Tully wants to keep City girls' momentum going.

EXETER City Ladies manager Steve Tully has targeted a third successive promotion after his side kicked off their season with a 3-1 win over Charlestown Ladies on Sunday. The Grecians romped to the Westward Developments Devon Women's League Premier Division title last season after going the entire season without losing a league game. And, rather than eyeing a season of consolidation in the South West Women's Football League, Tully has other ideas. The City defender reckons Torpoint and Plymouth Argyle Reserves will prove the biggest stumbling blocks to his team securing a hat-trick of titles. "This league is going to be a test for us," he said. "Promotion is the aim for us again and we will know after four or five games where we see ourselves this season. A total of 31 teams competed in the South West League during the 2010/11 season. "Our biggest rivals will probably be Plymouth and Torpoint, but we know we are going to come up against some strong, physical teams this year. "We have got a squad of more than 20 players and all the girls believe in themselves."

New signings Josie Copp, Helen Kukor and Natalie Shenton all notched on their competitive debuts as City proved too strong for their Cornish opponents. Tully added: "It was a good start for us, particularly as we were missing four or five players. "I was delighted to see our new players get on the score- sheet and we are certainly head- ing in the right direction."

 
Champions Gloucester City were promoted to the South West Combination while Falmouth Town and Keynsham Town Development move up to the Premier Division. Last season's runners-up Saltash Utd will now be known as Marine Academy Plymouth LFC.
 
Five new teams will compete in the league - Ilminster Town, Salisbury City and Swindon Supermarine enter the Eastern Division while Charlestown and Exeter City take their place in the Western Division.
 
The South West League:
 

PREMIER DIVISION	EASTERN DIVISION	WESTERN DIVISION
Bristol Ladies Union	Bishop's Lydeard	Bude Town
Cheltenham Town	Cirencester Town	Charlestown
Chippenham Town	Cleeve West Town	Exeter City
Falmouth Town	Downend Flyers	Launceston
Frome Town	Forest Green Rovers Res	Marjons Old Suttonians
Keynsham Town Development	Ilminster Town	Plymouth Argyle Res
Larkhall Athletic	Nailsea Utd	Roche
Marine Academy Plymouth	Poole Town	Torpoint Athletic
Oldland Abbotonians	Salisbury City
Stoke Lane Athletic	Swindon Spitfires
Taunton Town	Swindon Supermarine
Weymouth

25th July 2010 
First pre-season friendly 

Exeter & Tedburn Rangers LFC 0 
Exeter City LFC 6

City kicked off their pre-season tour with an away fixture against Exeter & Tedburn Rangers LFC. City's management arranged the pre-season fixtures to not only try out new signings, but also give several of the up-and-coming youngsters from the development squad a taste of women's football at a competitive level.

From the outset City dominated. A well timed cross from Emma Jones after three minutes of play found Naomi Wilkins on the edge of the box, who drove the ball into the top corner.

Moments later, centre midfielder Josie Copp found one of the young debutants, Jazz Hervin, who at just fifteen years of age added her name to the score sheet. The keeper fumbled her shot from fifteen yards out, allowing the ball to trickle over the line. Rangers began to come back into the game forcing one of City's new signings, keeper Sarah Bell to pull off her first save of the afternoon. However, City continued to apply pressure, with another new addition, striker Helen Kukor forcing Rangers' keeper to pull off the save of the game to push her header wide.

City upped the tempo with manager Steve Tully spurring them on from the sideline. For much of the half City's defence (Zara Turner, Sam Bell, Kellie Hall and Zoe Kingdon) were more like spectators as City's midfield and forward players firmly rooted themselves in the oppositions final third. The final goal of the half came from a Kukor strike just outside the box. As the half time whistle blew, despite the sweltering conditions, City's players looked in good form.

Half time changes saw centre half Kellie Hall replaced by Jade Maryan, Hannah Cox come on for Helen Kukor up front and keeper Sarah Bell make way for Rosie Maguire. With the players family and friends, together with the Exeweb faithful' supporters cheering from the sidelines the players spirits were high. Zoe Kingdon opened the scoring with a remarkable shot from the left sideline twenty five yards out, which dipped just under the crossbar. There was some confusion regarding whether the ball went in as it slipped through the side netting. The goal, which was captured on film by Exeter FM DJ Joe Hellier (and now features on their website!) was given and was undoubtedly the goal of the match. With twenty minutes remaining the defence was reorganised with Lucy Green coming on for Turner and Meg Griffin for centre half Bell. City continued to dominate possession, with any Rangers chances stubbed out by City's defence which continued too stand firm. A long ball from Maryan found left winger (and new signing) Sophie Anderson in the box who slotted home at close range. City continued to intimidate the Rangers' keeper with shots from Cox, Kukor and Alex Spencer being forced over the bar and wide. City's final goal came from Kukor, taking her tally for the match to three and ending the onslaught 6-0