Match Report by Rob Hammett
In The Seagulls’ first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2024/25 season, Weston and Exeter City drew 1-1 at the Optima Stadium.
The game started as brightly as Weston’s smart new third kit, and it was The Seagulls who created the first meaningful opportunity of the game.
Bailey Kempster, playing as an inverted winger on the right flank, earned an early free-kick after being chopped down. From the set-piece, Luke Coulson played it to Kempster and his cross was met by the head of Jason Pope, but his close-range effort was just wide.
The fast start continued as The Grecians took the lead in the fourth minute as Josh Magennis’ pass found Yanic Wildschut, who rifled the ball home past Kelland Absalom.
But The Seagulls drew level moments later when a defensive mix-up saw Coulson pounce on a loose ball before running on and slotting the ball past former Seagull, Harry Lee.
Both sides carried on with their quest to score the next goal, firstly Exeter had a good chance but Absalom comfortably held on to an effort from Pedro Borges, before new signing Ollie Chamberlain and Morgan Lewis combined well on the left flank, but Lee made a decent save with his foot to deny the summer signing from Mousehole.
HALF-TIME: Weston-super-Mare AFC 1-1 Exeter City
At the start of the second-half, Scott Bartlett brought on Jordan Bastin for the impressive Morgan Lewis, and Nick McCootie replaced Reuben Reid, who had also put in his usual industrious display.
Much of the second-half ticked along nicely in what was a good game, however chances for either side to score became few and far between.
It wasn’t until the last fifteen minutes that opportunities to get in front came along. Jamie Soule forced replacement keeper Shaun MacDonald into a smart stop, before another substitute, Sam Avery, did magnificently to win the ball on halfway before feeding Soule, whose effort was on target before being deflected behind for a corner.
Former Grecians midfielder James Dodd was also denied with a shot of his own after the resulting corner eventually found him, then at the other end Absalom was called into action again to deny Millenic Alli.
Overall, it was an extremely satisfying opening friendly for The Seagulls, who now head to Slimbridge in their next pre-season fixture on Tuesday night.
FULL-TIME: Weston-super-Mare AFC 1-1 Exeter City (Coulson 7’; Wildschut 4’)
Weston XI: Absalom, Thomas (Avery 60’), M. Lewis (Bastin HT), E. Lewis, Pope, Chamberlain (Crawford 78’), Jagger Cane, Coulson (Soule 60’), Kempster (Trialist 60’), Waite (Dodd 60’), Reid (McCootie HT).
Unused substitute: Croft.
Attendance: 708
Man of the Match: There were plenty of encouraging performances from the Weston players against the League One outfit, but Emlyn Lewis looked extremely solid at the back on his Seagulls’ debut.
