United 2
(Dyer 82′, Fitzwater o.g. 90+6′)
Exeter 2
(Magennis 2′, Fitzwater 40′)
United battled back from two goals down to seal a pre-season draw with Exeter at Plainmoor.
United got off to the worst of starts, as City took the lead inside the first two minutes.
When a low ball from the left found Josh Magennis in space six yards from goal, the City striker looked well-placed to score. Although a combination of luck and blocks initially repelled the danger, the ball was only sent back in Magennis’ direction, with the forward making no mistake second time around.
The heat was certainly having a large say in the way the game was going, with neither side creating too much in the way of clear-cut chances until the League One side took charge in the final five minutes before the break.
A warning sign came in the 38th minute, with Austen Booth coming up with a superb challenge as Magennis threatened to break into the box, however City weren’t to be denied for much longer.
A corner to the back-post appeared to catch Paul Wotton’s side out, with Jack Fitzwater left unmarked to head home at the back post.
It nearly got worse before the break, with Yanic Wildschut picking up the ball and firing home before an Assistant’s flag brought the celebrations to an end.
There was still time for Booth to clear off the line from Reece Cole after the Grecian rounded Hamon, before the interval brought some relief.
A much-welcomed drop in temperature for the second period failed to turn the tide significantly, with Exeter enjoying the bulk of possession.
United’s did well to manage the threat though, with City not finding chances so easy to come by after the break.
It wasn’t until the final ten minutes that Exeter threatened, by which Matt Wonnacott had replaced James Hamon. Wonnacott did well with the effort from a narrow angle, as he got down quickly to palm the ball round the post.
Seemingly out of almost nowhere, United began to plot their way back into the game.
Eight minutes from time though, The Gulls hit back.
Omar Mussa’s free kick was delivered to perfection, leaving Jordan Dyer to steer home his diving header and reduce the arrears.
Mussa sent a powerful free-kick from 25 yards as United suddenly threatened a draw, and in the closing stages, it was the men in yellow and blue that applied most of the pressure.
Just when it looked like Exeter had done enough, a moment of fortune sealed parity for Torquay.
With the clock almost used up, Brad Ash threw a hopeful ball into the box from the left, and although now United player was close by, Fitzwater felt compelled to deal with it, and only succeeded in sending a bullet header into the back of his own net.
A nice way to end pre-season at Plainmoor, with one more warm-up test to follow at Tiverton on Saturday.
UNITED: 1. James Hamon (13. Matt Wonnacott, 79′), 6. Austen Booth (5. Sam Dreyer, HT), 7. Lirak Hasani, 8. Roddy Collins (18. Oscar Threlkeld, 52′), 9. Ben Seymour (11. Brad Ash, 69′), 14. Matt Carson, 16. Ed Palmer (4. Jordan Dyer, HT), 17. Finn Tonks 19. Cody Cooke (15. Jadyn Crosbie, 78′), 20. Dan Hayfield (10. Omar Mussa, HT), 21. Dean Moxey(3. Jay Foulston, HT).
SUBS NOT USED: 23. Ollie Tomlinson, 24. Jacob Wellington
Booking: Collins 51′
Attendance: 3,169