Exeter City Women progressed into Round Two of the League Cup with an entertaining victory over Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
City played host as Fulham made to the journey to The County Ground at Coach Road, for the first meeting between the two clubs for the first time in each of their current forms.
Abbie Britton names four changes for her side, with Liv Giles returning between the sticks to continue her streak of appearances in the tournament. Bow Jackson and Amber Pollock were both absent from the matchday squad through injury.
First Half
The Grecians started brightly when Sophie Gillies’ low cross was fired towards goal by Emily Poole and blocked by the visitors. Soon after, Ishbel Zuurmond lofted a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Gillies with six minutes played and City’s leading scorer made no mistake in slotting past Goalkeeper Jacqui Goldsmid for the opener.
Fulham arrived in Devon with a perfect league record and soon showed the qualities that they possess, a low effort cannoning off the foot of the post as they sought an equaliser. City were struggling to meet the challenge of the steady flow of Fulham crosses, Fearne Slocombe making a vital contribution to deny a shot on goal from close range.
Jaydee Seaman was next to block an effort, with Liv Giles denying a chance from close range as the Grecians had to withstand growing pressure from the Fulham attack. For all the visitor's territory, City remained a threat on the counter, Gillies and Zuurmond linking to force an excellent block from close range.
It would be that clinical counter that doubled the Grecians lead on forty minutes. Gillies’ pass sent Zuurmond through on goal and as her shot was denied the ball fell kindly to Gillies who fired in a second goal.
Moments later Gillies’ broke the defensive line once more, this time her effort over the top of Goldsmid’s crossbar.
Steve Jaye will not have felt his side had done too much wrong heading into half time and they duly got their reward in stoppage time, Giles making another fine save from close range before Leeta Rutherford slid in the loose ball to half the deficit at the break.
Second Half
The Grecians took early control of the second half, Zuurmond willingly chasing a hopeful pass over the top. As the visiting defence waited on each other to control the situation, the City midfielder took the ball around Goldsmid and slotted into an empty net.
A change in formation was certainly working for City as the second half continued, Zuurmond heading wide a Sarah Stacey cross before Gillies made the tie safe just beyond the hour mark. Stacey caused confusion in the Fulham defence and with the loose ball finding Gillies, she chipped Goldsmid to complete her hat trick and a fourth for the Grecians.
Fulham continued to press, a shot at the near post poked wide after a header from a deep free kick narrowly missed the target. A late Katie Dungate strike gave consolation to the visitors, but it was City’s day.
A clinical performance against an impressive Fulham side, who will no doubt be heading into the Premier South sooner rather than later. The Grecians will need to continue their strong cup performances at Torquay United in the FA Cup this weekend, before returning to St James Park to face Plymouth Argyle in the FA Women’s National League on Wednesday October 29th.
Up Next:
City look ahead to a week packed with two local derby's; An Adobe Women's FA Cup First Round game against Torquay United at Plainmoor on Sunday 26th October, followed three days later when Plymouth Argyle visit St James Park on Wednesday 29th October.
City will look to build off of this result to end October on a high and kick on for the rest of the season.
Exeter City XI:
Giles (GK), Taylor (Baker 45'), Slocombe, Seaman (C), Sandland, Zuurmond, Ireland (Sara 65'), Burridge (Durrant), Stacey, Poole (Toogood 65'), Gillies (Vaccaro 65')
Unused Substitutes:
Bond (GK), Everson