City Women picked up their first victory of the season, as they defeated Bristol City PGA 4-3 in an entertaining WNL Cup match.
Leading 2-1 at the break thanks to strikes from the returning Phoebe Baker and Amber Pollock, City then found themselves 4-3 up after a frantic 13 minutes at start of the second half, with strike duo Ellie Sara and Emily Pitman both getting on the scoresheet.
The Grecians could've extended their lead throughout the remainder of the second half, but will settle for three points to start their WNL Cup Groupstage campaign.
Abbie Britton rotated her starting XI for this opening WNL Cup fixture, with Tyrii Bell and Darcey Maxted making their full debuts, and Emily Pitman starting for the first time as a Grecian. Phoebe Baker also started for the first time this season, while under-18 goalkeeper Amy Lockyer was named on the bench for City.
First half
In a cagey opening at Newton Abbot, it was the visitors who forged the better territory, albeit without creating any clear cut chances.
With one of City's first attacks of the match, they found the opener in the 14th minute. Trading their usual positions, Amber Pollock found Baker out on the wing, and she cut a low cross into the box. That ball was almost inadvertently diverted into the net by a PGA defender, only for the keeper to scramble it behind for a corner.
Sandland's resulting set-piece caused havoc in the box as Pitman headed towards goal, and while that effort was blocked Baker poked home the rebound.
The visitors equalised just moments later though when an onrushing forward was brought down on the edge of the penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot, and despite Bell diving the correct way, she couldn't keep the ball out.
City weren't deterred though, and within five minutes of the restart they were ahead again. This time Pollock flexed her sprint down the right, cut inside and shot across goal, nestling an effort in the far corner for 2-1.
After that goal, the Grecians would've felt like they should've extended their lead before the break, but couldn't quite find a clear opportunity.
Pollock had several crosses cleared or miss her target by mere inches with the freedom she enjoyed down the right, with Pitman coming closest to connecting with a pinpoint cross on the half hour mark.
Maxted and Ellie Sara both fired shots over the bar to see out the half, with the visitors only having one more opportunity of note, as a player left free inside the penalty area lashed a shot well over Bell's net.
Second half
Whatever was said at the interval brought out both teams firing, and within 13 minutes of the restart two goals apiece were scored.
First, the Robins equalised. A fierce shot from outside of the box was batted away acrobatically by Bell, but the follow-up was slotted home to make the score 2-2.
Less than 120 seconds later, City were back ahead. Slocombe aimed a deep free-kick, situated on the half-way line, towards Exeter's front line. Pitman flicked the ball on with the back of her head, and while it looked like the goalkeeper would collect, Sara closed down, knicking the ball away from the keeper and tapping in.
City only held that lead for another four minutes though, as another effort from just outside the area beat Bell this time, levelling the scores at three apiece.
Yet again, the Grecians almost had an instant response, and this time it was Pitman getting herself on the scoresheet. Substitute Georgia Vaccaro sent a dangerous ball into the box from out wide, and Pitman moved well across her marker to knock the ball home for 4-3.
The former Pompey forward could've doubled her tally moments later when she attempted an audacious lobbed effort from the edge of the box, but it rattled the top of the bar before bouncing out for a goal-kick.
City didn't relent as they continued to press forward and attack, but their shots weren't finding the target with as much consistency as the start of the half.
Bethan McGowan spread a shot wide of the post, while two other introductions from the bench, Charlotte Whitmore and Nia Lewis, flew efforts from range off target.
Five minutes from full-time a well-worked move almost sealed the match with time to spare. Maxted picked a delightful pass out to Pollock, now on the left, who raced past her marking before cutting a low pass into the box for Pitman. The forward laid it back to her strike partner Vaccaro, but the young striker shot over the bar.
Many in the crowd thought City had found that fifth goal on the stroke of full-time, as a well-worked corner routine was flicked goalwards by the back of Whitmore's head, but the ball trickled down the back side of the net.
Nonetheless, City held out to claim an opening three points in Group B of the WNL Cup. Positive momentum to take forward, the Grecians return to the County Ground this Sunday, as they take on Lewes in the league. Get your tickets by clicking here!
Exeter City Women: Bell, Pollock, Sandland, Jackson (C), Slocombe (Poole, 53'), Asker (Zuurmond 53'), Maxted, Baker (Lewis 68'), McGowan (Whitmore, 68'), Pitman, Sara (Vaccaro, 53').
Substitutes not used: Lockyer (GK).
Goals: Baker 13', Pollock 21', Sara 52', Pitman 58'