Second half goals from Georgia Vaccaro and Beth McGowan sealed another pre-season victory for Exeter City Women, as they defeated Bristol Rovers at Exwick Sports Hub.
The Grecians had the better first half chances but failed to make them count, however they came out with renewed vigour after the break and after Vaccaro nudged the ball off a defender, she rounded the goalkeeper for City's first. McGowan then sealed the win after slotting home a well-worked team move in the closing stages of the match.
Abbie Britton made eight changes from Thursday's game against Torquay United as she looked to give minutes to players across her squad. New signing Charlotte Whitmore began on the bench after starting as a trialist on Thursday, while Bow Jackson captained the team from the centre of defence.
First half
Georgia Vaccaro was a thorn in the Rovers' backline early on, with two early chances causing worry in the Gas backline. First, a fantastic long ball forward from Ffion Llewellyn spotted the young striker, but her first time nudge went narrowly wide, before Vaccaro battled past a defender moments later, but her effort crashed against the crossbar.
Vaccaro was at the centre of all the Grecians' attacks, winning a free-kick in the 12th minute that Emily Poole aimed on target, only to see it saved. After Rovers dragged wide their first shot of the game, Vaccaro once again almost nipped in behind the backline, but the keeper came out of her six yard box to smother the ball.
City continued to threaten with Kendell having a low effort on target saved, but it was the visitors who put the ball into the back of the net first. A free-kick routine saw the ball smashed home from range, but the referee blew for offside. Undeterred, the Gas looked renewed with confidence and went close again moments later, with a shot drifting just wide of the post.
The Grecians regained their attacking composure towards the half's end, but couldn't capitalise on two free-kicks. Firstly, a dead ball from Poole whipped in from the right just missed Vaccaro at the back post, who would've had a tap in, before McGowan shot from range, but her effort was held.
Second half
It was the visitors who came out fighting at the start of the second half with a couple of half-chances, but they were silenced by Vaccaro getting her well-earned goal to put City ahead.
Pressing high up the pitch, the forward knicked the ball off a Rovers defender before doing really well to nudge past the goalkeeper and finish low past two defenders on the line, putting the Grecians 1-0 up.
That goal flowed confidence through City, and two shots in quick succession were sent in from Amber Pollock and half-time substitute Tia Asker, but both went over the bar.
Britton then swapped her starting forwards out for Whitmore and Ellie Sara, and they both had shots within moments of coming on, however again the goalkeeper stood between them and City's lead being extended, holding Whitmore's strike before batting Sara's out for a corner. Giota Papaiouannou managed to connect with the resulting set-piece, but she bundled the ball straight at the goalkeeper.
It was in the 85th minute that the match was wrapped up, thanks to a free-flowing move finished off by McGowan. Interplay between Kendell and Asker saw the latter released towards the byline, and she cut it back for Sara. City's number nine held the ball up inside the six yard box before turning and playing it back to McGowan, who shot first time high into the roof of the net for 2-0.
Rovers could've pulled a goal back at the death, as a dangerous corner had to be smacked away from the goalline by Sara, but the Grecians kept their clean sheet intact as they sealed a 2-0 win.
A fine afternoon at a windy Exwick for City Women, as they make it a hat-trick of friendly victories so far. Next up is Cardiff City, next Sunday August 2nd once again at Exwick. Get your tickets for that match by clicking here!
Exeter City Women: Bell, Kendell, Llewellyn, Jackson, Sandland, Pollock, Poole, McGowan, A Trialist, Pitman, Vaccaro.
Substitutes: Trialist B (GK), Heard, Papaiouannou, Asker, Whitmore, Sara.
Goals: Vaccaro 52', McGowan 85'