A fantastic hat-trick from Ellie Sara won all three points for City Women, as they saw off Lewes 3-1 at The County Ground.
Two poachers finishes in the opening half an hour, followed by a superb third strike to see off the match from City's number nine, saw Sara claim the match ball as she fired the Grecians to their first league win of the season.
Abbie Britton made two changes from the side which drew 1-1 at Hashtag United in City's last league outing. Fearne Slocombe and Ellie Sara came into a Southern Premier starting eleven for the first time this season, with Jess Sandland and Saskia Heard dropping out of the squad through unavailability. Darcey Maxted earned a place on the bench after an impressive performance in the midweek WNL Cup, while Giota Papaiouannou and Maya Kendell returned from injury to the bench.
First half
Lewes threatened early, forcing the first corner of the game just two minutes in, before flashing the ball across Erin Foley's net, but nobody in blue could tap the ball in. The City stopper had to be alert again moments later to bat away a shot from the edge of the box, but these chances seemed to knock the Grecians into life, as in the 14th minute, they went 1-0 up.
Amber Pollock latched onto a long ball played down the right, before cutting it back low into the penalty area for Sara. The forward took and touch, turned and lashed a shot into the top corner for 1-0, her second goal in as many matches.
Confidence bled through City from then as Ishbel Zuurmond was next to test the keeper, winning the ball back high up the pitch but only firing into the Lewes stopper's legs.
Exeter's second felt like it was coming, and Sara converted again to double the Grecians' lead just before the half-hour mark. Nia Lewis whipped in a free-kick from the left that the Lewes defence couldn't get clear, with Bow Jackson first hitting the bar with a looping shot, before Sara's persistence saw her finish from close range after her first two shots were blocked.
Lewes did threaten in parts, but strong defending and the presence of Foley in City's goal kept the lead at 2-0.
Two more on target chances for Exeter followed before the interval, but both Slocombe's header from a corner, and Pollocks low effort were blocked away by defenders.
Second half
Charlotte Whitmore had two shots from range fly off-target soon after the break before Sara got her's and City's third 20 minutes into the second half with the pick of her goals.
Whitmore raced onto a cleared ball and played it across the box for her strike partner, who had three defenders around her on the edge of the box. Not a problem for Sara, who took a touch to gain space away from them all, before launching a strike into the top corner for 3-0.
Tia Asker came close to getting City's fourth soon after play re-started, but her flick from Lewis' corner went narrowly wide.
Lewes did pull a goal back in slightly fortunate fashion as a cross looped into the top corner in the 70th minute, but that goal would prove to be little more than a consolation as City continued to attack with confidence.
Nia Lewis had a shot from distance pushed over the bar by the keeper, while Jackson and substitute Georgia Vaccaro had a header saved and half-volley blocked respectively.
Some supporters thought Emily Pitman had sealed City's fourth in the dying moments when she knocked Zuurmond's cut back goal wards, but her shot fell the wrong side of the post.
Nevertheless, City saw out all three points with a confident performance that sealed their first win in the WNL Southern Premier this season!
The Grecians are back in WNL Cup action next Sunday, as they return to The County Ground to host Bristol Rovers. Get your tickets by clicking here!
Exeter City Women: Foley, Pollock, Llewellyn (Papaioannou, 80'), Jackson (C), Slocombe, Asker (Kendell, 80'), Poole (McGowan 71'), Lewis, Zuurmond, Whitmore (Pitman 83'), Sara (Vaccaro, 71').
Substitutes not used: Bell (GK), Maxted.
Goals: Sara 14', 28', 65'