November
“I guess it just comes naturally to me!” – Sarah Stacey after scoring her 100th City goal against Keynsham
The FA Cup’s magic comes in many forms, and for Sarah Stacey, it was joining a selective Grecian club, only open to those who have scored 100 in red and white. What’s even more impressive about Sarah’s achievement against Keynsham, was that it was only her 102nd appearance. We guess goalscoring does just come naturally to some.
More goals followed in a month City spent predominantly away from home, with the Grecians scoring 11 in the final two games against MK Dons and then Argyle again. Stacey’s knee slide in the driving rain at Home Park will go down as an iconic image in City folklore, as the Grecians progressed to the third round with a 5-1 win.
December
“We just want to make sure we’re doing ourselves proud.” – Abbie Britton looking forward to the FA Cup Fourth Round draw
City ended the year in style, scoring four past Billericay in the league before a dramatic FA Cup Third Round win over Worthing. A late equaliser from Sophie Gillies sent the tie to extra time, where City’s quality shone through with goals from Stacey and Gillies. The reward: a Fourth Round clash against Sunderland in January. City rounded off 2024 with a 1-0 win over Lewes to end the year second in the division, and with all eyes now firmly focus on the next round of the cup which was a little over three weeks away…
January
"I'm proud of where we are, what we've achieved on this run but we were under no illusions that today would be a really difficult task." – Abbie Britton after FA Cup defeat to Sunderland.
It was never going to be easy, and when you find yourself 2-0 down inside ten minutes, the task gets even harder. That was mountain City had to climb when Sunderland came to Devon in City’s first game of 2024. But it was a learning process, and it was a show of where the Grecians needed to get to if they wanted to make the gradual step up to the next level. The FA Cup tie may have needed 7-1 to the away side, but it was by no means an embarrassment for Abbie Britton’s side as they used the result as motivation.
Mollie Taylor would bag City’s goal of the season in the 1-1 draw against Gwalia United, which took place at Taunton Town’s ground.