Exeter City Women took advantage of a mid-week wash out for the rest of the division to move twelve points clear at the top with victory of Torquay United.

With two games in four days, Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley made six changes to the starting eleven and, with players looking to impress, the Grecians started brightly. Zoe Cunningham’s cross found Kerry Bartlett, the ball falling to the feet of Sophie Gillies who fired over from close range. Beth Ireland and Connie Pengelly combined to send Bartlett in on goal, her effort dragged wide of the target as City pressed. 

Gillies and Bartlett combined again, the latter unable to get a strong connection to send a low cross goalwards before Cunningham tried again from distance, this effort dipping just over. Despite all the Grecians pressure it was Torquay who would have the games next big chance, Tee Kaptein beating the City high line and chipping Abbi Bond, only to see her effort hit the top of the crossbar. 

With United sensing an opportunity to attack, they momentarily broke from their conservative formation and City broke clinically. Pengelly drove towards the penalty area, cutting back to lay the ball to the onrushing Gillies who arrowed a shot into the top corner for the lead. 

Cunningham’s latest free kick was cleared by a mixture of Goalkeeper Emma Ayres, the Gulls defence and the upright as City searched for a second. With the half time whistle approaching Gillies raced clear, only to be flattened by the onrushing Ayres. With no defensive cover the United Goalkeeper looked to be in trouble, but the Referee only produced a yellow card for the offence. It had been that sort of half. 

Amber Pollock’s surging runs had caused the Yellows problems in the first half, her latest dart into the penalty bringing the foul and a chance for substitute Sarah Stacey to fire in from the penalty spot which took with authority. 

Phoebe Baker’s cross nearly dipped over Ayres before the midfielders strong run into the box and lay off saw substitute Jenna Markham strike the upright. Baker nearly profited from a deflected Stacey effort, this time Ayres with an excellent save to deny City as the game petered out to a conclusion. 

A clean sheet, game time for the depth of the Grecians squad and another three points to go twelve clear, it would be unfair to be critical, but this was not City at anywhere near their best. Credit to Torquay who, after a difficult day for the Football Club, showed resilience and appetite for the battle. Next up for the Grecians is the League Cup Plate Semi Final on Sunday with the chance to reach a National Final for the first time in the team’s history, Derby County are the visitors to the Exwick Sports Hub.