Exmouth United reach tournament semis

Exmouth United Under 11s went on a thrilling run to make it to the semi-finals of the Newton St Cyres youth football tournament.

United impressed by winning their first four matches to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals. The strength of the opposition was apparent in that each match was won by only a single goal. In fact Exmouth's defensive organisation was as important as their attacking prowess.

Exmouth United Under 11s celebrate their place in the knockout stages

In the quarter-final United took on Whipton Youth who started well and took an early goal. However, their team spirit and work ethic drove Exmouth on and two superb goals from Kuba Strzalkowski sealed the victory.

United were unfortunate to be two goals down by half-time against AFC Plympton in the semi-final. In the second-half they kept their composure and pulled a goal back. Towards the end Exmouth threw everything forward but were unable to find that spark to get the equaliser.

Throughout the tournament Exmouth's keeper Harry Kifli-Reynolds was fantastic. Defenders Owen Brady and Cayleb Field were strong, calm and resolute. In midfield there were great performances from Bryn Stephens and Lewis Evans and strikers Jack Greaves and Strzalkowski were inspirational. Exmouth's team spirit and desire were first rate and all players should be very proud of their achievements.

The tournament was very well organised with friendly, good-natured interactions between the participants.

Cullompton Tournament - good day out!

We had a great day out at the Cullompton Under 11s tournament and only narrowly missed out on reaching the quarter-finals. In a very strong group (including Millwey, Cullompton, Central City and Sidmouth) we started well with a 5-1 victory. We dipped after that but finished with two impressive 1-0 wins. Overall, we won 3, drew 1 and lost 2. A fun day out for all and everyone enjoyed their ice creams!

Friendlies with Undy and City Raiders

We had some enjoyable friendlies against Undy (from Wales) and City Raiders (Exeter) on a beautiful summer morning. Undy were on tour and brought superb family support to the match. Exmouth put in two good performances: putting a number of great goals past Raiders in the first match and working hard in a 3-1 loss to Undy. All matches were played in a good spirit - thanks to all involved!

Exmouth United and Undy joint team photo

Well done this season!

All our teams gathered to celebrate the season at our annual Exmouth United Presentation Day at Warren View. In spite of the rain players and their families turned up to enjoy the day. It has been a challenging season but the Under 11s have made great progress in their defending, organisation, communication, passing game and creativity. Well done boys! We look forward to next season.

Exmouth United Under 11s - all smiles despite the rain!

CS Cougars 3-2 Exmouth United

Our last match of the season was a very close affair with some excellent football played by both teams. The first half was narrowly edged by Cougars who led 1-0 at the interval. United played with energy, desire and creativity and fashioned numerous chances which would, on another day, have at least earned them a draw. This match demonstrated how much progress Exmouth United Under 11s have made both as individuals and as a team. After a well deserved summer rest we will return in September with the belief and team spirit that we have shown this season.

Exmouth United 4-2 Copplestone Colts

A gripping Under 11s encounter between two closely matched sides saw Exmouth United come out 4-2 winners against Copplestone Colts. It was the visitors who started strongest, penning United back into their own half with some quality passing football, and they deserved their lead after 10 minutes. This seemed to wake up Exmouth who began to penetrate their opponent's half and the score was soon level when midfielder Jay Leballeur ran on to a long throw and buried his shot in the corner.

The game sprung into life as both teams created chances. Captain Dylan Mogford almost scored his second free-kick in 2 days as well as going close with a long shot. A diving save from home keeper Lewis Alford and a superb last-ditch challenge from full-back Owen Brady kept the scores level. Exmouth then went 2-1 up when winger Bryn Stephens delivered a slick pass in behind the Colts defence to striker Kuba Strzalkowski who finished coolly.

After half-time United began to press their advantage and dominate the match. When Copplestone broke they found it hard to get through the solid defending of Harry Kifli-Reynolds and Harry Bassett. Two outstanding breakaways from Strzalkowski sealed the victory for the home side. In the first he ran from his own half through on goal and his parried shot was expertly directed into the net by winger Seb Harrison on the rebound. Strzalkowski then capped his superb performance by running through and grabbing his second of the match.

On the hottest day of the year so far Exmouth, who were without any subs, showed great composure and endurance to see the game out.

Whipton Youth 8-2 Exmouth United

A ferocious performance from Whipton saw them dominate Exmouth from start to finish in this match. Not one to dwell on from our point-of-view. Except for, perhaps, a wonderful long shot from winger Cayleb Field and an excellent free kick from Dylan Mogford that gave us the two goals.

