đź“ť Women's Match Preview: Swindon Town (H)

Exeter City Women will be looking to build on their opening day league victory at Bridgwater United as Swindon Town are the visitors to the Exwick Sports Hub on Sunday afternoon.

Under the management of Mike Cook, Town have undergone a rebuild over the summer with seven new arrivals added to the talented Wiltshire side’s squad.

Taylor MacDonald, Georgia Clifford, Holly Beck-Esson and Billie Haynes all arrive with experience at a higher level, Clifford having played in the Championship with Crystal Palace during her career and Macdonald a regular performer for Portsmouth in the Southern Premier League last season.

Meg Jarvis, Holly Randall, Grace Purnell and Ellie Strippel have also been recruited, Strippel’s impressive performances for Portishead Town earning her the Player of the Year award for the National League South West in 2022/23.

Swindon have started strongly, with a comfortable opening day win over Abingdon United, before a cup win on the road at Actonians last Sunday. One player who continues to impress is last season’s top goalscorer Annie Colston, the forward has five goals already this season after hitting twenty-five in 2022/23. The pace of Colston and Jarvis, coupled with the creativity of Beck-Esson will be a significant challenge to the Grecians defence on Sunday.

Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley’s side were distinctly under par in last weekend’s Devon derby and will be keen to return to the level of performance that saw them ease past Bridgwater and impress during pre-season.

With the City squad nearly at full capacity as players return from injury and with Torquay United to visit the Hub on Wednesday, the focus will be on making the Exwick venue a fortress once more and getting the new league campaign off to a perfect start.