Exeter City Women completed their away fixtures for the 2025/26 season with a disappointing performance in defeat to AFC Wimbledon on Sunday afternoon.
After two weeks away from action, the Grecians travelled to The Cherry Red Records Stadium to face relegation-threatened AFC Wimbledon in the penultimate WNL Southern Premier game of the season.
First Half
Don’s goalkeeper Rosie Kite gifted the Grecians the first chance of the afternoon as her clearance fell to the feet of Sophie Gillies, but her lobbed effort cleared the crossbar. Gillies was the recipient of a swift counter by Ishbel Zuurmond, the City forward’s shot on goal held by Kite at her near post. A driving run and cross by Amber Pollock created another opportunity for Gillies as she diverted the ball towards goal, but it was comfortable for Kite to see wide of the target.
Grecians goalkeeper Liv Giles was called into her first action of the afternoon on the half hour mark, Ashlee Hincks directing a powerful header goalwards that Giles did well to palm away. The resulting corner offered an even better opportunity, Kaylee Buckingham’sdownward header from close range falling wide of the back post.
Gillies had a chance to open the scoring moments later, turning a cross towards goal, but Kite did well to block the effort as the two players collided.
City had been ponderous in possession and lethargic in their attempts to build play and it was a carelessness that the hosts began to sense, winning the majority of second ball, and it was with that intensity came the opening goal.
The Don’s were gifted the ball from more loose City play and they countered with pace, a cross from Alisha Buckingham finding Emily Taylor-Brown who deftly lifted the ball overthe Grecians defence and slotted past Giles.
City began to wilt under the home side’s intensity, Buckingham firing over before Hincks had a big chance to double the lead on the stroke of half time, her driven effort clipping the crossbar as it flew over.
Second Half
If the Grecians were hoping for a half time reset, it would soon be diminished, a ball over the City backline into the path of Ellie Dorey saw the forward cut inside and firmly plant the ball into the top corner of the net with less than a minute of the second half played.
Hincks had a glorious chance to make it three as City were caught chasing towards their own goal once more, a low cross trickled wide by the Don’s forward from close range.
Wimbledon sat in the bottom two before the game and with a two goal lead offering a chance to exit the relegation zone with a game to play, the desire and fight from the home side was abundant to see and, in truth, the Grecians did not have a counter for it.
Georgia Vaccaro shot towards Kite as the clock ticked down, but City could not build momentum or pressure on the home side to provide a route back into the game.
Up Next
Abbie Britton’s side will now be looking to finish the league campaign with three points at home as they take on Gwalia United at St James Park on Sunday April 26th. More information regarding this match can be found here.
Match Details
AFC Wimbledon XI
Kite (GK), Russell, Jeffery, Hincks (C), Dorey, A.Buckingham, Cotter, Taylor-Brown, Donovan, Billingham, K.Buckingham
AFC Wimbledon Subs
Sherlock, Lambe, Whelan, Peachey, Hotston, Allen, Scales
AFC Wimbledon Goalscorers
Taylor-Brown (41'), Dorey (47')
Exeter City XI
Giles (GK), Jackson (C), Slocombe, Sandland (Seaman 56'), Baker (Gritffiths 56'), Sara (Stacey 66'), Poole (Vaccaro 66'), Zuurmond, Gillies, Burridge, Pollock (Toogood 70')
Exeter City Unused Subs
Bond (GK), Ireland