A five-star performance saw City Women confirm top spot in their WNL Cup group with a 5-0 win against Abingdon United.
Sarah Stacey's first half brace was complimented with goals from Ellie Sara, Maddie Durrant and Sophie Gillies, sealing a confident victory for the Grecians at the County Ground.
For this Cup fixture, Abbie Britton made seven changes from the team that beat Hashtag United the week before. Liv Giles returned between the posts, while Beth Everson made her first start of the season. Sarah Stacey captained the side from a slightly deeper attacking midfield role, with Ellie Sara leading the line up top.
First half
The Grecians started on the front foot and had the game’s opening chance inside 60 seconds. After winning the ball back in midfield, Beth Ireland strode forward before crossing from the top corner of the box. Stacey met it in the centre, but her header went narrowly over.
Ireland was soon in action at the other end when Abingdon threatened with their first attack, but the midfielder battled hard in the air to head the ball away twice.
A frantic opening culminated in the opening goal after just four minutes. Looping the ball over a defender’s head in the box, Durrant then shot low towards goal. The keeper spilled it, and Stacey pounced to finish low for 1-0.
The pace of Everson was troubling the Abingdon defence, and after a quarter of an hour she broke into the area and squared for Sara. Her close-range shot was blocked for a corner, which Durrant then headed over at the back post.
Chances kept coming City’s way, with Mollie Taylor seeing an effort from a corner saved, before Ishbel Zuurmond cut in from the right and also had a shot saved. The second goal felt inevitable, and it came through Sara in the 23rd minute.
On the edge of the area, Sara laid the ball back to Emily Poole, who struck from distance. Her effort looped over the keeper, came back off the bar, falling perfectly for Sara to finish first time and double the lead.
City were purring, and a third goal soon followed. Just past the half-hour mark, Durrant twisted and turned on the edge of the box before finding Stacey inside the six-yard area, and she made no mistake from close range.
Stacey should have had a hat-trick just before the break, but uncharacteristically fired over from close range.
Second half
Half-time didn’t slow City’s momentum, and a fourth goal arrived just eight minutes after the restart.
Jess Sandland’s long, low ball forward was flicked around the corner by Sara into the path of Durrant, who broke clear. Taking a couple of touches, she aimed high into the top corner to score her second Grecians goal.
The chances kept flowing as Britton made changes from the bench. Leah Burridge shot narrowly over, while Sophie Gillies forced a good save.
Georgina Presswell went close to doubling her personal tally when her header from a corner crashed off the bar, but the fifth goal soon came.
Poole delivered a pinpoint cross from deep, and Gillies powered a header into the top corner.
City almost had a sixth in bizarre fashion with 10 minutes to play. Everson’s cross was headed against the inside of the post by Gillies before a scramble on the goalline saw players from both sides desperately trying to force the ball either way, but it was eventually cleared.
Poole had the game’s final chance narrowly wide, but a dominant performance and five goals were more than enough to seal top spot in Group B with a perfect record.
The draw for the knockout rounds takes place this evening (Monday 29th) live on the WNL’s Instagram, @fa.wnl.
Up next
City are back at home next Sunday, 5 October, as they host Watford at the County Ground at Coach Road. Get your tickets now!
Exeter City Women XI: Giles, Zuurmond (Burridge, 60'), Taylor (Toogood, 60'), Presswell, Sandland (Seaman, 73'), Everson, Poole, Ireland, Durrant (Slocombe, 73'), Stacey (C) (Gillies, 60'), Sara.
Subs not used: Bond (GK)
Goals: Stacey 4', 32', Sara 23', Durrant 53', Gillies 66'
Attendance: 149