By Josh Jenkins
USW suffered a 3-1 defeat to against Exeter University after a hard-fought contest at the Sport Park.
A double from Xavi De Pedro and a late strike by Liam Morritt ensured all three points for the visitors.
Freddie Stevens scored USW’s goal with a well-placed finish late in the second half, while USW’s goalkeeper Sven Marnot denied De Pedro from the spot.
After a spell of end-to-end football to start the game Exeter struck first in the 25th minute with a sumptuous free-kick from De Pedro which cannoned in off the post.
Exeter were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute after Rhys Hudson was adjudged to have tugged on an Exeter player’s jersey from a corner kick.
However, Marnot pulled off a spectacular save diving to his right to deny De Pedro a second goal.
Pic: Ben Thomas
But De Pedro did make it 2-0 in the 42nd minute after waltzing past two USW defenders on the right flank and tucking the ball past Marnot.
The second half started off with both teams exchanging chances.
The first was produced by USW’s Hudson as he went on a mesmerising run from the halfway line beating three Exeter defenders before forcing Ben Roberts into a good save for Exeter.
Meanwhile, Marnot kept USW in the game with a double-save from Exeter’s Teddy Hall in the 63rd minute.
USW broke through in the 78th minute when full-back Stevens found himself in acres of space at the back post and beat Roberts to make it 2-1.
Yet USW’s hopes of a comeback were extinguished in the 90th minute when Marritt’s strike from the edge of the box made it 3-1.