Exeter City Women picked up a hard-earned point with a goalless draw at Coach Road against the 10-woman league leaders Hashtag United on Sunday afternoon.
Abbie Britton made two changes to her starting from the side that beat Cheltenham Town 3-0 a fortnight ago, with Emily Toogood making her 151st Grecian appearance while Zoe Cunningham also started. Having come off with a knock against the Robins, Jaydee Seaman began the match on the bench.
First half
With both teams looking to develop play in wide areas, the early exchanges were focused on crosses into the penalty area. Emily Toogood blocked a dangerous near post effort before Hollie Turner was denied by a strong save from Abbi Bond in the Grecians goal.
Bond dealt comfortably with another near post cross, competently off her line to smother the resulting corner as the visitors pressed for the opener. City were restricted to set pieces in creation of their own attempts at goal, Georgie Barbour-Gresham and Mollie Taylor both with efforts that threatened Tags Goalkeeper Frances Angel.
Malika Apindia’s flicked header across goal was just missing a final touch as Hashtag continued to threaten with a series of corners and long throws, Bond kept busy as her handling was continuously under examination from the visitor's probing delivery in wide areas.
With the Grecians under pressure, the half time whistle looked a welcome break, but the game’s key moment would come just before the interval. Sophie Gillies broke and ran at the United defence before being felled on the edge of the penalty area, Hayley West picked up a second yellow card and the visitors were down to ten. Toogood struck the free kick into the hands of Angel and the whistle went for half time.
Second half
Despite the visitors' numerical disadvantage, the pattern of the game remained the same as the second half began, Bond making a stunning stop from Sammy Rowland as the Tags broke free into the penalty area.
The Grecians were beginning to establish more control in midfield areas, Amber Pollock breaking into the penalty area only to see her effort on goal blocked. Taylor fired over from a City corner as Abbie Britton’s side were enjoying their brightest spell of the game.
However, the final ten minutes were all Untieds, Apindia dragging an effort wide before Bond made another fine low save. Hashtag would have the ball in the net twice in the dying moments, the linesman’s flag coming as a welcome relief to the Grecians on both occasions as the visitors looked to have taken all three points at the death.
The full-time whistle signalled the end of a battle from start to finish as both sides gave their all, but City will be the most pleased to pick up a point as the visitors showed exactly why they will be one of the favourites for this season’s title.
Once again, the newly promoted Grecians displayed that they will be no pushover this season and seven points on the board in the last three games set them up nicely for next weekend’s FA Cup tie. Get your tickets for the clash at Exwick here.
Exeter City Women: Bond, Taylor, Barbour-Gresham (Sandland, 50'), Jackson (C), Toogood, Pollock, Cunningham (Baker, 76'), Ireland, Zuurmond (Grove, 85'), Stacey, Gillies.
Substitutes not used: Giles (GK), Seaman, Jones, Watkins.
Hashtag United Women: Angel, Apindia, Lumley, Gillard (C), West, Baigent, Nicholls (Ali, 63'), Finlayson, Fronc (Stead, 76'), Turner, Rowland (Griffin, 63').
All Hashtag substitutes used.
Attendance: 390