Exeter City Women continued their rise up the Southern Premier Division with a hard-fought victory over AFC Wimbledon on Sunday afternoon.

League action returned to Coach Road in a third consecutive home match in all competitions. Disappointment last weekend in a los to AFC Bournemouth in the WNL League Cup was said to have soon been shaken off, Abbie Britton's focus lying on the team's league stature and the Adobe WFA Cup. A heavily rotated squad last weekend was altered with Bond, Sandland, Sara and Poole given the nod as well as the notable absence of Seaman who was serving a one-match ban.

First Half

Don’s Goalkeeper Rosie Kite denied the Grecians an early lead with a stunning stop from Sophie Gillies, the City forward firing an effort towards the top corner that Kite clawed away. Gillies had an effort blocked after being put through on goal by Sarah Stacey’s pass, with Abbie Britton’s side battling against a stubborn Wimbledon backline in the opening stages.

The visitors were not without a threat of their own, debutant Aliyat Lambe heading towards goal from a corner and only denied by a Bow Jackson clearance off the line. 

Stacey sent a curling effort over the crossbar, with City struggling to turn their territory into chances. Despite this, the opener would come on 32 minutes, Jess Sandland’s accurately-taken corner-kick rewarded with Maddie Durrant climbing highest to head in the corner at the back post. 

Blocked shots from Stacey and Durrant brought the end to an attritional half, with the Grecians on top but still to hit the decisive strike.

Second Half

A bright start to the second half saw efforts from Stacey, Gillies and Fearne Slocombe drift wide, before Kite made another great save to deny Stacey a certain second from close range. Ellie Sara’s willing running blocked a Don’s clearance, the ball dropping to Gillies who saw her goal bound effort deflected wide from the retreating defence.

Gillies had the ball in the net moments later, a scrum down in the penalty area brought to a conclusion by the referee’s whistle as the City forward volleyed in the loose ball amongst a tangle of legs.

Britton chose to make changes just past the hour mark and the impact of those was immediate. Georgia Vaccaro and Ishbel Zuurmond looking to exploit space and run at tiring Wimbledon legs, Zuurmond winning a corner that should have given the Grecians a cushion, Stacey volleying straight at Kite with a back post chance.

A 60 second passage of play was to prove crucial to the outcome of this game, the Don’s through on goal with a great chance to draw level and denied by a brilliant save from Abbi Bond. The Grecians cleared the ball towards Gillies, her defence splitting pass found Zuurmond who danced past the Wimbledon defence and slotted in a decisive second goal.

Britton had tweaked the City formation before the game and the impact of that change was highlighted in the closing stages. The movement and pace of the Grecians attacking substitutes supported by the composed midfield play of Beth Ireland and Phoebe Baker saw City create a host of chances to add to the lead, but Kite and the visiting defence remained resilient to the end.

The Grecians move up to fifth in the table with a congested pack trying to hunt down the runaway top three of Watford, AFC Bournemouth and Plymouth Argyle.

Up Next

Next up is a crucial FA Cup Second Round tie as city will be looking to progress to round three with victory over visiting Chatham Town on Sunday afternoon.

Match Details

Exeter City XI: Bond (GK), Poole, Sandland (Pollock 76'), Jackson (C), Toogood, Burridge (Ireland 76'), Slocombe, Stacey (Baker 76'), Durrant (Zuurmond 64'), Sara (Vaccaro 64'), Gillies.

Unused Subs: Giles (GK).

AFC Wimbledon XI: Kite (GK), Russell, Highman, McLachlan, Hincks (C) (Hotston 84'), A. Buckingham (Ajao 65'), Cotter (Peachey 90'), Donovan, Lambe, Wallace, K. Buckingham

Unused Subs: Dorey.