Exeter’s youngsters making an impression on boss Caldwell
EXETER City manager Gary Caldwell hailed the impact and impression some of the Grecians youngsters have been making in pre-season.
City won 3-1 away to National League outfit Yeovil Town on Friday night with all three goals coming from academy products.
Sonny Cox opened the scoring with four minutes on the clock, before teenagers Santino Ohanaka and Kieran Wilson added late goals to secure the win over the Glovers. The victory also saw goalkeeper Joe Whitworth, making his debut after signing on-loan for the season from Crystal Palacfe last week, save a penalty.
Caldwell was used pre-season to give minutes to some of the next crop of youngsters coming through the system, with Liam Oakes and Louis Cayless having regularly fea“I tured, as well the likes of Pedro Borges, Tom Dean, Mitch Beardmore and Jake Richards - the latter who impressed so much last season.
And the manager challenged the youngsters to show what they can do whenever they get an opportunity. So far, they are taking him up on that challenge.
“When you get a chance to train or play, no matter if on a Friday for ten minutes to prepare the first time, or in a game like this, you have to leave an impression on myself, staff, players, and some of the players have done that,” he said. “They have imposed themselves on the group. They have a long way to go - but it is great they have had the opportunity and have the motivation to work hard and keep getting chances.”
“I am buzzing,” 17-year-old Ohanaka said, after his first goal for the Grecians. “It is an unbelievable feeling. I was given the opportunity to come on and impact the game and have to say thanks to all the staff who made tonight possible.
“I feel like I’ve been playing well this pre-season. None of that would have been possible without my team-mates. The senior players have been helping me out and giving me tips on how to get better. These performances have been down to my team-mates helping out.
“I never thought I would be here and when first picked I was a bit surprised but grateful. I can see what I need to get to and it was a really good experience. And I am really happy for Kieran to get a goal and to share that moment with him, I am buzzing.”
Ohanaka also impressed when coming on in the 4-1 friendly win down at Mousehole, where his excellent cross set up Josh Magennis for the Grecians’ final goal.
Exeter return to friendly action tomorrow when they head to Oxford United for a match that is being played behind closed doors at 3pm.
Meanwhile, former Grecian Harry Kite scored twice for Rotherham United in a pre-season clashw ith Stamford.
The 24-year-old announced he was leaving St James Park last season and has been given the chance to earn a contract with Steve Evans’ Millers. Kite did his prospects no harm at all with a brace in a 4-2 win
“The plan is for Harry to be around until the middle of next week,” Evans said after the Stamford clash. “Is he better than who we’re talking to? Do we think he’s done enough?
“We need to see a little bit more but, listen, you can do no more than score a couple of goals and be strong and keep running in.
“He’s done all right. He certainly ticked a box rather than crossed a box. I thought his first finish was tremendous.
“It’s hard as a kid to go and train on your own and then come to us.”