Exeter City Women fought back to secure a point against title chasing AFC Bournemouth in an entertaining contest at the County Ground on Sunday afternoon.
First Half
The visitors started with attacking intent, Sophie Quirk racing through on goal and her cut back cleared by the retreating Jess Sandland. A dangerous cross was missed by the City backline and as the ball dropped to the back post Emily Poole did well to smuggle it past thepost from close range. From the resulting corner Kenni Thompson struck the foot of the post as the Grecians were needing to weather the early storm.
Thompson was to prove the threat once more as her low cross was hacked clear, City struggling to find the level of composure in possession that had served them so well in recent weeks.
A Poole cross bounced kindly for Sophie Gillies and her low effort struck the outside of the post as the Grecians began to grow into the contest as the half continued, Amber Pollock testing Katie Scadding in the Cherries goal with a low drive.
With the flow of the game beginning to even out, City were sucker punched, a long kick from Scadding was misread and from the resulting corner Georgia Wilson powered a header past Abbi Bond for the opening goal.
Wilson had a glorious chance to extend the lead moments later, timing her run perfectly butstriking under the ball as she cleared the crossbar from close range.
Despite the visitor's dominance, the Grecians should have had the chance to level before the break. Pollock was upended by Jessica Hennessy in the penalty area but the officials deemedthe foul was outside the box and Poole’s free kick was blocked by the Bournemouth defence.
All to play for at the break.
Second Half
Pollock’s cross was fumbled at her near post by Scadding and the Grecians fans thought they had the perfect start to the second half, fortunately for the Bournemouth goalkeeper it dropped past the post.
Gillies latched onto a loose defensive pass, her through ball too heavy for Ishbel Zuurmond to benefit from as the Grecians grew in confidence, the visitor's time on the ball becoming restricted and the home side’s intensity increasing.
Pollock had a great chance to level, Sandland with a pack post delivery that the City winger poked wide from close range. Moments later the pitch opened up for Zuurmond to run at the Cherries backline and her effort was deflected away from danger as the pressure grew.
With such a talented front line, the visitors still carried a threat, Kelci Bowers with a chanceto seal the points but her effort was sliced wide.
City’s tempo was increasing and a flowing move led to the equaliser, Gillies finding the run of Zuurmond and as her shot was blocked Sarah Stacey poked in the loose ball.
Bournemouth are a resilaint side with a number of late goals adding points to their tally this season and it looked like they had done it again as City failed to clear from a free kick and Amber Treweek volley home with less than ten minutes to play, but the Grecians have found some resilience of their own in recent weeks.
Jess Sandland, reliable in defence and in any set piece situation, delivered a perfect free kick into the Bournemouth six-yard box and Stacey swept home for another leveller.
Both sides pushed for a winner, but it was hard to argue that a draw did not represent a fair reflection of both sides' afternoon.
Up Next
City will be looking to continue a rise in form when Real Bedford are the visitors on Sunday at The County Ground. Tickets are available, with more information available here!
Match Details
Exeter City XI
Bond (GK), Poole, Sandland, Seaman (C) (Toogood 78'), Slocombe, Pollock, Burridge (Ireland 50'), Baker (Jackson 61'), Zuurmond, Sara (Stacey 78'), Gillies
Exeter City Unused Subs
Styles
Exeter City Goalscorers
Stacey (81', 86')
AFC Bournemouth XI
Scadding (GK), Hennessy, Meadows Tuson (Barratt 74'), Kenni (Leonard 88'), Wilson, Quirk, James (C) (Treweek 74'), Cole, Markham, Bowers, Harris
AFC Bournemouth Unused Subs
Barron-Clark, McGuinness, Foley, Strippel
AFC Bournemouth Goalscorers
Wilson (23'), Treweek (83')