Copplestone Colts 2-3 Exmouth United

A bright spring morning and a great view across Devon hills was an excellent setting for this clash with Copplestone Colts. United started strongly, stringing passes together and pressurising the home side. The visitors took the lead through a great finish from Seb Harrison on the left wing. Harrison soon got a second, slotting home after some magical dribbling from Jay Leballeur released him in the box. However, the home side began to work their way back into the game and made it 2-1 with a shot from range. Guest (Under 10s) player Ethan Hawes put in some skilful wing player when he turned two defenders inside-out before releasing a path across the goal that nobody was able to exploit.

After half-time both sides made chances but it was Exmouth who took advantage when guest player Finley Clifford set off on a mazy run through the Colts defence. Penetrating deep into the box he released the ball to Leballeur who struck it into the top corner. As the game went on United tired but defended resolutely and even though Copplestone got one goal back Exmouth deserved their win.

Alphington Allstars 4-0 Exmouth United

Against an outstanding Alphington Allstars team United put up a strong fight against wave after wave of clever attacking play. At half-time Exmouth had limited the Allstars to only a single goal - showing their defensive organisation and commitment. In the second half Alphington worked various openings to extend their lead to 4-0. United can learn a lot from their own defensive efforts as well as from the impressive footballing example set by the Allstars.

Exmouth United 3-4 CS Cougars

After weeks of postponements it was great to be back at the Cricket Club for our home match against CS Cougars. It turned out to be quite a match with good passing football being played by both teams.

Exmouth took an early lead when some clever passing saw striker Jack Greaves through on goal where he calmly finished with his left foot. Within moments it was 1-1 when the visitors seized on a loose ball and slotted it past the keeper. The home side came straight back earning a corner from which Kuba Strzalkowski shot home. Organised defending and excellent passing in the midfield kept it at 2-1 until half-time.

After the break it remained very even with both sides creating chances and defending well. A shot from the edge of the box brought it level again before Greaves ran on to a through ball from Seb Harrison to bag his second. With 5 minutes to go Exmouth were still ahead but a speculative lob from far out brought the Cougars level and a slick passing move saw them create the winner.

Exmouth should take heart that they played some great passing football in this match. Harry Kifli-Reynolds had a good game as the stand-in goalkeeper. The full backs, Tom Price, Harry Bassett and Owen Brady, all played well. Centre-backs Dylan Mogford and Cayleb Field made countless clearances and tackles. Wingers Bryn Stephens and Seb Harrison showed great commitment with their running, tackling, dribbling and passing.

Moors Hawks 6-0 Exmouth United

Not too much to say about this match. It started evenly with a first half involving chances for both teams. Moors narrowly edged it 1-0 with a clever solo effort from the centre forward.

After half-time Moors dominated and two early goals put the game to bed. Exmouth kept working but it was just one of those off days where nothing goes right. One to forget from our perspective.

Sidmouth Warriors 0-3 Exmouth United

Exmouth took the upper hand straight from the whistle in an exciting league encounter away to Sidmouth Warriors. Pressing the hosts into their own half, United created a number of attacks and were eventually rewarded when a fantastic Joe Gosling corner fell to Captain Dylan Mogford who calmly placed the ball into the net.

The Warriors threatened down the wings but organised and committed defending by Owen Brady and Harry Bassett kept them away from the danger areas. In central midfield, Jay Leballeur bossed the first half with his tackling, running and passing.

After half-time United continued where they left off. With the slope of the pitch now in their favour they opened up the Sidmouth defence on numerous occasions. A deft pass from Kuba Strzalkowski played in Bryn Stephens who sprinted into the box and scored to make it 2-0. Soon after it was Strzalkowski on hand to make it 3-0.

When the hosts did manage to penetrate the United half they were thwarted by expert defending from Harry Kifli-Reynolds and Cayleb Field. Behind them goalkeeper Lewis Alford made a couple of essential saves when called upon. Towards the end the Warriors keeper made a wonderful save to parry Jack Greaves's blistering strike over the bar.

A very impressive performance against a strong side.

Crediton put an end to Exmouth's cup run

 

Three early goals got this cup quarter final off to a flyer. Pressure and neat passing between Kuba Strzalkowski and Cayleb Field led to a parried shot from Jay Leballeur falling to captain Bryn Stephens who slotted it home. The hosts came straight back with an equaliser only to go behind again when Stephens grabbed his second with an excellent low strike from outside the box. However, Crediton grew into the game and were leading 3-2 by half-time.

