Exeter City Women completed pre-season with a 100% record after a topsy-turvy 4-3 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the SEAH Stadium in Telford.
Sophie Gillies registered a trio of goals before Georgia Vaccaro added gloss to the victory in added time after Wolves had fought from two goals down to initially level the game.
There were changes and substitutions aplenty after two matches already this week – 4-1 and 9-1 wins at Bristol Rovers and MAP respectively – as Abbie Britton had one final look at her squad before the league kicks off away at Cheltenham next Sunday.
First Half
The Grecians took just two minutes to open the scoring in Telford, as Gillies combined with Ellie Sara and Emily Poole to smash home inside the area. After Sara’s lay-off, Gillies played the one-two with Poole to fire in the return ball.
Wolves, who are one of the favourites for the Northern half of the National League this season, were quick to react however and could have levelled with a header from a left hand side cross. City stopper Abbi Bond was then needed as she smothered, before the game continued to open up. Twice the hosts played corners to the edge of the area, and on both occasions the effort flew over the bar.
It should have been two when Sara pounced on poor distribution from Wolves keeper Mia Smith to find Stacey, but Smith made amends to get down and quell the danger. That was a warning shot however, as just five minutes later City and Gillies doubled their tally. In the same manner, Sara pressed on Smith’s goal-kick and won the ball on the edge of the box before Gillies found the bottom corner with a neatly placed effort.
Just minutes before the half-time whistle blew, with City in control, Bond ensured it stayed that way as tipped a ferocious free-kick from Beth Merrick around the post with the ball sailing into the top corner.
Second Half
The Grecians were good value for their lead, but just two minutes into the second half that lead was halved as Jade Cross pounced on a piercing through ball to beat the onrushing Bond from midway inside the area.
Wolves smelt blood and changed shape shortly after their first goal, dominating large periods of possession in the opening 15 minutes of the half. The leveller came in impressive circumstances as the hosts burst forward, City allowing space for Louanne Worsey to unleash a fierce effort from distance with Bond rooted to the spot.
Gillies could have had her hat-trick earlier had she beaten Bec Thomas – Wolves’ second half keeper – but the woman with the gloves thwarted the hungry striker from close range after Stacey’s well weighted pass.
With the game evened up in terms of score and balance of play, City edged back in front with a superb counter-attacking move. Winning possession in the centre, Beth Ireland delivered a defence splitter for Vaccaro, who stood up the perfect cross to the edge of the six-yard box for Gillies to powerfully head past Thomas for 3-2.
City had thrown everything at Wolves and found a fourth goal a minute into second half stoppage time. After delivering an assist for Gillies’ third, Vaccaro got herself on the scoresheet as the dropped kindly to her inside the area for her to cushion the ball off the post for number four.
The game was not done though, with Wolves pulling another goal back from the penalty spot just two minutes later. Merrick stepped up to send the ball past Bond, but it was too late to mount any further comeback as City held on for a brilliant victory.
Wolves XI: Smith (GK), Harkin, Marshall, Cross, Hughes, Quigley, Sims, Anderson, Roberts, Jenner, Merrick.
Subs: Thomas (GK), Loydon, Greengrass, McPhail, Johnson, Hiscox, Worsey.
City XI: Bond (GK), Poole, Seaman, Jackson, Taylor, Pollock, Burridge, Baker, Sara, Gillies, Stacey.
Subs: Giles (GK), Sandland, Ireland, Everson, Presswell, Vaccaro.
Photo Credit: Wolverhampton Wanderers