Exeter City Women head along the south coast for the second successive weekend as they visit Southampton Women’s FC in the hunt for a first three points on the road this season.
Southampton enjoyed a successful 2022 campaign, finishing fourth, and Manager Aaron Smith has recruited well in the close season. Sara Luce, Kirsty Whitton and Shannon Sievwright have all arrived following their release from Southampton FC Women, Sievwright a regular in the Saints Southern Premier Title success last term. Luce is a Jersey International Goalkeeper and will offer plenty of experience in the Hampshire side’s goal, whilst Whitton rejoins the Club after three years away. Lauren Knight has joined from Reading’s Academy, Emma King from Poole and former Grecian Hope Suominen completes the summer arrivals.
Smith's side have had a frustrating couple of weeks, an opening day win at Larkhall has been followed by two postponements. Fixtures against Maidenhead and Selsey have both been rearranged and so it is City’s visit that will eventually kick off the team's home fixtures for the season. One positive note during the past fortnight has been the announcement that the club will play their home games at Eastleigh’s Silverlake Stadium this season, although due to prior arrangements City will be heading to AFC Totton’s Miller Park this weekend.
Fixtures between the two sides always tend to be keenly contested and the anticipation is that this Sunday will be no different. With unbeaten Cardiff City next up, Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s team will go into the weekend hoping to add to the points that see them head east top of the division. City will hope to feature new signing Chloe Gilroy, the talented forward was a regular for Bridgwater United in last season’s Southern Premier and will add another dimension to the City attack.
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