Exeter City 5 Forest Green Rovers 3

City bounce back from defeat in thrilling contest.
By Simon Larkins

Exeter City ladies bounced back from defeat to Buckland Athletic with a 5-3 win over Forest Green Rovers.

After suffering a great deal of postponements due to terrible weather, it hasn't been an easy task for either side to build any momentum during their season.

The first goal of the game came from Forest Green, as a back-pass to goalkeeper Shannon Watts wasn’t cleared properly and rebounded off the opposition’s striker and into the goal.

Despite being 1-0 down, City were determined to keep to their beliefs in the way they play knowing the goals would come. And almost instantly after conceding, great build up play from back to front saw Jana Richards net her first goal of the game to even the scores up.

It was all on the up for City for the remainder of the first half as Richards and Hope Suominen grabbed a goal apiece. Both strikes coming as a result of well-kept possession between midfielders Danni Skinner and Emily Toogood with good link up play in the attacking third by goal scorers Richards and Suominen.

The second half saw Forest Green come out fighting as they piled on the pressure. Despite that, central defensive partners, Donna Langdon and Amber Guy-Kemp, did well to deny the away side any immediate shots.

However, the away team did find themselves on the scoresheet again with a ball played down the right-hand side leaving the opposition’s striker to finish well into the bottom corner.

City respond well once again with a stunning second goal by Suominen, straight into the top corner from a low driven cross by Skinner.

And after a great deal of determination, Richards netted her hat-trick with a cool finish as she lobbed the Rovers goalkeeper, taking City 5-2 up.

Right back Billie Denny was unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet when she narrowly missed out as she tried to get on the end of a Richards cross at the back post.

Forest Green's number nine continued to fight for a way back into the match, but the fearless stand-in goalkeeper for the second half, Becky Rowe, did well to deny the striker. The Rovers player did manage to pull another goal back, but City were well out of sight as they claimed the win.

Player of the match: Manfy Sharpe

Exeter City: Watts, Denny, Langdon, Guy-Kemp, Cousins, Sharp, Hervin, Skinner (c), Toogood, Suominen, Richards

Subs: Miller (45), Rowe (45), Hole (71), Ilsley (83)