal, but Williams was in fine form, denying both Jack Crago and Josh Grant from breaking the deadlock.
In the 66th minute the Lambs were reduced to ten men when young Tyler Elliot was sent off for a second yellow card offence.
Shortly afterwards the Lambs opened the scoring when a long range shot from Ben Cross. The flight of the ball in the windy conditions deceived Williams as the ball sailed over his head and nestled in to the top corner of the net.
With the extra man Exeter took control pushing more men forward in search of an equaliser. Cane Gregory in the home then made a really good save to denyJay from levelling the scores. Just as it looked as if the Lambs were going to see the game out, Exeter Equalised in the 89th minute when from a corner kick, the Lambs failed to clear their lines, the ball fell kindly for Collins who made no mistake from twelve yards.
The visitors pressed for a winner in time added on but the Lambs ten men saw the game go to penalties to decide who would go through to the quarterfinals.
It was the Lambs that won the nervous penalty shoot out by five goals to four., thanks to two great saves from young keeper Kane Gregory.
This was a very closely contested game that could have gone either way. Played in atrocious conditions both teams are to be credited for providing a good entertaining game, with a lot of skill, for the spectators who braved the elements to watch the game.
The man of the match must be Kane Gregory for his overall display, and two crucial saves in the penalty shootout.