Exeter City injuries clearing as players returning to action
Will Aimson and Jack Fitzwater, wing-back Vincent Harper and midfielders Harry Kite and Caleb Watts all came through a behind-closed-doors game unscathed.
Exeter City’s injury issues appear to be finally clearing after several players missing in recent weeks and months played some part of yesterday’s 3-2 friendly win over Southampton at St James Park.
The Grecians have been beset by injuries all season, which has played a huge part in their poor form since September. But central defenders Will Aimson and Jack Fitzwater, wing-back Vincent Harper and midfielders Harry Kite and Caleb Watts all came through the game unscathed.
An added bonus for Exeter was two goals for the low in confidence and out of form James Scott, which sandwiched a sumptuous strike from midfielder Kyle Taylor, as the Grecians stormed into a 3-0 lead.
Watts was taken off, as planned, on 20 minutes as he played his first football since October, while Fitzwater played half an hour before he was replaced by Jake Richards in another pre-planned change. Harry Lee replaced Shaun MacDonald in the Exeter goal at half-time, while new signing Ben Purrington played an hour before he was one of three replaced, along with Harper and Scott.
Exeter-born Tyler Dibling, who spent time in the Grecians Academy before joining Saints, pulled one back after those changes were made before Nick Oyekunle reduced the arrears further with 12 minutes remaining. But City saw out the game with Aimson and Kite completing the full 90 minutes.
There was also a trialist in the Exeter line-up, believed to be winger Sam Nicholson, who is a free agent after being waived by MLS side Colorado Rapids at the start of the year. The 28-year-old Scot came through the youth ranks of Heart of Midlothian, where he went on to make 123 appearances, scoring 15 goals. After a spell with Minnesota United, Nicholson was part of a trade deal that saw him join Colorado Rapids, where he spent two years before joining Bristol Rovers.
