Tag: university of exeter

Uni to Represent DFL in Devon Premier Cup Final After Sudden Death Shoot-out Victory

Article by Tom Besford.

The second Sportslighting Devon Premier Cup Semi Final matched a strong University of Exeter side against a Fremington team who currently sit second in the North Devon Football League Premier Division as they look for promotion back to the Devon League. Both teams came into this game knowing that Lapford await the winners in the final on Saturday 10th May.

As many would have expected, the University side started the strongest and it didn’t take them long to take the lead; as the game was less than a minute old, Adam Macpherson broke through on the right hand side and slotted past the Fremington ‘keeper from inside the box to give his side the advantage.

The opening period of the game was heavily dominated by the University of Exeter playing short passing football, with Fremington limited to long clearances down the pitch in the hope of finding their lone striker. It didn’t take long for the lead to double and with less than twenty minutes on the clock, Seb Limon headed home at the back post from a corner.

The North Devon outfit, who were being cheered on by a large following of faithful fans who had made the long trip down to the County Ground, had a hard job if they wanted to try and get back into the game, and it was almost out of sight completely when a skilful run by Sam Wade ended in a pass through to goalscorer Macpherson who could only fire into the side netting.

This was possibly the wake up call that Fremington needed and just under a minute later, they had halved the deficit. A wonderful defence-splitting pass by Miles Macree found Hayden Phillips who rifled a shot off the bar and into the back of the net to the delight of the travelling supporters.

The goal brought the game to life and suddenly the crowd were treated to a thrilling end to end match with both teams looking to add to their tally. Fremington had started to cause the Uni defence all sorts of problems and not before long they were level. Uni ‘keeper Ben Roberts let the ball run away from him as he tried to dribble into space and Will Jones was quick to punish the ‘keeper, latching on to a loose ball and finishing into an empty net to level the tie.

An entertaining first half ended with the scores level with it all to play for in the second period. After being punished for a slow start, Fremington had well and truly got themselves back into the game and it could go either way in the second half.

It was the University side who were quicker off the mark after half time, just like in the first forty five minutes, and they came close early in the second half as a hard shot from the edge of the box by Liam Morritt was saved well by Fremington ‘keeper Harry Watt doing well to push the ball to safety. Moments later, Sam Wade fired over the bar from the edge of the box as the Devon League side pushed for an opener to retake the lead.

Although the second half was mostly dominated by University of Exeter, with the Fremington defence staying strong and getting bodies in the way of every chance created, the North Devon side still had the odd chance of their own to put a foot into the final. A through ball by Hayden Phillips found Cohen Phillips who dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Fremington substitute Ollie Fosberry had a great run to score the winner as the clock ticked down when he went on a brilliant solo run. However, before he could get a shot away he was tackled which led to a quick break down the other end. Sam Wade found himself through on goal for University but his shot was well saved by Harry Watt who came out of his goal and made himself big to block the shot.

University had one more golden opportunity to win the game in the fourth minute of injury time as Bertie Whymark, who had received quite a lot of stick from the travelling Fremington fans, fired over the bar from the edge of the box.

With neither team able to find a winner, penalties were required to find out who would go up against Lapford in the Devon Premier Cup Final.

University of Exeter took the first penalty as Adam Macpherson put his spot kick into the top right, and the next two were scored by Ryan Elston and Sam Wade to give the Devon League side a 2-1 advantage. Miles Macree put his penalty over the top before Watt saved from James Wakefield; Josh Robinson also saw his saved before Matt Steer put his into the bottom right to give Uni a 3-1 advantage. Matt Goldsack scored emphatically into the roof of the net, Oliver Kavanagh saw his saved and Cohen Phillips scored to level the shoot-out at 3-3 meaning we were now in sudden death. Jack Smith scored for University, even though Watt managed to get his hand on it, before Ben Roberts saved from Kieran Cook to win the game for his side.

An entertaining match which could’ve gone either way in the end with the dreaded penalty shoot out needed to determine the finalist. University of Exeter will now play Lapford in the final of the Devon Premier Cup on Saturday 10th May.

