SAINTS B team were downed by their own player on Tuesday night, with Kegs Chauke netting the winner for loan club Exeter City in the EFL Trophy.

Highly touted Chauke, who received special permission from Saints to play in the fixture, grabbed what proved to be the winner for the managerless Grecians in added time in the first half.

Dom Ballard had opened scores for Dave Horseman’s young side, his 18th minute strike cancelled out by Exeter’s Matt Jay five minutes before the break.

Fresh off the back of grabbing three goals in three games whilst on international duty with England’s under-18s, 18-year-old Ballard continued his impressive strike rate at club level with a fine solo effort.

Gaining possession of the ball out on the wing, Ballard cut inside before drilling the ball into the bottom corner.

The strike means that Ballard’s goal record stands at seven goals in eight appearances so far this term, including his strike for the first-team on his senior debut against Cambridge United in the EFL Cup.

Grecians captain Jay restored parity with a shot from the edge of the area, before Chauke earnt his side the three points by tapping home the rebound from a saved Jay free-kick.

Defeat for Saints leaves them bottom of their EFL Trophy group, requiring a big win over Newport County and defeat for Exeter City to have any hope of advancing.

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