Exeter defeat City to lift Brian Lomax Cup

Exeter City beat City 2-0 at Twerton Park this evening to lift the Brian Lomax Cup. The trophy, named after the first managing director of Supporters Direct who passed away in 2015, is an annual match between supporter owned clubs. The first half was largely controlled by the Devon side, City’s keeper Matt Cafer dealing well with an early shot from Jay and then seeing several other opportunities fly narrowly wide of his goal. It wasn’t until late in the half that City had their first effort on target, Billy Murphy’s 20-yard shot straight at Pym, but five minutes into the second half they should have taken the lead. George Rigg was brought down in the area by Croll’s wild challenge only for Murphy to see his spot kick saved by Pym. Despite this miss City continued to enjoy the better of the game and Nick McCootie forced another save from Pym following a typically strong burst into the box. However, the visitors finally broke the deadlock on 73 minutes when neat build-up play ended with Taylor slipping the ball past Cafer. Two minutes layer Cafer did well to deny Reid but moments later he could do nothing to prevent Harley’s volley making it 2-0. Only a goalline clearance by Will Christopher denied the Grecians a third goal in the closing moments but by then they had done enough to ensure they would be presented with the trophy at the end of the game.

City’s Vanarama National League South match at Welling United has been brought forward by 24 hours to Good Friday 30 March.