City Women stormed to their first home league win of the season in style, hitting Hashtag United for six at the County Ground at Coach Road.
A second half hattrick from Sophie Gillies was complemented by Bristol City loanee Maddie Durrant's first senior goal, as well as strikes from Sarah Stacey and Ellie Sara, as the Grecians ran riot.
Abbie Britton named an unchanged side from the team that travelled to Oxford United last Sunday, with Phoebe Baker and Georgia Vaccaro still missing from the squad with minor injuries.
First half
After an early Hashtag scare that Bow had to block away, City struck first just six minutes in. Neat interplay between Ishbel Zuurmond and Fearne Slocombe released Gillies into the box. Her first-time shot from a tight angle was palmed away by the keeper, but only into the path of Stacey, who lashed home from close range for 1-0.
Minutes later, the lead was doubled. A free-kick out wide on the left was floated expertly to the back post by Leah Burridge, where Durrant arrived to head home her first Grecians goal.
That second strike fuelled confidence throughout the side, and City began to dismantle the Hashtag defence with flowing attacking football. Durrant, playing in the hole behind the strikers, split the back line with a pass to Amber Pollock, whose low cross flashed just inches beyond the reach of Stacey.
Soon after, Pollock delivered another threatening ball across the box, this time narrowly evading Zuurmond at the back post.
The visitors remained dangerous on the break, and when a long ball caught City’s defence out, Abbi Bond had to react sharply to palm away a lobbed effort. With 10 minutes until the interval, Hashtag threatened again from distance, but Bond was equal to it to preserve the two-goal cushion.
Play was halted shortly before the break due to an injury to a Hashtag United player. After receiving treatment from both sets of staff, she was able to walk off with assistance, and the referee called half-time early.
Second half
Following the extended interval, City came out roaring and quickly added a third. Pollock again made it to the byline and cut the ball back, this time finding Gillies perfectly. The forward swept her shot across the keeper and in.
The Grecians kept pressing, with Stacey and Burridge both trying their luck from distance, though one effort went straight into the keeper’s hands and the other cleared the crossbar.
A fourth arrived just before the hour, created by a brilliant Jaydee Seaman assist. After clearing a Tags attack, she regained possession on halfway, strode into midfield and clipped a delightful ball over the defence for Gillies, who rounded the keeper and slotted home.
As both sides turned to their benches the tempo dipped, but City continued to look the more dangerous side. That pressure told again 15 minutes from time. Substitute Jess Sandland rolled a short free-kick from the right, catching Hashtag off guard, and Gillies pounced with a first-time finish over the keeper to complete her hat-trick.
There was still time for a sixth. Emily Poole threaded a perfect pass into Zuurmond, who cut the ball across the area for substitute Ellie Sara to sweep into the bottom corner — her first Southern Premier goal for the club.
Before the whistle, the visiting keeper produced two fine stops to deny Sara and a Mollie Taylor header, but it was City who celebrated a convincing first home league victory of the season.
Next up
City are back at Coach Road this weekend for the second of their run of three consecutive home matches, as they face Abingdon United in a 2pm kickoff next Sunday, September 28. Get your tickets for that match by clicking here!
Exeter City Women XI: Bond, Zuurmond, Seaman (Presswell, 86'), Jackson (C), Toogood (Sandland, 56'), Pollock (Poole, 56'), Slocombe, Burridge (Sara, 70'), Durrant, Stacey (Ireland, 70'), Gillies (Taylor, 79').
Subs not used: Giles (GK)
Goals: Stacey 6', Durrant 9', Gillies 47', 59', 74', Sara 80'