Exeter City and Yeovil Town played out a goalless draw at Huish Park, but the Grecians claimed a bonus point following a 4-3 win penalty shoot out win as the sides played out their first match of this season's Checkatrade Trophy campaign.
by Ben Strange 

A match full of chances for both sides saw neither able to go ahead as the Grecians kept their cool to take an extra point on penalties.

As expected in this competition, manager Matt Taylor made several changes to his starting line-up from the defeat against Lincoln City last weekend but still retained an experienced starting XI with the likes of Jayden Stockley, Lee Martin and Craig Woodman all involved from the beginning.

The first 15 minutes saw very little in terms of chances, but the game sprang to life when Olufela Olomola chested the ball down and turned smartly before firing a shot towards goal from the edge of the box, forcing James Hamon to palm the ball away from danger.

City’s first real attempt came from a Stockley free-kick from 20-yards out, but his effort could only deflect off the Town wall and sail just over Nathan Baxter’s goal for a corner.

The Grecians then went inches from going ahead on 23 minutes when some really clever play between Lee Martin and Hiram Boateng saw the former through on goal, but with Baxter closing the angle, the midfielder’s low shot was pushed just past the post.

Despite the away side seeing more of the ball, the Glovers then put an attack together when Bevis Mugabi surged down the right before threading the ball to Jordan Green. The forward then managed to get a shot away under pressure from Luke Croll, but Hamon collected well.

City then had the ball in the net on 38 minutes after some really patient and intricate play as Boateng threaded in Martin, who crossed low for Stockley to knock home, but the linesman adjudged Martin to have been offside in the build-up as the sides went in at the break level.

The home side almost found themselves in front just two minutes into the second period when Green pounced on a City defensive slip up to go one-v-one with Hamon, but credit to the City keeper who made a smart stop, before Luke Croll was on hand to block the striker’s second attempt.

But City created a good chance of their own when Martin intercepted the ball in the Glovers’ half before playing in Stockley down the right. The forward then fizzed an effort across goal, but it had too much pace on it for the sliding Matt Jay at the far post.

Martin was next to try his luck for the Grecians on the hour mark when more good build-up play from Archie Collins saw the ball find its way to the midfielder but his powerful attempt towards the near post was stopped well by Baxter.

Substitute Chiedozie Ogbene then had an attempt at goal for the Grecians on 70 minutes when tenacious running from Jay saw him rob the ball from Omar Sowunmi before he found Martin. He then cut inside before teeing up the winger to blast the ball just over Baxter’s goal.

Both sides continued to look for the game's first goal as the game became stretched, but neither were able to force Hamon or Baxter into any real sort of save with Jay shooting over for City, and Alex Pattison doing the same for the Glovers as the match went to a penalty shootout to determine who would gain the bonus point.

Substitute Diallang Jaiyesimi stepped up first to convert for the home side, before Matt Jay sent a cool finish into the left-hand side. Olomola then squeezed his effort past Hamon before Collins smashed the ball home to score his second penalty following his conversion against Ipswich Town in the Carabao Cup.

Carl Dickinson then put Yeovil 3-2 up before Ogbene put his spot kick wide of goal for City. Hamon then saved well from Alex Pattison before Tristan Abrahams levelled things with a composed penalty.

Omari Patrick then gave the Grecians the chance to win the shootout when he shot over as Jack Sparkes sealed the win with a composed finish.

Yeovil Town: Baxter, Dickinson, Warren, Mugabi, Sowunmi, Patrick, Gray, Green (Jaiyesimi, 65), Arquin, Olomola, D’Abadia (Pattison, 53)

Subs not used: Fisher, Rogers, Henry, Phillips, Ojo

Booked:

Exeter City: Hamon, Woodman, O’Shea, Tillson, L. Martin (Abrahams, 77), Stockley (Sparkes, 65), Jay, Oates, Croll, Collins, Boateng (Ogbene, 56)

Subs not used: Norman, Sweeney, Law, Dean

Booked:

Attendance: 1,518 (Inc, 160, away)