Exeter City Women maintained their position at the top of the National League with a regulation victory at Selsey on Sunday, the Grecians fifth consecutive league win.
City started confidently, patiently building momentum before striking early. Zoe Cunningham’s exquisite pass into the path of Matilda Franchi led to a low driven cross that Sarah Stacey converted from close range for the lead after six minutes.
Sophie Gillies cut inside from the opposite wing to set up the second, her cross steered into the net by Connie Pengelly for her 50th City goal.
The Grecians were neat in possession and it was that patient build up that led to a third, Bow Jackson exploiting the space created before her pass into Jenna Markham allowed the forward to fire into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Chaos in the penalty area led to a fourth on twenty-five minutes, after a combination of missed clearances and blocked efforts, Gillies slid in the loose ball to extend the City lead. However, the drama was not over, Seals Goalkeeper Millie Delamont had too much to say about a decision in the build-up to the goal for the referee’s liking and she was sent off.
Connie Pengelly hit a fifth following a heavy assist from the pitch, the ball spinning off the surface and away from the waiting grasp of substitute stopper Julia Cropper. Zoe Cunningham was next to score, her effort from the edge of the penalty area finding the corner of the net as City continued their dominance.
Phoebe Baker’s lofted pass to Matilda Franchi led to a seventh before the break, the teenager, making her first City start, raced onto the pass and confidently fired past Cropper at her near post.
The Grecians began the second half with a host of chances, Stacey and Markham looking to add to their goal tallies for the season but unable to find the target, Markham particularly unlucky as a Selsey clearance off the line cannoned off the upright and away.
City did hit eight in the fifty-second minute, Cunningham’s driven cross palmed into the path of Markham by Cropper and she converted from close range. Franchi’s corner was volleyed comprehensively into the Selsey net as Stacey grabbed a second goal, the forward hitting a hat trick from the penalty spot after Markham was fouled by Cropper moments later.
Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley gave debuts to teenage duo Jess Cockayne and Lemoni Gouldstone, Gouldstone instantly impressing with an exquisite through ball for Stacey whose shot forced another fine save from Cropper.
Selsey would finish with nine players, Pengelly fouled on the edge of the penalty area and the referee giving a second yellow card to Emily Gard. Gillies, who had been impressive throughout, weaved her way into the penalty area as the game entered stoppage time, her cross falling to the feet of Gouldstone who converted off the crossbar for a debut goal and City’s eleventh of the afternoon.
The home side will be pleased with their efforts, a tough afternoon at Swindon the week before was forgotten with a spirited display, even more so given the early sending off. For City, it was job done, another three points and with four games to go the title is in their hands, ten more points guaranteeing promotion to the third tier for the first time in the Club’s history.
