Match 01
11th September 1977
Newport (home)
EXETER LADIES v NEWPORT LADIES
Our opening game of the season was played against Newport on 11th September. Newport came to Exeter as runners up in last season's League championship, and fielding no less than 6 Welsh International players.
Exeter started the game in fine style, we kept our passing simple, and found ourselves cutting through the big Newport defence time and time again. In the first ten minutes Exeter hit the woodwork twice, one of these when Alison Yoe hit a tremendous shot against the cross bar with everybody well beaten. (It is thought the ball had in fact crossed the line). Slowly, Newport settled down, and their fast forward play caused a
lot of problems for our defenders, and when a long ball was played out of defence by Newport, it was the speed of the forwards which enabled them to get to the ball before us, and it was an easy task for them in slipping the ball under Janet Sprague, who had advanced out well to cover a shot, for their first goal.
Exeter suffered when Sue Carpenter fell injured, and although playing on with a strapped up ankle, our midfield strength was heavily depleted, and Newport were quick to take advantage by pushing more up into our half and two mistakes later in the half were quickly snapped up by New- port to give them a 3-0 advantage at half time.
Exeter tended to dominate play for most of the second half, although even in dominance we never really looked dangerous. We were repeatedly getting caught in possession and although we quickly regained the ball and commenced our build ups, we somehow didn't have the necessary movement up front to cause many problems. However after some good approach work down the right, a ball was played over the Newport defence and Sue Carpenter ran in well to net the ball with a fine header. Knowing the necessity to keep up momentum, Exeter continually tried to break through Newport's defence and after good work by Ness Byrne in the box, her simple cross to Bridget Thomas, who had taken up a good position, was ably hit into the net. Exeter knew time was running out but were forced to throw all effort into attack, and this left the defensive cover weak, and after missing three easy chances, Newport got their fourth goal by the quick breaks which will obviously win them a lot of games this season.
RESULT:
Exeter Ladies 2-4 Newport
Exeter Goals
Sue Carpenter, Bridget Thomas
Our opening game of the season was played against Newport on 11th September. Newport came to Exeter as runners up in last season's League championship, and fielding no less than 6 Welsh International players.
Exeter started the game in fine style, we kept our passing simple, and found ourselves cutting through the big Newport defence time and time again. In the first ten minutes Exeter hit the woodwork twice, one of these when Alison Yoe hit a tremendous shot against the cross bar with everybody well beaten. (It is thought the ball had in fact crossed the line). Slowly, Newport settled down, and their fast forward play caused a
lot of problems for our defenders, and when a long ball was played out of defence by Newport, it was the speed of the forwards which enabled them to get to the ball before us, and it was an easy task for them in slipping the ball under Janet Sprague, who had advanced out well to cover a shot, for their first goal.
Exeter suffered when Sue Carpenter fell injured, and although playing on with a strapped up ankle, our midfield strength was heavily depleted, and Newport were quick to take advantage by pushing more up into our half and two mistakes later in the half were quickly snapped up by New- port to give them a 3-0 advantage at half time.
Exeter tended to dominate play for most of the second half, although even in dominance we never really looked dangerous. We were repeatedly getting caught in possession and although we quickly regained the ball and commenced our build ups, we somehow didn't have the necessary movement up front to cause many problems. However after some good approach work down the right, a ball was played over the Newport defence and Sue Carpenter ran in well to net the ball with a fine header. Knowing the necessity to keep up momentum, Exeter continually tried to break through Newport's defence and after good work by Ness Byrne in the box, her simple cross to Bridget Thomas, who had taken up a good position, was ably hit into the net. Exeter knew time was running out but were forced to throw all effort into attack, and this left the defensive cover weak, and after missing three easy chances, Newport got their fourth goal by the quick breaks which will obviously win them a lot of games this season.
RESULT:
Exeter Ladies 2-4 Newport
Exeter Goals
Sue Carpenter, Bridget Thomas
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