Exeter City bowed out of the Premier League U21 Cup as they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Brentford B. The Grecians had gone unbeaten in the group stages, but found the Premier League outfit too good on the day as they progressed into the quarter finals.
City had the best of the chances but on the hour fell behind. Goalkeeper Harry Lee could only parry an effort from distance and Isaac Holland was alive to poke home from close range.
Exeter tried to rally, but they couldn’t find the equalizer to keep the youngsters in the competition, with Ed James heading the best chance over in stoppage-time. Brentford held on to move into the last eight.
For the Grecians, Lee started in goal. Ed James skippered in the back three alongside Charlie Cummins and Louie Cayless. Mitch Beardmore and Max Edgecombe were the wing-backs, Tom Dean, Gabe Billington and Jake Richards were in midfield, with Tom Dean just behind Andrew Oluwabori upfront.
Andrew Oluwabori of Exeter City u21s on the ball during the Premier League Cup Round of 16 Match between Exeter City u21s and Brentford B at St James Park, Devon on 13 March 2025. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
City had the first chance as Cummins rose highest from a free-kick, but his header was saved. Brentford first chance saw Ethan Brierley see an effort saved by Lee, before Max Dickov slashed the follow-up wide.
Oluwabori then tested the goalkeeper with an effort from distance, before Richards flashed a strike narrowly wide. Dean’s flick from an Edgecombe cross looped up but Julian Eyestone made the save. The first half was short of real action in front of goal at either end as the sides went in goalless.
Moments after the break, City had the best chance. Dean was slipped through as he beat the offside trap, but couldn’t get the power on the strike. Richards then couldn’t get a clean connection on a bouncing cross. Oluwabori then fired wide from close range as while City were creating the better of the chances, they weren’t taking them.
Brentford came close on the hour when Conor McManus rose highest at the far post, but his low header was well kept out by Lee. But seconds later, the Premier League went ahead. Brierley’s shot from 25 yards was spilled by the City goalkeeper and Holland pounced. While Lee got a hand to his close range effort, he couldn’t keep it out.
Exeter City u21s looks dejected after conceding during the Premier League Cup Round of 16 Match between Exeter City u21s and Brentford B at St James Park, Devon on 13 March 2025. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Kieran Wilson replaced Oluwabori as Dan Green’s first change, with the striker having had a lively run-out in his first SJP action since his Deadline Day move. David Perkins replaced Cayless with the second change as the Grecians tried to rescue something with Brentford holding firm.
Wilson volleyed over as the game went into stoppage-time, and the Grecians won a 94th minute free-kick on the edge of the box. Up went Lee, but a combination of him and James headed over, as that was that. City couldn’t find the goal to send it to extra-time as their cup exploits came to an end with a 1-0 win for the Bees.