City Ladies win the Devon FA Cup

Thrilling 4-3 extra time win over Plymouth Argyle

Exeter City Ladies won a hard fought but thrilling Devon FA Cup Final win at HQ in Newton Abbot this evening, emerging victorius by a score of 4-3 after extra time.

As the scoreline suggests, the game was close but City were worthy winners over their fierce Devon rivals...eventually!

City started rather slowly but handled early Argyle pressure and then created chances for Shenton and a Brooks header from a corner. Howeer, in a game that was to swing one way then the other, Middleton opened the scoring for Plymouth from a corner before City got onto the scoresheet when Leah Brooks equalised in the 36th minute with a neat finish inside the box.

There was no further score up til half time but City dominated the early stages of the second half and took what they hoped would be a winning 3-1 lead through an unstoppable header from player of the match, Lola Sanchez, and a smartly taken goal from Tash Knapman. More could easily have followed.

However, back came Argyle and amidst flying tackles, the next goal would be crucial and skipper Katie Middleton made it 3-2 and inevitably striker, Mousley, equalised. In a nervy last 10 minutes for the Grecians, keeper Maxine Coupe had to be smart to deny Mousley again but it was City, through Knapman who had the chance to win it in injury time.

After a cracking 90 minutes, Dani Garland replaced Tamsin Tully and it was City who snatched what turned out to be the winner with a belting free kick from over 30 yards from Catherine Wright. Coupe had to hold onto a stinging shot from Dorey but City were not to be denied and claimed the silverware.

Congratulations to the team, manager Steve Tully and assistant Chad Gribble and to the healthy travelling contingent in the 280 crowd who witnessed a breathless but well deserved Devon FA Cup win. Tully commented after the game: 'We're delighted to come out on top and I'd say deserved it as we were fresher and keener in extra time. It's a great reward for the girls hard work this season. I've had fans say what a perfomance, they're all buzzing and looking forward to seeing more Ladies football. Can't say more than that about the night!'

TEAM: Coupe, Staddon, Hine, Tully, Ghiglia, Brookes, Wright, Sanchez, Shenton, Caunter (c), Knapman. SUBS Kukor, Garland, Simpson, Redwood.