Three opposition goals in the first 20 minutes sent City Women on the way to a 4-1 defeat at Willand Rovers’ Silver Street.
The Grecians struggled to contain AFC Wimbledon’s early attacking play in a game that saw few efforts on goal from City and momentum gained from last week’s victory at Fulham halted.
However, there was a landmark moment within the game when Phoebe Baker made her 150th appearance for City.
Team news
Abbie Britton made two changes to the starting XI with Emily Poole and Bethan McGowan coming in for Nia Lewis and Fearne Slocombe, who missed out due to international duty and suspension respectively. Lauren Le Poidevin was also named on a league bench for the first time as the Grecians started the day one place and one point ahead of the Dons.
First half
The game started relatively fast paced and even, with early goal scoring chances from both sides. However, just before the quarter of an hour mark, City conceded when the Wimbledon striker slotted home, having got in behind City’s defence.
City responded almost immediately when Charlotte Whitmore shot inches wide. Then, in the 19th minute, Whitmore went even closer, as she had the ball in the back of the net but was denied by the offside flag.
This escape seemed to spur Wimbledon on even further and they scored two goals in quick succession which left City 3-0 down with only 21 minutes on the clock.
City battled for the remainder of the half and even forced an unbelievable save from Wimbledon’s keeper, when Emily Pitman poked Pollock’s cross towards goal, but they couldn’t find a way back into the match before the break.
Second half
The second half started with Britton making two attacking changes to try and push City forward, as Georgia Vaccaro and Ellie Sara replaced McGowan and Pitman.
However, it didn’t take long for City to concede a fourth when a Dons striker hit an unstoppable shot in to the top left corner in the 51st minute.
For the next 15 minutes, the Grecians got more of a foothold in the game; Vaccaro shooting just over in the 56th minute. City managed to get on the scoresheet in the 66th minute when Sara headed Tia Asker’s left footed cross into the net. This proved to be a consolation goal and City slumped to a 4-1 defeat at Willand.
City Women’s next home league match is the Devon derby when Plymouth Argyle travel to SJP on October 28. Get your tickets for that match by clicking here!
Exeter City Women: Foley, Pollock, Llewellyn (Sandland 68’), Jackson (C), Papaioannou, Asker, Poole (Baker 68’), McGowan (McGowan 46’) , Zuurmond, Whitmore, Pitman (Vaccaro 46’).
Substitutes not used: Lockyer (GK), Le Poidevin.
Goals: Sara 66'
Attendance: 278
Match report written by Abi Poole