Ladies win for the first time in 2016

EXETER CITY LADIES secured a first win over 2016 in their final match of the campaign.

City started brightly and had several opportunities within the first fifteen minutes, with the St. Nicholas goalkeeper making several good saves. However, the resulting corners came to nothing.

On twenty minutes, the ball fell to Vic Barter on the edge of the area. She turned sharply and got a shot away which was only partially saved. An alert Helen Kukor reacted quickly to fire the loose ball into the net for the opener.

City failed to build on this advantage and were punished for slack defending. Megan Bloomer raced through to slot past City keeper Abbi Bond to level the score.

Worse was to follow when shortly before half-time, following a quick break on the left hand side, a cross bounced off the far post and fell kindly for striker Bloomer to gratefully fire home.

To their credit, City responded strongly after the interval and were level after five minutes. Vic Barter's strong run into the box resulted in a penalty which she converted herself.

City's more direct approach soon paid dividends. Carla Staddon sent a great ball over the home defence to Kukor, who dribbled the ball past two defenders and fired past the GK.

Halfway through the the second period, a through-ball by Dani Barr fell to a St. Nicks defender who fumbled it, allowing Kukor to pounce and take it away from her. After a lucky bounce she crossed the ball to strike partner Barter who smashed it in from six yards.

St. Nicholas were restricted to sporadic breakaways which were dealt with ease by the City back four.

Kukor rounded up the scoring following another through-ball. She latched onto it, rounded the keeper and slotted it in the corner to complete her hat-trick.

The game concluded on a sour note after Carla Staddon was shown a straight red for a petulant act. City are fifth in the league table, but the other sides all have games left to play.