A late goal from Georgia Vaccaro secured all three points for City Women away at Real Bedford, as the Grecians came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory.
After falling behind 15 minutes into the first half, City responded impressively, with Amber Pollock drawing them level on the half-hour mark. Both sides continued to threaten, but a red card for the hosts with 10 minutes remaining gave the Grecians a numerical advantage, which they made count in the 91st minute as Vaccaro kept her composure to seal back-to-back away wins.
Team news
Abbie Britton made three changes to the side that suffered defeat against AFC Wimbledon last week. Ellie Sara returned to the starting XI after recovering full fitness, while Nia Lewis was back from international duty. Phoebe Baker also made her first league start of the season, slotting in at the base of midfield.
First half
Both sides made a lively start, looking to gain territory without creating any clear-cut chances. However, the hosts took the lead with the first shot on target of the afternoon.
A loose ball fell to a Real Bedford midfielder inside the box following a Grecian tackle, and she curled her effort into the top corner from close range to put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute.
City responded well, with Ishbel Zuurmond seeing a low effort through a crowd of bodies saved, before Bedford thought they had doubled their advantage 10 minutes later. A rocket from the edge of the box found the net, but the goal was ruled out after the referee got in the way of Nia Lewis.
The Grecians continued to threaten and found their equaliser just before the half-hour mark through Pollock. Winning possession from a defender, the winger darted down the right before cutting inside and slotting a low finish underneath the goalkeeper to bring City level.
The game opened up following the equaliser, with both sides creating opportunities. Erin Foley was called into action minutes later, producing a fine save to keep out a low, curling effort from distance. Almost immediately, the Pirates goalkeeper responded with an impressive stop of her own to deny Sara, who had been played into the box by Pollock.
A Bedford player then tried to catch Foley off her line with an ambitious effort from the halfway line, but the City goalkeeper held on comfortably. Lewis had one more opportunity before the break, intercepting a loose pass before sending the ball into the box, only for the goalkeeper to gather at the second attempt.
Second half
The hosts had a golden opportunity to regain the lead eight minutes into the second half, but an effort from close range flew wide after a ball was driven across the City box.
Ffion Llewellyn’s pressing then helped create Exeter’s first chance of the half. Winning possession 10 yards inside Bedford’s half, she drove forward before laying the ball off to Sara, whose effort from distance sailed over the crossbar.
As the game became increasingly cagey, Britton turned to her bench in search of a winner, introducing Emily Pitman and Vaccaro to bolster the attack alongside Sara.
The Grecians’ task became more open though, when a second yellow card for a Bedford midfielder reduced the hosts to 10 players, and City took the opportunity to increase the pressure as they pushed for a late winner.
Vaccaro came close to putting Exeter ahead with 10 minutes remaining, latching onto Lewis’ looping ball over the top before attempting to curl her effort into the net. The goalkeeper managed to get a hand to the ball, slowing it down, but despite the combined efforts of Pitman and Vaccaro, a Bedford defender blocked the ball on the goal-line to keep the scores level.
However, City would not be denied. In the 91st minute, Vaccaro made no mistake when presented with another opportunity, running onto a ball over the top before deftly lifting her finish over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the net to spark celebrations in the Grecian ranks.
The late strike sealed City’s second away win of the season and extended their unbeaten record on the road!
Up next
Next week, the Grecians return to Devon to face Hashtag United in the FA Cup at Tiverton Town. Don’t miss your chance to witness history as City take to the pitch live on TNT Sports. Get your tickets by clicking here.
Exeter City Women: Foley, Pollock, Llewellyn (Sandland 76’), Jackson ©, Papaioannou, Asker, Baker (Pitman 76’), Lewis, Zuurmond, Whitmore (Vaccaro, 64’), Sara (Poole 93’).
Substitutes not used: Lockyer (GK), McGowan.
Goals: Pollock 27’, Vaccaro 91’