Exeter City Women's season restarts this weekend with FA Cup action against Cheltenham Town LFC in the first round proper.
Here is all you need to know:
- Match: Exeter City Women vs Cheltenham LFC
- Venue: Speeds Meadow, Cullompton
- Date: Sunday, December 13
- Kick-Off: 1pm
- ADMISSION: £3 Adults £1 Children (FREE for Junior Grecians and Season Ticket Holders)
- Refreshments available
COVID SANCTIONS:
Track and Trace, Temperature Check on entry, Social Distancing and a limit on capacity will all be precautions in place on the day. We wish to make your afternoon a safe and enjoyable one.
MATCH PREVIEW
It has been an impressive start to the season for Tom Davies’ Team. Home victories over Chesham United and Brislington, alongside an empathic win on the road at Poole in which the visitors comprehensively won by five goals to nil, see the Gloucestershire side in fourth position in the National League.
With the two sides not meeting in last year’s curtailed league campaign, and the league fixture this season between the two sides being postponed during the recent lockdown, these are two sides that keep avoiding each other! That is a shame, as the one meeting in recent time when the teams did face up, was a classic encounter. In an FA Cup Qualifying tie the Robinesses won 4-3 with a player from both teams recording a hat trick. Abbie Britton’s three goals were to prove in vein as Annie Martin hit three on the way to a Home win.
Cheltenham have Robyn Levett between the posts, her signing from Watford has proved an astute one with the keeper keeping five clean sheets in her six appearances before last season’s abrupt end. Mai Butler offers stability to the defence, the former Wolverhampton Captain has won promotion from the National League in her career and offers experience to the side.
Lauren Ellis was the Club’s Most Improved Player last season, a creative winger she will be one to watch on Sunday. Abby Bevan was the Manager’s Player of the Season and her work rate in the centre of the pitch is key for Tom Davies’ side. Jade Grove provides the main attacking threat, seven goals in all competitions this season for her, the City defence will need to be at their best to keep Grove adding to that total.
With a place in the Second Round of the FA Cup up for grabs, it points to a fascinating afternoon’s football on Sunday, with the Grecian’s hoping to progress in the competition to the furthest point they have been since 2013.
HOW TO FOLLOW:
To keep up to date with the action, make sure you are following Exeter City Women on Twitter: @ExeterCityWFC