Exeter City Women paint Devon red as five different players score to beat Plymouth Argyle 5-1 at SJP in the Devon Derby.
Nia Lewis and Ellie Sara put gave City an early buffer before an acrobatic finish from Charlotte Whitmore put them three goals up going into the break. Second half headers from Giota Papaioannou and Georgia Vaccaro then made it five, despite City being down to 10 players at the time after Whitmore was shown a red card, before the Pilgrims grabbed a consolation goal late on.
Team news
Abbie Britton made three changes to the starting from Sunday’s victory over Hashtag United in the FA Cup. Bow Jackson missed out through injury, so Ishbel Zuurmond was named as captain, while Phoebe Baker and Ffion Llewellyn dropped to the bench. Fearne Slocombe, Jess Sandland and Emily Poole came into the starting line-up in their place.
First half
City started the game on top, causing Argyle problems down both the left and right sides. There were no clear-cut chances for the Grecians though immediately, with a long-range effort from Amber Pollock flying over the crossbar.
The opener for City came in the seventh minute. After a delightful run, a ball in from Zuurmond on the right hand side found Nia Lewis at the back stick and headed past Liv Giles in the Argyle goal.
A second for Exeter came just minutes later. Ellie Sara was found at the top of the box, a calm turn by the number nine and she finished with ease into the bottom corner to give City some breathing room.
Pollock nearly made it a third in quick succession, but Giles was able to parry it away. Another chance came and went for City, the ball was won back quickly after a poor Plymouth free-kick was picked up by Sara and played wide to Zuurmond, but her effort flew over the bar.
More chances came and went to extend the lead for City, the closest came from Tia Asker, her effort whistled past the far post and went out for a goal-kick. Whitmore then went close, a tricky run through a few defenders but her effort was blocked and went out for another Exeter corner.
After numerous opportunities for City, the third finally came with 10 minutes to go until half-time. A cross from Asker on the left hand side found Whitmore in the centre of the box. An acrobatic finish by the former green left Giles picking the ball out of her net.
Exeter went close again to a fourth at the end of the first half. A beautiful ball from Fearne Slocombe set Pollock free down the right-hand side. Her cross found Sara, but her effort was blocked by the Plymouth defender. That proved to be the last big chance of the first-half, which was dominated by City.
Second half
Grecian attacking service resumed at the start of second-half, City won a free-kick deep in the Plymouth half, a whipped ball into the box from Jess Sandland was initially cleared, Ellie Sara picked up the loose ball and managed to get a shot away but it was saved by Giles and went out for a corner.
City won another free-kick deep in the Plymouth half, a sweetly struck ball from Lewis gave Giles something to think about, but the effort was saved by the Plymouth keeper.
Then, an altercation at the far end of the pitch saw a coming together between Whitmore and Gimson saw the City forward receive a straight red card.
Play restarted with a free-kick to City, and third times the charm as City grabbed their fourth, with former Pilgrim captain Papaioannou headed home her first league goal of the season.
Ten-player Exeter continued to attack and found joy down the right hand side. Pitman made a mazy run down the wing the along the byline before seeing her low cross blocked and out for a corner. The subsequent corner was delivered by Sandland and was headed home by Georgia Vaccaro, making it 5-0 in the Devon Derby.
A few minutes later, Plymouth pulled a goal back through Lamb, as the defender stabbed home from close range once a corner dropped to her. Another attack from the visitors came a few minutes later with a darting run down the right by Dolbel. She was able to find Ingroulle on the edge of the area but her shot was placed well wide.
City kept pressing though and looked to regain their five goal advantage, this time down the left with Pollock, she cut in onto her right but her shot flew well over.
Despite being down to ten, City still were able to control the final moments of the game with ease, and sealed three points and the club's first Devon Derby win of the season.
Abbie Britton's Grecians pick up their first three points of the season at SJP, and in remarkable fashion, dismantling Plymouth Argyle 5-1.
Up next
City make the long trip to Chatham Town in the WNL Cup this Sunday, November 1. The women's team next match at SJP is on Sunday, November 22, as Portsmouth. Get your tickets for that match now by clicking here!
Exeter City Women: Foley, Pollock (Pitman, 61’) , Slocombe, Sandland, Papaioannou, Asker (Le Poidevin 83’), Poole (Baker, 83’), Lewis (McGowan, 72’), Zuurmond (C), Whitmore, Sara (Vaccaro, 61’).
Substitutes not used: Lockyer (GK), Llewellyn.
Goals: Lewis 7', Sara 10', Whitmore 36', Papaioannou 60', Vaccaro 70'
Attendance: 1686