Grecian Ladies back to winning ways at Larkhall
Exeter City Ladies recorded their first league win of the season away at Larkhall, earning a 4-1 win in Somerset.Having been defeated on the opening weekend in Shanklin, City arrived in Bath with a squad still short on numbers and looking to deny their hosts their first points of the campaign after defeat to Swindon a fortnight before.
Kate Hine’s experience in defence was helping Exeter marshal their plucky opponents. Larkhall, playing a high line, were almost caught cold on a couple of occasions only for Tash Knapman and Kirsty Caunter to squander chances, taking the teams goalless into the interval on a hot afternoon.
After the break, however, City began to boss the game with more authority and Knapman, playing the lone striker’s role, was particularly lively. A great save was needed by the hosts’ stopper after the Grecians forward was again released.
But the Larkhall resolve was finally breached when a tremendous free-kick from 25 yards out nestled into the top corner via the inside of the post.
Knapman soon secured her second – free and unmarked at the back post, she headed a corner ball downwards with power to increase the lead. And the hat-trick was completed midway through the second period when Caunter threaded the forward through to finish smartly with her left foot.
The arrears were cut by Larkhall’s right-back, whose hopeful cross/shot eluded everyone and dipped beneath the crossbar to get the hosts on the scoresheet.
But the three-goal cushion was re-established with 10 minutes remaining as a cross from hard-working Sophie Simpson was flicked on by Chloe Williams to score with a volley from the edge of the area.