Dorchester TOWN 0

EXETER CITY 4

Gosling 13, Bennett 32, Nichols pen
69, Cureton 86

FORMER Magpie Tom Nichols found the net on his return to the Avenue Stadium as Exeter City flexed their muscles in last night’s pre-season friendly.


The Grecians grabbed two goals in each half to emphasise the huge gulf between Blue Square Bet South and Npower League Two.


Dorchester had to wait until the 83rd minute for their best opening of the game but trialist Charlie Clough, formerly of Bristol Rovers and Wey-mouth, was thwarted by a goal-line clearance.

Ben Watson lined up against his former employers as he made his county town bow while keeper Jason Matthews also made his first appearance for the Magpies.


Among the home substitutes were trialist defenders Frazer Clark, Josh Concanen and Clough, as well as ex-Bournemouth midfielder Elliot Ward, 18.

The lower-league hosts enjoyed their fair share of possession in the opening exchanges but City’s superior status told 13 minutes into the contest as Jake Gosling bent a beautiful 20-yard effort into the top-left corner.


It was almost 2-0 six minutes later as Guillem Bauza’s header dropped narrowly over the top.

Nick Crittenden and Watson both shot straight at Artur Krysiak in reply but the next big chance fell to the visitors. And after Matthews did well to deny Bauza from close range, Scot Bennett blasted the loose ball home.

On trial trio Concanen, Clough and Ward all entered the fray in the second period while City swapped their entire side.

Clough’s eagerness to impress got the better of him midway through the half as he hauled down Nichols in the box and the ex-Magpie, who scored nine goals in a successful loan spell last season, dusted himself down before sending Matthews the wrong way from 12 yards.

Cureton’s header was then tipped over by the home gloveman before Liam Sercombe’s fierce drive flashed wide of the right-hand post.


Clough almost atoned for his earlier error in the latter stages but after connecting with Crittenden’s corner, the towering centre-half saw his header cleared off the line.


And to add insult to injury, Exeter added a fourth soon after – Jamie Cureton finishing coolly
after Ward was dispossessed 35 yards out.


Magpies: Matthews, Bell (Concanen 46), Martin, Jermyn (Symes 65), N Walker (Clark 77), Gleeson, Crittenden, Nicholls (M Buckler 77), Watson (Clough 46), Dovell (Ward 46), Malsom. Sub not used: Gwinnett.

Grecians (first half): Krysiak, Dawson, Frear, Doherty, Coles, Baldwin, Chamberlain, Bennett, O’Flynn, Bauza, Gosling.

Grecians (second half): Evans, Amankwah, Woodman, Moore-Taylor (J Tilson 77), Tully, Sercombe, Oakley, Keohane, Cureton, Nichols (Cane 77), Davies.

Attendance: 220