Throughout the second half United asked many questions of Crediton but the hosts defended resolutely until the final whistle. The Exmouth boys worked very hard in difficult conditions and there were notable performances from Tom Price at right back and Stephens in midfield.

Exmouth United 4-5 Millwey Rise

The United Under 11s gave an impressive account of themselves making a superb second-half comeback to almost grab a draw against Millwey Rise. Millwey, who had thrashed them earlier in the season, immediately put Exmouth on the back foot with some great skill and passing. After 15 minutes, Millwey led 3-0 and it looked like another walkover was on the cards.

However, the United fighting spirit and resilience kicked in and some outstanding passing led to a first goal for Jay Leballeur. An unfortunate own goal put the visitors 4-1 up at half-time.

In the second half Exmouth stepped up a gear and started to cause problems for Millwey. Excellent finishes from Kuba Strzalkowski, Bryn Stephens and another from Leballeur brought United back into contention but an extra goal for Rise made it 5-4 at the final whistle. A collection of fantastic attacking moves and well-saved shots left the Exmouth team genuinely disappointed not to have got at least a point. Their progress since the beginning of the season was clearly visible in both the performance and result.

Cullompton Tigers 1-2 Exmouth United

Buoyed by last week's cup success Exmouth United Under 11s travelled optimistically to Cullompton Tigers in the Exeter Youth League. It was the Tigers who began strongly - penning United into their half with some good wing play. They won a number of corners and took the lead after 15 minutes. United kept battling, with some great tackles by full backs Tom Price and Owen Brady keeping the opposition at bay.

At half-time Exmouth had defended well but hadn't really shown off their attacking prowess. After the break, they began to pass the ball more effectively and steadily worked their way into the match. In-form keeper Lewis Alford began working the ball out from the back and United started creating spaces in the midfield. They twice hit the post before Kuba Strzalkowski pounced on a defensive error to shoot goalwards. With 3 players racing towards the rolling ball it was Joe Gosling that got a crucial touch to equalise.

The second goal came soon after with Gosling this time the provider threading a through ball to Strzalkowski who sprinted into the box and placed it past the keeper. Cullompton pressed forward but were met by some excellent defending - Harry Bassett and Seb Harrison both key in preventing a breakthrough. The final score, 2-1 to United, was a fair reflection of their desire, organisation and superb teamwork!

Epic end-to-end battle keeps Under 11s in the cup!

Exmouth United Under 11s put themselves in the Exeter Youth League Cup quarter finals with a terrific last-minute victory over Heavitree Youth.

The visitors started strongly and could have been ahead after 5 minutes if it wasn't for some last ditch clearances off the Exmouth line. Eventually the pressure told when Heavitree scored from a scramble inside the box. Then it was United's turn and two superb through balls to striker Kuba Strzalkowski saw him round the keeper to coolly equalise and put the home team in front.

It was Heavitree that strung together a tidy move from a goal kick to bring the score to 2-2 - the left winger receiving the ball, beating three defenders before putting it past the Exmouth keeper.

The second-half began much as the first with Heavitree dominating possession whilst Exmouth looked strong on the counter - the lightning pace of Strzalkowski causing their defence problems. United central midfield and captain Cayleb Field was a key force guarding the defence as well as building attacks with his intelligent passing. However, a mazy dribble from the Heavitree winger resulted in a collision with an Exmouth player and the ref pointed to the spot. The crowd held its breath but the spot-kick went narrowly past the post.

It was United that struck next after some great skills between winger Joe Gosling and Strzalkowski, combining cleverly before Gosling hit a fantastic left-foot strike into the net. Both teams continued to create chances and Heavitree were kept at bay by some excellent organisation by centre-back Harry Kifli-Reynolds.

The visitors hit back with a header from a corner that crept over the line 10 minutes before the end. It was now 3-3 with both teams still searching for that winning goal. Heavitree went close near the end hitting the bar with a blistering shot and were then denied by a heroic goal line header from United full-back Bryn Stephens.

As the coaches began planning for extra time it was the turn of midfielder Jay Leballeur to perform some final magic. Receiving the ball on the left wing he turned his marker and skilfully rounded a second defender. As he moved into the box he was brought down and a penalty was awarded. Leballeur was carried from the pitch with an injured leg. As the trainer applied an ice pack to his knee it was Dylan Mogford who kept his cool by smashing the penalty passed the keeper to win the match for Exmouth.

Other notable performances were made by full backs Tom Price, Seb Harrison, Harry Bassett, midfielder Jack Greaves and the superb goalkeeper Lewis Alford.