EXETER CITY LADIES kicked off their 2016 fixture schedule with a heavy defeat at the hands of Maidenhead.

The City ladies had gone into this one on a good vein of form, with five wins in their last six, but they were left shell-shocked by this thumping.

Nobody would have predicted the final score when Vicky Barter fired City in front with twenty-four minutes gone, but City were behind just ten minutes later after goals from Lucy Smith and Alex Dover. Helen Kukor levelled the scores at the break, but just three minutes into the second period, the hosts struck again. This time it was Rachel Panting who found the net, but Smith put her side 4-2 in front soon after.

Amy Sanders tucked in a loose ball for 5-2, and when Hannah Summers got number six with ten minutes left, the game looked all over. There were still two goals to come, however; Helen Kukor slid in on the goalkeeper and got to the ball first to give the Grecians what seemed like some level of dignity back, but unfortunately the match was sealed by Maidenhead’s Natasha Thompson.

City now host Plymouth in the semi-final of the Women’s Senior Cup, a match which has already been postponed three times. Here’s hoping tomorrow afternoon sees a bit more luck for the ladies as they look to get their first win of the year.