University of Exeter team: Ben Roberts, Ben Harris, Bertie Whymark, Jack Smith, James Wakefield, Seb Limon, Sam Wade, Oliver Kavanagh, Adam Macpherson, Liam Morritt, Matt Steer

Subs: Harry Dunlop, Oliver Powell, Rory Nicoll, Alex Makris

Fremington team: Harry Watt, Will Jones, Matt Goldsack, Alex Boreham, Miles Macree, Jon Tossell, Kieran Cook, Archie Gammon, Hayden Phillips, Brandon Sharples, Cohen Phillips

Subs: Ryan Elston, Josh Robinson, Dan Edgar, Ollie Fosberry, Josh Arthur

newtown v university of exeter devon football league 2025

Gill hat-trick not enough as University fire in five at Newtown

Article and photo by Tom Besford.

Newtown hosted a University of Exeter team who are trying to close the gap at the top of the table, at a chilly Newton St Cyres Recreational Ground and put on an entertaining match for the small crowd in attendance. Jamie Dingle was making his debut for the hosts following his signing from league leaders Alphington and he would’ve been looking to add to his two goals so far this season.

The hosts had the first chance of the match to break the deadlock with the game less than five minutes old as Noah Hitchmough curled an effort just wide of the target from the edge of the box. The game was a bit of a slow burner with both sides cancelling each other out for the majority of the opening twenty minutes with the best chance for the visitors coming when Ollie Kavanagh fired straight down the keeper’s throat from the edge of the box.

The deadlock was finally broken inside the first half an hour when a Liam Morritt pass into Kavanagh on the edge of the box was finished with a smart looping effort over the head of Zach Tait in the home goal. The opening goal would lead to some added confidence in the University side leading to a flurry of attacks as they looked to add a second to their tally.

With just over five minutes until the interval Morritt was released through on goal and managed to fire across the keeper and into the opposite corner to double the lead.

Just moments later and University came close to a third as Joe Zamir was played through on goal as he ran into the box, took the ball around the out rushing keeper and put his effort wide with an open goal gaping. His blushes were saved though as he looked back to see the offside flag raised in the air.

Newtown had their work cut out for the second half if they wanted to try and salvage something from the game as a strong University of Exeter side had given themselves a comfortable lead at the break.

The second half was just two minutes old when a third goal was added to the tally as University forward Jake Faul converted a twenty five yard free kick into the top left corner out of the reach of Tait. University had started to show their dominance and now had a three goal lead to show for their efforts so far.

With Newtown pushing forward looking for a way back into the game it left several gaps at the back where they could be punished further and when a Faul cross to the far post found Zamir it looked likely to be four but a great save by Tait with his feet prevented further damage. Damage limitation would only last a few minutes later though as a break from the half way line by Jack Smith resulted with the ball being squared to Kavanagh to tap in from close range for his second.

University further tried their luck with a couple of long range efforts as Sam Wade struck the bar from thirty plus yards whilst Zamir hit his shot from distance narrowly wide.

The hosts never gave up, even at four nil down they were pushing for a way back into the game, and the continued efforts were rewarded with a goal. Jamie Dingle hit a shot from distance which was spilt by the University keeper and out for a corner. From the resulting corner Dan Gill headed home at the far post from a Ryan Gilpin delivery. Was this the start of an impressive comeback by the hosts with fifteen minutes to go?

The answer was no as just two minutes later the visitors added a fifth as Tait lost the ball resulting in Jack Smith having the easy task of walking the ball into the back of an empty net.

Just like before Newtown kept going and with three minutes left on the clock Gill had found the back of the net again, this time a long range effort flying into the top corner.

With the game entering injury time Gilpin sent a thirty yard effort just wide and the game had enough time for Gill to secure his hat-trick. Kavanagh brought down Noah Hitchmough in the box for a penalty and up stepped Gill with the last kick of the game sending the ball into the bottom right corner.

A hard fought performance from the hosts who, on another day, would’ve done enough to share the points but University punished them at the back to secure all the points.

Newtown team: Zach Tait, Harry Hitchmough, Noah Hitchmough, Jon Smith, Brad Butterfield, James Ansell, Jack Gill, Dan Gill, Cody Cox, Ryan Gilpin, Jamie Dingle

Subs: Theo Herbert, John Smith, Ben Howard

University of Exeter team: Ben Roberts, Sam Thomas, Seb Limon, Jack Smith, James Wakefield, Ben Harris, Joe Zamir, Ollie Kavanagh, Saman Ahmadi, Liam Morritt, Jake Faul

Subs: Sam Wade, Matt Steer, Adam MacPherson

devon football league winners 2023/24 university of exeter fc

Match Report: University of Exeter 8 – 0 Ottery St Mary

Match report and photos ©Tom Besford

A bumper crowd was in attendance on Saturday to watch as University of Exeter were presented with the league trophy after winning the title during the week. Ottery St Mary were the opponents at the Exwick Sports Hub looking to spoil the party but in the end the hosts ran out convincing winners to show everyone why they were deserving champions.

