'Dream come true' as Richards gets first Exeter goal

Jake Richards made his Exeter City debut in the Carabao Cup in August 2023 and has gone on to play 14 times for the club in all competitions

Jake Richards said he has fulfilled his dream after scoring his first goal for Exeter City.

The 17-year-old midfielder, who is much admired at the League One club, superbly curled in a left-footed free-kick in the closing moments to secure a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur's Under-21 side in the EFL Trophy.

Richards, who played six times in League One last season, is one of the new crop of players from Exeter's academy to push for the first team.

"It was a dream come true," Richards told BBC Radio Devon.

"Growing up as a City fan, celebrating in front of the Big Bank is something I've always wanted to do.

"To do it in that sort of fashion with a free-kick was really good."

The win ensured qualification for the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy for the first time in three seasons for City, who made the semi-finals in 2020 shortly before football was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I thought it was a brilliant night for the football club," added City's Under-21 coach Dan Green.

"We went into that game with three main aims - we wanted to win the game and secure qualification for the next round, build momentum from the performance and victory on Saturday against Stevenage, and we wanted to get the squad in a place where there was really healthy competition.

"I think Jake was one of many tonight that will have really benefitted from that game."