Weston-super-Mare vs Exeter City

Manager Matt Taylor handed new signing Taylor Perry his first start, while four former Weston players — Ed James, Charlie Cummins, Sonny Cox and George Birch — lined up against their old club. Three ex-Grecians (Jason Pope, Jacob Jagger Cane and Liam Sercombe) started for the hosts.

Weston had the first sight of goal inside three minutes when Sercombe, a former Exeter midfielder, headed a corner goalwards, but Jack Bycroft gathered comfortably. Exeter’s first real chance came through Birch, who drove forward from midfield and curled an effort just over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

The breakthrough arrived in the 29th minute. Centre-back James — an unlikely source — found space on the right flank and delivered a looping cross to the back post, where Cox rose highest to plant a header back across goal and into the bottom-right corner.

Exeter dominated the remainder of the first half without adding a second. Charlie Cummins saw a shot from a corner routine easily saved, and the visitors went into the break a goal to the good.

Taylor made two changes at half-time, replacing Perry and Cox with Liam Oakes and Luca Woodhouse. The Grecians should have doubled their lead early in the second half when a Gwion Edwards corner was spilled by Weston goalkeeper Max Harris, and James’ close-range header from the loose ball crashed against the crossbar before being scrambled clear.

Summer signing Josh Gordon entered the fray in the 55th minute, replacing Birch, and almost scored with his first touch — Harris forced into a sprawling save from a tight angle. Jayden Wareham twice went close, Harris tipping his 12-yard effort over the bar.

Gordon’s moment arrived in the 82nd minute. Substitute Tom Dean, released down the right, clipped a cross to the back post where Gordon was unmarked and headed home from close range for his first competitive goal in Exeter colours.

Ed James’ header against the crossbar in the 52nd minute could have been a momentum-shifter, but Exeter’s response was immediate and sustained. Rather than allowing Weston to settle after the let-off, City pinned the hosts back for the next 30 minutes, creating a string of chances before Gordon’s late header finally made the game safe.

Sonny Cox (Exeter City) — Took his headed chance clinically in the 29th minute, showing good movement to lose his marker at the back post. A composed finish that set the tone.

Josh Gordon (Exeter City) — The summer signing made an immediate impact off the bench, registering three shots inside 25 minutes before scoring his first Exeter goal. A sign of the physical presence he can offer this season.

Ed James (Exeter City) — The centre-back turned provider with a fine cross for Cox’s opener and was desperately unlucky not to score himself when his header hit the bar. Dominant defensively too.

Dan Martin (Weston-super-Mare) — Named man of the match by the hosts for a lively performance down the left, winning his defensive duels against Andrew Oluwabori and offering a threat in transition.

Exeter’s 2-0 scoreline flattered their dominance only slightly; the woodwork denied James a second, and Harris made several saves — particularly from Gordon and Wareham — to keep the deficit manageable. Taylor noted afterwards that his side “probably should have scored more goals than we did.” Bycroft, by contrast, was rarely tested, reflecting City’s control of the defensive half. The Grecians’ shots-on-target count (estimated at 6-8) and the host of blocked chances in the box suggest a performance that was more one-sided than the final scoreline.

Exeter City registered their first win of pre-season after a 1-0 defeat to Truro City the previous week (18 July 2026). Taylor said he was pleased with “the general intent of the team” and the structural improvement from the Truro performance. Weston-super-Mare, who used multiple trialists in their XI, continue their preparations for the National League South season under manager Scott Rogers.

Next up for Exeter: a double-header weekend, starting with Torquay United away on Friday 31 July (19:30), followed by Bristol City at St James Park on Saturday 1 August (17:30).

A professional, workmanlike pre-season win for Exeter against a lower-league side that offered spirited resistance but lacked the quality to trouble City’s backline. The headline is Gordon’s first goal for the club and a sharper all-round display than the Truro defeat. Taylor’s side will face stiffer tests in the coming week, but the structural foundations are clearly settling.

Attendance: 1,010 | Venue: The Optima Stadium, Weston-super-Mare