City Women succumbed to a close defeat at SJP, as a scrappy goal won AFC Bournemouth all three points.
The Grecians had chances and could argue that the Cherries’ goal, the only of the game, came against the run of play. Ultimately though, after a header was bundled home in front of the Big Bank in the 69th minute, City couldn’t find a response, and are still searching for their first SJP victory of the season.
Sunday’s match was marked by a special anniversary celebration, as City Women celebrated their 25th birthday. Fittingly, this match was also captain Bow Jackson’s 100th in red and white, as she started in the centre of defence alongside Giota Papaioannou for the first time, while Fearne Slocombe moved up the pitch to the base of midfield. Nia Lewis returned to the eleven, while injuries to Maya Kendell and Bethan McGowan ruled them out of the squad.
First half
City began the brighter of the two sides at a sunny SJP, as Charlotte Whitmore saw an early shot parried by the Cherries keeper before Tia Asker sent several dangerous balls into the box from the left, but the closest was snuffed out by the goalkeeper inside the six yard box.
While the Grecians did have to be wary of Bournemouth’s pace up top, with Erin Foley showing off her pace to rush out of goal and clear a loose ball out of former City striker Jenna Markham’s path, it was Exeter who looked the more likely to score.
Nia Lewis rattled the near post directly from an inswinging corner, while Giota Papaioannou continued her recent set-piece threat with two efforts resulting from set-pieces, and the second one fell on target but her bouncing shot was saved.
The visitors grew into the game though, and from the half hour point momentum swung in their favour. Both Fearne Slocombe and Jackson had to time slide tackles perfectly in the box to deny Markham twice, while Foley was on her toes to mop up any rebounded efforts shot goalwards.
Ishbel Zuurmond had the final chance of the half however, as a swift counter attack landed with City’s number 10 in the box, but she took one touch too many as she tried to scramble the ball underneath the keeper, who in turn pushed the ball out for an inconsequential Exeter corner.
Second half
The Grecians returned from the break with the instruction to keep testing the Cherries’ goal wherever the opportunity presented itself, and both Zuurmond and Asker had efforts from distance at the start of the half, but they went over and were punched away respectively.
Amber Pollock tried her luck from distance 20 minutes after the interval with a low curling shot that was saved, before the visitors scored the match’s only goal in scrappy fashion.
A long Charlotte Harris throw into City’s box wasn’t dealt with, as it was flicked on and Issy Watts headed in from close range in front of the Big Bank in the 69th minute.
The intensity of Bournemouth’s press began to show more after the goal, as it looked like if there were to be another goal, it would be doubling the Cherries’ lead. Markham looped a shot from distance over Foley, but it went wide, before Lewis sprinted the length of the pitch to deny another opposition shot after a quick counter from a City corner.
City couldn’t find a clear opportunity as the clock trickled down, with Asker having the final chance of the match blasted over the bar.
A frustrating afternoon for the Grecians, who will go home knowing if luck in the opening 30 minutes had swung another way they would have left SJP with at least a point, if not more.
City Women now switch their attention to the WNL Cup, as they travel on Sunday to face Keynsham Town. The team’s next home match is against AFC Wimbledon, at Willand Rovers’ Silver Street on October 11. You can get tickets for that match now, by clicking here!
Exeter City Women: Foley, Pollock, Llewellyn (Poole, 87’), Jackson ©, Papaioannou, Asker, Slocombe, Lewis (Baker, 87’), Zuurmond, Whitmore (Pitman, 80’), Sara (Vaccaro, 56’).
Unused substitutes: Bell (GK), Heard, Maxted.
Attendance: 867