January 6th 2001
FA Cup 4th Round at St James Park Exeter City 0 Coventry City 1

The biggest crowd, so far, to watch the Exeter City Ladies team, were at St James' Park for this FA Cup tie, against Northern Premier Leaguers Coventry City. Exeter manager Jamie Vittles strengthened the midfield of his side leaving Hannah Courtney as a lone spearhead in a 4-5-1 formation. Exeter City harassed the Coventry rear guard early on with pace and clever trickery from Becky Batten playing in a free role, Shanaz Mackie and Hannah Courtney all playing their part, before Coventry stamped their authority on the game. Once the Exeter early storm had blown itself out, Coventry took control, Leona McCook somehow finding space in the midfield and Leanne Scott providing a mobile target at the front. In the 24th minute Scott forced Maxine Coupe out of the goal allowing a nifty toe poke into the back of the net. For the next 10 minutes it was almost embarrassingly one-sided, Coventry cutting easily through the Exeter defence. with precise, one touch football. Exeter hoped for improvement in the second half and came out firing on all cylinders therefore a vigorous start, not altogether unexpected by the teams of these David and Goliath confrontations. Exeter's cup heroes from the previous rounds spurned several opportunities the best falling to Hannah Courtney who had one touch too many and Shanaz Mackie intercepting a rare goal keeper error failing to beat the keeper one on one forcing former England under 18 keeper Laura Watts into a great save. The FA Cup dream run had come to an end.

Exeter manager Jamie Vittles said: "I'm proud of the way we performed. We had a good start and should have taken the lead before going behind in the 24th minute. But we had our chances and were in the game for most of the time. The most pleasing. thing is that we never gave up."