City Ladies beaten in the league

EXETER CITY LADIES were beaten at Chichester last weekend.

The Ladies took on Chichester away in their first League game for a fair few weeks. Although the pitch was heavy, Exeter started brightly and took the game to Chichester. They created a few half-chances early on in the game, but they never really troubled the Chichester back four.

The home team were playing well on the break and midway through the first half forced a serious of corners, but City dealt with the corners reasonably comfortably.

On thirty minutes following a ball forward by Catherine Wright, Helen Kukor drove forward, but her shot was blocked by a Chichester defender. The ball rebounded to Kirsty Caunter, who showed good composure to hit her shot first time into the corner of the net. City held their lead until the half time whistle fifteen minutes later.

Chichester came out all guns blazing in the second half and enjoyed the majority of the possession. Their strikers forced Abbi Bond into several top class saves to preserve City's lead.

Exeter were restricted to sporadic breakaways and they were unfortunate not to double there lead midway through the second half. Helen Kukor picked the ball up just inside Chichester’s half and easily outran the defender. Her cross into the box towards the onrushing Dani Barr was cut out by the goalkeeper when it looked like a certain goal for the midfielder.

This proved to be a turning point as City now came under intense pressure from Chichester and struggled to clear their lines. City gave a soft free-kick away just outside the area. Corrine Potts was unfortunate to see her headed clearance deflect into the back of her own net.

Worse was to follow as in the last minute during a hectic goalmouth scramble the ball fell kindly to a Chichester forward who dispatched it into the corner, giving City keeper Abbi Bond no chance.

Clem Bennellick:"On another day we could have gone home really happy after a good 1-0 away win. Two late incidents have caught us out and we've been a little unfortunate, especially with the first goal. Abbi Bond was superb in goal for us today and I'm gutted we haven't come away with at least a point."