The Team BTC Performance Squad entertained top of the table Exeter College Men’s 2s on Wednesday. Team BTC were 1-0 down within the first two minutes, without a decent touch of the ball. A long ball straight from the kick-off led to a throw-in deep inside our final third. From the throw, the ball was fired across the penalty area to the feet of the right winger and he dispatched a shot under the diving keeper, Jack Taylor, into the back of the net.

Team BTC began to press higher up the pitch, causing the Exeter defence some real problems. We created some good opportunities to level the score but just could not hit the back of the net.

Team BTC conceded again after 20 minutes after sustained pressure. Exeter counter attacked quickly on the left hand side and put the ball into the back of the net, against the run of play but a well-taken goal nevertheless.

Team BTC applied more pressure and were rewarded with a goal when Noah Coppin collected the ball on the edge of their penalty area, turned and shot it into the bottom right hand corner.

In the second half both sides had chances to score but were not able to convert. Exeter managed the half better, slowing it down to deny Team BTC the chance to apply sustained pressure, and they were able to maintain their lead. Team BTC retained possession better throughout the game and we can consider ourselves to be a little unlucky not to have secured at least a point from the game, but we must be more clinical in front of goal.

Result:
Team BTC 1 Exeter College 2

Man of the Match:
Jacob Mead (Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport Coaching & Development).

Jacob made an excellent contribution to the team with a competent central midfield display, setting up numerous attacking moves with intelligent through balls and disrupting the Exeter attacking formations.