Exeter City Women will look to complete 2023 with a ninth successive league win as they visit Abingdon United on Sunday, a victory that would continue to set up an intriguing title battle with AFC Bournemouth for the New Year.
Newly promoted Abingdon have enjoyed a strong first season, easing their way into tier four football with five victories and sitting fifth in the division. League wins over Portishead Town, Maidenhead United, Bridgwater United, Torquay United and Selsey have consolidated the Yellow’s season, AFC Bournemouth and Swindon Town the only teams to defeat the Oxfordshire side in league action.
A steady flow of goals from Lia Francis, Erin Hartigan (6), Grace Eagles (5) and Lauren May (4) offers United plenty of threat going forward, the home side coming into this fixture off the back of five wins in their last six games. Yet, for all the good news from the 2023/24 season for United to date, this week has seen the departure of promotion winning Manager Danial Knight and Coach Declan O’Hanlon.
The Grecians will go into the game in confident mood, a 5-1 victory on a hot September afternoon over Abingdon progressed Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s side in the League Cup Plate Competition. However, with this only the third game in the past six weeks, momentum has been hard to obtain for City heading into the Christmas break and the home side are certainly not to be underestimated.