City edged out at Plainmoor

Torquay Utd 2 Exeter City 1: Match report

Exeter City were edged out at Plainmoor as Torquay United came from behind for a 2-1 pre-season win.

Tom Nichols handed the Grecians an early lead, converting after Lee Holmes had cut in from the flank, but Shepherd Murombedzi's pounding equaliser made sure the sides went in level at the break.

Despite David Wheeler hitting the post and another close shave for Nichols in the second half, it was Torquay that won it, as Malachi Lavelle-Moore headed in captain Exodus Geohaghon's long-throw with his first touch since coming off the bench.

City manager Paul Tisdale named a strong starting line-up for this one, with the same eleven that began the friendly against Sheffield United just over a week ago taking to the field at Plainmoor from the beginning.

And that strength told barely minutes after kick-off. Lee Holmes cut inside on the right flank before feeding Tom Nichols, who fired past Fabian Speiss in the first real move of the match.

The hosts' first chance came when Ryan Brobbel cut inside and sent the ball in the direction of Courtney Richards, the midfielder firing narrowly over. Richards was in the thick of the action again when he blocked Ryan Harley's effort before it became a danger to the Gulls' goal, while Bobby Olejnik was alert to stop Brobbel's cross from creeping in at the near post on thirteen minutes.

After Torquay's Bayan Fenwick shot wide, the Gulls were level with their next opportunity. Dan Butler fed Brobbel down the left, and his cross went over everyone in the box except Shepherd Murombedzi, who powered the ball into the roof of the net.

With City looking to regain their advantage, Lee Holmes was flagged offside after some neat build-up play from David Noble and Tom Nichols, before Torquay's Dan Butler just reached Ryan Harley's cross ahead of David Wheeler. The Grecians' best opportunity for a second, however, was when Wheeler slid the ball across the face of goal, Nichols inches short of getting a connection on what would have been a certain goal.

HALF TIME: Torquay United 1 Exeter City 1