Report | Exeter City 1 Swansea City 0

Swansea City continued their preparations for the new season as they suffered a narrow defeat to Exeter City in Pierce Sweeney’s testimonial at St James Park.

Sonny Cox scored the only goal of the game for the Grecians early in the second half in Devon.

As had been the case at Cheltenham in midweek, Swansea created plenty of promising openings with Ronald, Goncalo Franco, Melker Widell and Cameron Congreve all having chances, while the latter, Cameron Burgess and Zan Vipotnik all had goals ruled out by the officials.

There were some encouraging early signs for the Swans. Twice they worked Congreve into space on the right and the second of those saw the winger find the net, but the offside flag was up.

Josh Key, back at his old stomping ground, and Melker Widell then linked up well down the right and found Liam Cullen.

The Wales international could not turn to get away a shot, and Widell then sent a tame effort into the keeper’s gloves a few moments later.

At the other end Ed Francis fired a low shot into Lawrence Vigouroux’s gloves from the edge of the area.

Ronald worked Exeter keeper Joe Whitworth just before the break; Key having created the opening as he showed his speed and skill to beat two defenders and get to the byline.

It was goalless at the break, but the home side took the lead within 90 seconds of the restart after a break down the left ended with a firm low cross being turned in by Cox.

Burgess thought he head levelled for the Swans eight minutes later, meeting a corner to power home a header, but the assistant referee had his flag up for a foul and the goal was chalked off.

Widell had a shot blocked after the Swans had won possession on the right side of the Exeter box, while Congreve saw his effort blocked after a driving run from Ronald had carried the visitors to the edge of the Exeter box.

Cullen sent a free-kick narrowly wide while Vigouroux made an acrobatic stop to keep out Ilmari Niskanen’s dipping strike from just outside the box.

Swansea were soon back on the front foot, and Franco saw his effort blocked from a clever corner routine, before Kyrell Wilson’s follow-up effort also found the body of a covering white shirt.

Vipotnik thought he had grabbed an equaliser with a thunderous volley from Tymon's free-kick, but the flag was up before the ball hit the net.

Swansea City: Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key, Jay Fulton, Melker Widell (Zan Vipotnik 71), Josh Tymon, Cameron Burgess (captain), Goncalo Franco, Liam Cullen (Ollie Cooper 88), Ethan Galbraith, Ronald (Bobby Wales 88), Cameron Congreve (Kyrell Wilson 71).

Unused Substitutes: Andy Fisher, Sam Parker, Arthur Parker, Mitchell Bates.

Referee: Ross Martin