Women's Match Report by David Gribble 

Exeter City 3 Swindon Town 1

Exeter City maintained their perfect start to the league season as they fought from behind to beat Swindon Town at the Exwick Sports Hub. The visitors recruited strongly in the summer and will no doubt be anticipating a challenge for the title this season. The new look Town side soon emphasised their improvement by taking an early lead. A lofted pass was initially comfortably dealt with by the Grecians defence, but hesitancy in clearing the danger allowed Helena Diaz-Butcher to direct the ball goalwards and beyond City Goalkeeper Abbi Bond. Ishbel Zuurmond came close to levelling just minutes later, her effort was bravely blocked by Town stopper Emily Mcgrogan, Zoe Watkins dragging the follow up wide of both the goal and the outstretched foot of Sarah Stacey. Zoe Cunningham’s dangerous free kick just evaded the run of Zuurmond as the Grecians responded well to the early setback and looked to level. The visitors' game plan was simple but effective, long passes looking to find the pace in wide areas and that of forward Annie Colston. Colston latched on to the latest ball over the City defence to strike goalwards, but Bond held comfortably as the visitors continued to create half chances.

If the opening goal was avoidable from a City perspective, the equaliser was certainly avoidable from a Swindon perspective. Jenna Markham willingly chased a lofted ball before pouncing on a short back pass to level the game. A scrappy spell of football followed, City lacking rhythm in their play and the forward lines of both sides left to feed off second balls. For all the disjointed nature of the half, the Grecians should have gone into the break ahead. Cunningham’s free kick fell to Zoe Watkins and her blocked effort dropped to Stacey, the Grecians forward turning an effort goalwards but denied from close range by a brilliant block.

The two sides exchanged big chances to take the lead after the break, Colston and Meg Jarvis both with efforts in the centre of the Grecians box that really should have tested Bond and put Town in front. Stacey was then slotted through on goal by another Zuurmond driving run, her shot just creeping wide of Mcgrogan’s upright.

Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley then made a triple substitution to bring some more cohesion to a fragmented City display, the change in formation allowing the Grecians to gather momentum in the contest. Markham and Mollie Taylor threatened with their willingness to attack the Town defence, Stacey and Zuurmond both having efforts on goal as City upped their intensity.

Amber Pollock added more threat for City as she entered the game, the Grecians now in control of the game but failing to find the final pass despite having the ball in some probing territorial positions. Jess Sandland added fresh impetus to midfield and the home side, who worked so tirelessly in pre season on fitness levels, were seeing the benefits with a strong finish in the soaring heat.

However, as City pressed to win the game, it would be the ball over the top that led to Town nearly taking the lead themselves, Bond saving well with her feet as Diaz-Butcher struck a low effort towards goal.

The Grecians continued to press with a tenacious work rate, they just needed that chance to fall, and it would come with five minutes to play.

Sandland swung in a dangerous deep corner and Tash Knapman, on as a substitute, stooped to head the ball into the net. The prolific forward has made an established career of being a clinical finisher and her first City goal since her return was soon followed by a second, the ball falling kindly from Markham’s blocked shot, as she slotted past Mcgrogan to secure the three points.

City failed to shake off the blues of last week’s performance in the opening half hour but will be pleased to have fought back and won a game against a side who will surely be in the promotion hunt this season.  The Grecians have recruited strongly this summer and settling the squad and nature of play will take time, but two wins from two in the league lays a strong foundation for when City start to hit their full potential in the coming weeks, as a squad of this talent surely will.

AFC BOURNEMOUTH 4
EXETER CITY WOMEN RESERVES 2

Report by Maxine Coupe

Exeter City Women Reserves began their season with a tough trip away to AFC Bournemouth, Dale Russell’s side embarking on a second season in the National League Reserve’s section. With four players aged 16 years in the squad making their debuts, Eliza Bryant-Rowe, Abi Harrison, Freya Horler and Lemoni Gouldstone, this game started a new cycle of talented young players for the Grecians. And what a start, as City were ahead after only 57seconds. Abi Whistler, who was ever the workhorse in midfield in this game, played in Connie Pengelly to slot past the Goalkeeper from outside the box and into the right hand corner. Yet, despite the bright City start, AFC Bournemouth created the better chances early on and Eliza Bryant-Rowe had to be at her very best in making numerous saves. The Cherries eventually got the break through when a shot from the Freya Jennings on 12 minutes looped over Bryant-Rowe and in off the cross bar to equalise. The home side’s second came on 22minutes, a corner wasn’t cleared by the City defence and Elin Starck was able to shoot from edge of box and beat Bryant-Rowe. More Bournemouth pressure followed, but Bryant-Rowe was keeping the Cherries lead to a narrow one. However, her resilience was dented on 32 minutes, Mia Hammick scoring Bournemouth’s third goal when another corner was not dealt with by the Grecians defence and the ball sneaked in between the post and Goalkeeper.

At half time Manager Dale Russell brought on Kitty Rumens for Danni Skinner in defence and tweaked the formation of the team, but the home side were now rampant, adding a fourth goal on 55 minutes when an under hit back pass by was capitalised upon by Amie Cooper who calmly slotted past Bryant-Rowe. City had a goal disallowed minutes later when Pengelly had a shot which the keeper fumbled and Franchi pounced to score, however the referee had deemed Franchi had fouled the keeper and disallowed the goal. Russell made more substitutions on 60 minutes, bringing on Freya Horler, Lemoni Gouldstone, Jess Cockayne and Maddie Brandon for Ellen Dixon, Steph Beck, Lauren Bullock and Abi Harrison. The fresh legs gave Exeter more energy in midfield and it was on 70mins when Pengelly got her second goal of the game with a brilliant free kick twenty-five yards out after a foul on Whistler. Gouldstone had a great effort on 78 minutes, winning the ball high up the pitch she had a shot from the edge of the penalty area but the effort went narrowly wide of post. The comeback nearly gathered more momentum when a shot by Cockayne was handled by a Bournemouth player, but the referee did not deem it a penalty, much to the dismay of the City bench. Lots of positives to take from the game, but the Grecians will know that the hard work needs to continue to make a challenge at the top end of the division this season. There were strong performances from Amy Salter and Izzy Baker, but manager Russell awarded his Player of the Match to debutant Goalkeeper Eliza Bryant-Rowe for some incredible saves .