Report | Exeter City 1-0 Argyle Women
Argyle Women suffered a 1-0 defeat in the Devon Derby on Wednesday night to Exeter City in FAWNL Southern Premier Division play at Coach Road.
A Sophie Gillies rebound strike 10 minutes from time was enough to hand the Grecians three points on a freezing night at the home of the Devon FA.
The back-and-forth affair saw both sides have key chances in front of goal, but it was the hosts that struck gold, and it leaves Argyle in the bottom two of the league table.
Early chances fell in Argyle’s favour, with the closest coming from a long-range Imy Crawford strike. The midfielder’s effort bounced off the underside of the Exeter crossbar and looked as though it may have crossed the line, though no goal was given and play continued.
The tie then turned into a basketball game. Both sides rushed forward, creating a chance, and then retreated quickly to try to stop the opposition's counterattack.
Argyle handed the Grecians many a chance from set-pieces, but Exeter could not capitalise, and had to watch headed efforts fly past the post.
Just before the half-hour mark, Sarah Stacey found space in the box to fire an effort at the bottom corner and had to stand and watch her shot bounce back into play. However, some Exeter players, alongside many of the near-600 fans in attendance, believed the ball had crossed the line.
Much like with Crawford’s effort in the opening stages of the game, no goal was awarded and play continued.
Both sides created chances for the remainder of the first half, but neither could find the final touch to break the goalless affair. Argyle came closest through Charlotte Whitmore’s ball across the face of the goal, but it was not enough, and the game entered the half level.
Exeter Manager Abbie Britton turned to her bench and brought on Ishbel Zuurmond, and the hosts looked like a new side, dominating the opening stages of the second half.
Although chances were made and shots were taken, Exeter still could not break the deadlock- until the 79th minute. Gillies found space and ran through on goal and saw her first effort saved by Lily Felgate but tapped home the rebound to secure the three points.
Argyle Head Coach James Bradley said: “I’m obviously disappointed. I thought we were in the game from minute one to minute 90. We started the game really brightly and created a good couple of chances early on, but it’s tough to go one goal down with 10 minutes to go.
“I thought the effort, the enthusiasm, the energy - all of those things that we've been speaking about over the last couple of weeks - were really good.
“We've got to take the positives out of the game because there are loads of them. I think we competed really well for 90 minutes, and on a different night with a different rub of the green, then that result can easily go the other way.
“We have also got to be aware that, we've got to pick points up from now to the end of the season, so getting over the line is going to be absolutely critical. Good performances aren't going to be enough. We need points.”
Argyle: 1 Lily Felgate, 3 Roxy Thomas (22 Lois Edwards, 82), 4 Amii Kearley (6 Taya Pomfret, 88), 5 Giota Papaioannou (capt), 7 Charlotte Whitmore, 8 Imy Crawford, 9 Ellie Sara (15 Georgie Knott, 68), 10 Georgia Wilson (2 Katie Dickson, 55), 16 Ella Stephens, 24 Ava Kuyken (20 Fern Orchard, 85), 26 Caitlin Smith. Substitutes: 19 Erin O'Shea, 23 Freya Weeks.
Booked: Whitmore 42, Crawford 60
Exeter: 1 Abbi Bond, 2 Bow Jackson (capt), 4 Jaydee Seaman, 5 Fearne Slocombe (8 Beth Ireland, 62), 6 Jess Sandland, 7 Phoebe Baker (3 Emily Toogood, 86), 10 Sarah Stacey, 16 Zoe Watkins (16 Ishbel Zuurmond, 45), 19 Mollie Taylor (13 Maya Kendall, 62), 21 Sophie Gillies (18 Beth Everson, 95), 23 Amber Pollock. Substitutes: 17 Zoe Cunningham, 22 Liv Giles.
Goal: Gillies 79
Booked: Watkins 42
