Our pre-season comes to an end following a tough test against a strong opponent over in Devon.

Exeter found the back of the net three times during the tie, twice in the first-half and once in the second.

This was the third time we matched up against a Football League opponent during our pre-season campaign.

The hosts took the lead of the game 18 minutes in through Tristan Crama. A corner was whipped into the box and found it’s way onto the head of Crama who directed the ball into the top right corner of the goal.

Reece Cole came close to adding a second goal to the League One sides tally in the 26th minute. He received the ball on the edge of the box and hit the ball towards goal, Jake Taylor got across quickly to make a strong block and deny the Grecians man of putting his name on the scoresheet.

The hosts won a penalty in the 41st minute after Corey Panter took down Millenic Alli in the box. After a debate between Alli and Cole on who the taker would be, Cole won the right to take it after a quick game of rock, paper, scissors and went on to place the ball home into the bottom left corner to double the Devon sides lead.

Five minutes were added on at the end of the half, following an injury to Yanic Wildschut earlier on in the game that saw him get forced off the field on a stretcher. We wish him a speedy recovery!

Josh Magennis came on for the hosts at half-time and was quick to make a impact on the game, he found his way in behind our defence before hitting the ball home to extend the hosts lead to three.

Ed Francis came close to scoring another for the League One side, he bent a free-kick round the Spitfires wall but saw his shot curl just wide of the mark.

The next half an hour was mainly played out in the middle of the park, with neither side really looking like scoring.

Jake Vokins had an attempt on goal in the 90th minute that went wide of the mark as the Spitfires pushed late on to get themselves onto the scoresheet.

Deja Sotona then had a go on goal during added time from a free-kick, his effort would go over the crossbar. This was the last bit of action during the tie, with the referee’s final whistle signalling the end to our pre-season campaign.

We will get underway in the league in a week’s time as we travel to York Road to face Maidenhead United.

Thank you to the 111 Spitfires that travelled to watch the game, we appreciate your support!

Exeter City: Whitworth (GK), Niskanen (Watts, 46′), Sweeney, Crama (Purrington, 63′), Yfeko (Diabate, 63′), Wildschut (Harper, 15′) (Fitzwater, 77′), Woods, McMillan (Francis, 46′), Cole (Borges, 54′), Aitchison (Cummins, 77′), Alli (Magennis, 46′)

Unused subs: MacDonald (GK)

Eastleigh: McDonnell (GK), Brindley (Hodson, 72′), Vokins, Fernandez (Humphries, 60′), Francillette, Maguire (Sotona, 60′), Taylor (Waruih, 72′), Shade, Nwabuokei, Panter, Quigley (Dose, 82′)

Unused subs: Scott (GK), Webber, Rogers

Goals: Crama (18′), Cole (P)(41′), Magennis (48′)

Attendance: 2,399 (111 away)

Report by Matthew Gibbs