Exeter City Women continued their impressive pre-season form as they beat Adran South Welsh Champions Briton Ferry Llansawel Ladies 6-0 at the Exwick Sports Hub on Sunday afternoon.

On a drizzly afternoon, the Grecians would not have to wait long to open the scoring. Sarah Stacey took a loose goal kick under her control before finding the top corner from distance with a driven strike after only a minute of play.

Manfy Sharpe had two attempts at converting a Phoebe Baker corner, but the Ferrys defence blocked both goal bound efforts. Zoe Cunningham was then denied a shot on goal following a slick City counterattack, another strong challenge denying the effort as the Grecians started brightly.

The home side’s summer additions were combining well, and it was that vision that created a classy second goal. Beth Ireland’s deft flick was an invitation for Amber Pollock to stride into the Ferrys penalty area and her cut back was fired home by Stacey.

Ireland was now controlling the play in midfield, her clipped pass found Jenna Markham who saw her low cross blocked to deny Stacey a chance at goal, before the midfielder raced on to a Jaydee Seaman pass only to be refuted in the one on one by the increasingly busy Ferry’s Goalkeeper. Ireland was the beneficiary of more effective wing play from Pollock, this time mishitting an effort at goal, before Stacey came close to a hat trick with the final effort of the half, the visitors Goalkeeper clawing away her attempt. Half time and one in which the Grecians had been the dominant side. If there was any frustration in the home changing room at half time it may well have focused around being more clinical with the chances that were arriving, if so, City were certainly clinical with their first effort of the half. Stacey turned provider as she hooked a pass over the Ferry’s defence, Cunningham striding into the penalty area before calmly slotting home the third goal of the afternoon. Phoebe Baker had two fizzing efforts at goal, one flying over the crossbar and the other palmed away from goal at the second attempt, as City looked to build their lead. Sharpe’s latest cross into the penalty area was hooked back into the danger area by Katie Grigg, Stacey’s drilled effort was well saved, with Markham in the right place to tap in a fourth goal as the Grecians dominated. More cohesive City play soon produced a fifth, Grigg, Cunningham and Ireland all with neat interplay before the latter crossed perfectly for Markham to tap in from close range. Markham was denied a hat trick with another good save, whilst Pollock was brilliantly released by a Baker pass only to be denied by the impressive Ferry’s Goalkeeper once again. Jess Sandland had a fierce effort clip the crossbar, before Sharpe was again denied by a fine low save as the Grecians finished strongly against the tiring visitors. The final goal of the afternoon followed more slick play, Sharpe again in space out wide as she squared for Pollock to calmly slot home a goal her outstanding display deserved.

A confident performance from Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s side, with several players getting ninety minutes for the first time in pre-season. The slick, stylish football on show was surely a guide of what is to come this season. A City squad without Ishbel Zuurmond, Becky Dandridge, Zoe Watkins, Mollie Taylor, Emily Toogood, Ellen Dixon, Matilda Franchi and Tash Knapman performing at this level further underlines the undoubted potential of the Grecians heading into 2023/24.

Wednesday 2nd August 2023

Exeter City v Cardiff City FC

Exeter City Women continued their pre-season preparation with an entertaining clash against Adran Premier Welsh Champions Cardiff City Women at the Exwick Sports Hub.