The game was barely five minutes old when University took the lead, attacking down the right wing a low ball was played across the penalty area by the impressive Sam Wade finding Luke Steer at the far post who tapped in from close range. The goal was Steers thirty seventh of the season as he leads the way in the golden boot standings by quite a distance.

Straight down the other end from the restart and Ottery St Mary had a chance of their own, Makan Coulibaly could only fire his shot directly at home keeper Dan McGreevy who managed to save well with the ball going out for a corner.

University were on the front foot for the majority of the game and it wasn’t long until they were creating more chances. Midway through the first half Steer fired a shot against the post before putting the following chance a moment later just wide of the goal from inside the box. Whilst University were wasting chances down one end of the pitch, Ottery were trying their best to get back level down the other end and almost scored a goal of the season contender but could only watch as a thirty five yard effort from Marius Pislaru was well saved by the home keeper.

With half an hour played the hosts missed a glorious chance as a shot from Liam Morritt was blocked with the ball falling kindly for Callum Chalmers who fired over the bar from inside the six-yard box with a chance which looked easier to score. The club wouldn’t have to wait long for the second goal, just a couple of minutes had passed when Jacob Lund saw his shot blocked with the ball coming back to him to finish into the bottom corner to double the lead.

The hosts were in control and had numerous chances to add to the score. Sam Wade saw his shot-cum-cross tipped over the bar whilst Chalmers found himself one on one, rounding the keeper but unfortunately slipping over before he could put the ball into the unguarded net. With six minutes remaining of the first half Steer managed to beat a few players before firing into the top corner to add a third before Joe Alman ended the half by hitting a shot against the crossbar.

luke steel university of exeter fc
University of Exeter club captain Luke Steel receiving the A&S Interiors Devon Football League trophy from league official Mark Isaacs

The second half began in the same manner as the first half ended, University retaining the majority of possession and coming close on numerous occasions. Xari De Pedro hit an early free kick from the edge of the box into the side netting as University threatened once more but it would only be a few minutes until the fourth goal was added. Jacob Lund sent a shot from outside the box off the post and in via a helpful hand from the Ottery goalkeeper Jack Pepperall.

Pepperall was in action again shortly after, this time pulling off a fantastic save to prevent Sam Wade’s curling effort as University continued to put the pressure on the Ottery goal in search of adding to their tally.

On the seventy fifth minute of the match University added to their dominance by scoring twice in two minutes. First Wade cleverly beat the defender on the left wing as he cut into the box and played a short pass to Seb Lawson who converted from close range. Moments later and Tommy Hutchinson converted a Xari De Pedro corner through the legs of the visiting keeper to make it 6-0.

With ten minutes to go the away side were given a lifeline as they managed to get the ball in the back of the net, a quick counter attack led to Seb Copp being released one on one with McGreevy and a calm finish saw Copp slot the ball past the keeper and into the net. Any celebrations were quickly halted though as the offside flag was raised to add to a miserable afternoon for the Otters.

Two goals in the space of about thirty seconds in the final minute of the game saw University complete a comfortable victory in style. Steer rounded Pepperall and finished into an empty net to add another goal to his tally before James Wakefield completed the scoring as he found the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

A confident and comfortable victory for the hosts who demonstrated why they have won the league so comfortably this season as they took their goal difference to +100. Captain Luke Steer lifted the trophy after the game and the celebrations would have continued long into the night.

University of Exeter team: Dan McGreevy, Liam Morritt, Hamish Cushing, Jacob Lund, Joe Alman, James Wakefield, Sam Wade, Tom Jordan, Callum Chalmers, Xari De Pedro, Luke Steer

Subs: Seb Lawson, Ben Roberos, Dan Garrow, Josh Bailey, Tommy Hutchinson

Ottery St Mary team: Jack Pepperall, James Blain, Sam Gleeson, Riki Pitter, Charlie Norris, Jake Blackmore, Marius Pislaru, Jamie Pitter, Seb Copp, Jack Kissane, Makan Coulibaly

Subs: Ferenc Bodor, Adrian Parr