DORCHESTER TOWN 1

EXETER CITY 6

MANAGER Craig Laird feels his side’s 6-1 home defeat to Exeter City on Saturday can be constructive for his squad going forward.

The Magpies were outclassed on the afternoon by their Football League opposition at the Avenue, as the Grecians went into their competitive schedule of fixtures on a high.

But Laird admitted, while his side were on the end of a drubbing, he would rather their frailties be exposed now than when their league campaign begins on Saturday, August 12.

“When you play the better sides they always show you where your weaknesses are and that’s really good to know,” he told Echosport.

“You could go into a league campaign not knowing where your weaknesses are and they could get exploited early on.

“We realise we have a lot to work on, which is good.”

The away side took the lead through David Wheeler on 24 minutes at the Avenue, having raced on to a defence-splitting pass and slotted the ball past Chris Weale in the home goal.

One soon became two for City just four minutes later. Former Plymouth striker Reuben Reid fired home after being found by Wheeler.

The League Two side then made it 3-0 before the interval thanks to Jake Taylor. He was first to react after Reid’s initial effort cannoned off the woodwork.

Lloyd James then joined the party for the full-time outfit to make it 4-0 eight minutes after the interval after he capitalised on some confusion in the Dorchester backline.

Despite David Jerrard and Exeter loanee Jordan Storey having shots deflected for the Magpies as the second half wore on, Exeter found the net once more to record their fifth of the afternoon.

Pierce Sweeney advanced from full-back to add his name tot he list of scorers.

Jack Sparkes then made it 6-0 to the away team before the Magpies bagged a consolation goal through trialist Leighton Thomas.

Thomas, who played against Dorchester for Portland United on Tuesday evening, produced a neat turn and shot into the bottom corner to round the scoring off at 6-1.

Reflecting further on his team’s performance, Laird added: “I was a bit disappointed that we conceded so many goals through mistakes that we made but it gives us something to work on in training and pushing forward to start the season.

“I thought we tried to be brave, tried to play, and get on the ball, which was good.

“I felt that our quality was missing and it didn’t allow us to build on things.

“But it was a good run out, it showed some of our frailties and bits that we need to work on.”

Asked about goalscorer Thomas, Laird added: “We wanted to have a better look at him.

“I know Trevor (senior, assistant) has watched him a few times playing for Portland but we wanted to see what he was like playing for us against a better side. To be fair, he did alright.”