The Grecians gave the visitors no time to settle as they started strongly, Jenna Markham intercepting Goalkeeper Amelia Forkings pass out, the stopper recovering to block the goal bound effort with her legs. Markham had another great chance moments later, the ball falling to her in the penalty area as she volleyed over the top of the crossbar. It would be ‘third time lucky’ with only four minutes on the clock, Markham racing clear before slotting past Forkings from close range. After the fast start the game became scrappy, City the more comfortable in possession with Cardiff a threat with the ball over the top. The home team should have doubled the lead on the half hour, Zoe Cunningham winning the ball in midfield and striding goalwards to create a three-on-three situation, her pass to Markham was slightly heavy and the cut back to Sarah Stacey was scuffed narrowly wide under pressure. Cunningham and Beth Ireland linked well for the former to drive a shot onto the roof of Forking’s net, before Cardiff gave the City defence their first scare with a well-timed run that needed to be cut out by the covering Jess Sandland. Amber Pollock was beginning to make her presence felt, City’s midfield finding her aggressive running with some sublime passing from distance, but the Bluebird's were defending the delivery into the danger area well and standing firm. For all City’s good play, it was a mistake that gifted the visitors back into the game. An under hit back pass gave Abbi Bond a challenge with onrushing forward Lisa Owen, as the ball rebounded Owen reacted quickest and passed the ball into the empty net. Jess Sandland was then substituted after a bang to the head as she made a challenge to repel a Cardiff attack and her replacement would make an instant impact. Never one to turn down a striking opportunity, Mollie Taylor received the pass as City worked the ball wide and lashed a shot into the top corner of the net to give the Grecians a deserved lead at the break. The second half began with temperatures rising, both sides unhappy with each other as every challenge seemed to be greeted with mass annoyance. City were then the creators of their own problems once more, a poor series of passing in defence gifted the ball to Cardiff forward Rhianne Oakley as she chipped a stranded Bond for the equaliser. Sarah Stacey was then dismissed for abusive language, before Zoe Watkins converted from a scramble in the penalty area to put City back in front Becky Dandridge came close to extending the lead, the ever-willing run of Marham offering space for the City midfielder to drive a shot at goal that was blocked from close range. Sixteen-Year-Old Liv Giles was given her first team debut in a double change that also saw the return of Emily Toogood from injury. Giles was forced into a save as Cardiff struck from distance, palming the ball away before claiming a cross moments later. Dandridge was close to sealing the game with a driven effort that just arrowed away from the top corner, but it was the visitors who scored the game's final goal. A free kick wide on the Grecians left was expertly delivered into the danger area and Megan Bowen’s powerful header gave Giles no chance. Another good test for Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s side, with significant minutes coming for the majority of the squad. City will finish their pre-season preparation at Liskeard on August 10th before the league campaign begins with a visit to Bridgwater United on August 20th.

10th August 2023
Liskeard 0-6 Exeter WFC 

Exeter City Women completed pre-season with an impressive performance at Liskeard on Thursday evening, hitting the hosts for six on a wet, foggy evening in Cornwall.

With the home side sitting deep and defending their penalty area, the Grecians began with a stronghold on possession, required to stay patient to create chances. Combination plays from the City attack allowed an opportunity for Zoe Watkins to stride into the penalty area, her low cut back was blocked as the Grecians began to break down the home side’s resistance.

Amber Pollock and Ishbel Zuurmond linked twice in quick succession to test the handling of home Goalkeeper Sara Rowe, before Zoe Cunningham drilled a low effort narrowly wide of the post. Zuurmond hit a dipping shot from distance that nestled on the roof of the goal, before Pollock again burst clear of her marker, her cross volleyed goalwards by Jenna Markham to test Rowe once more. Markham’s latest cross just evaded Phoebe Baker, before more patient build up released the forward to provide another drilled cross, this time Zuurmond’s header brilliantly kept out by Rowe on the Liskeard goal line. After a period of patience from City and strong defensive play from the Blues, the chances were now starting to flow. Pollock ghosted past her marker once more and was again denied by Rowe who stood firm in the home Goal.

In a half of defence against attack, City would break the deadlock through a rare Liskeard counter. Winning the ball on the edge of their own penalty area and, with the Blue’s now out of shape, the Grecians pounced. Mollie Taylor lofted an exquisite pass for Markham to stride onto, her cut back found the supporting Zoe Watkins and she slotted the ball past Rowe for the lead. Zoe Cunningham pinched the ball away from a home defender before drilling a shot past Rowe just before the half time whistle and that quick-fire double saw Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s side head into the break with the lead their play had deserved.

City’s pressing play would bring more rewards as the second half began, Zuurmond winning the ball and racing clear, Rowe saved her effort, but Markham was in place to smash home the rebound. More fluid City football made it four, Jaydee Seaman driving into space, her pass to Watkins led to a clipped pass over the home defence and Markham was through on goal. Rowe would again deny the Grecians with a smothered save, this time Zuurmond the recipient of the loose ball as she finished from close range. A host of substitutions from both sides broke the rhythm of the game and by this time the rain was torrential, Manfy Sharpe headed in a Phoebe Baker corner as City made it five, a steady flow of chances continuing as the Grecians passing wore down the tiring home side. Cunningham and Pollock again came close, but it would be the returning Connie Pengelly who wrapped up the night’s scoring, lashing in from the edge of the penalty area after Zuurmond had twisted and turned past her marker for the final time.

A strong night for Britton and Wakley’s team and a good test for the season ahead as breaking down a resilient backline will be a key factor in how successful City can be in 2023/24. Bridgwater United await on August 20^th for the first league game of the season and on the evidence of recent weeks, you can only surmise that City look ready for the new season.

On the 13th August 2023 the Reserve team were beaten 2-1 at Coach Road in friendly against Torquay United Women FC.