Exeter City Women suffered their first defeat of the season as Oxford United provided a late show at St James Park to take all three points.
With the two sides looking like they were heading towards a stalemate, a quickfire double for the visitors in the 75th and 77th minutes put them in control, before they rounded off the victory with a third in added time.
Abbie Britton made three changes to the side, 17-year-old goalkeeper Liv Giles making her first league start for the Grecians, with Jess Sandland and Phoebe Baker also coming into the starting 11.
First half
Oxford created the early chances, Phoebie Poole forcing a low save from Giles before Zoe Barratt’s follow up effort hit the foot of the post.
The Grecians would begin to find their way into the contest as the half progressed, Baker striking into the hands of Yellows goalkeeper Beth Howard after link play from Ishbel Zuurmond and Sophie Gillies had led to a City free kick.
Zuurmond twisted and turned her way into the United penalty area, her set for Jess Sandland to cross was volleyed over by Gillies at the near post. The Grecians were beginning to find space in wide areas to attack the visitors' defence but on too many occasions the final ball was lacking in the significant quality to test Howard.
Oxford would finish the half strongly, Georgie Barbour-Gresham sliding in to deny a shooting opportunity before Leah Burridge’s effort from distance flew past the outstretched hand of Giles and wide of the upright.
A competitive half, with Oxford edging it on chances created.
Second half
City captain Zoe Cunningham struck over from distance moments after the restart, Beth Ireland and Amber Pollock linking play on the Grecians left for a cross that was claimed by Howard at her near post.
Giles was called into action as the increasingly dangerous Barratt struck towards goal, the following succession of corners and crosses dealt with comfortably by the City backline as Barbour-Gresham rose highest.
In a similar pattern to the first period, City found their momentum mid-way through the half, Ireland splitting the United defence for Pollock to stride into space, the City wing back was bundled to the ground to cries for a penalty, the loose ball falling into the path of Cunningham whose strike from distance was held by the retreating Howard.
Pollock was now in full flow, running at the Yellows backline and delivering the ball into dangerous areas. She was felled on the edge of the penalty area from her latest foray, Cunningham’s free kick blocked to safety by a strong Oxford wall.
Giles made another low save to deny Poole moments later, but City would be undone with 15 minutes remaining. A loose pass was pounced on by the Oxford midfield and Jenna Legg’s pass set Barratt away, with the Grecians outnumbered, the cut back found Poole and she made no mistake in slotting past Giles for the lead.
One quickly became two, a header from an Oxford corner deflected off Emily Toogood to draw a fine save from Giles, but the loose ball was bundled over the line from Poole for her second in as many minutes.
Britton rang the changes, but the Yellows held firm, Gillies’ free kick over the crossbar the closest City came to getting back into the contest. With six minutes of injury time on the clock, the visitors added a third, another foot race between attack and defence went Oxford’s way and Adele Lindbaek calmly slotted past Giles for a third.
A disappointing end to a game that the Grecians had competed admirably in. Oxford’s stronghold on possession and ability to seize clinically on any City errors was the key to their deserved victory. City will look to bounce back at the weekend as they head to AFC Wimbledon, the divisions two promoted sides facing each other for the first time.
Exeter City Women: Giles, Toogood (Dowling), Seaman, Sandland (Watkins), Baker (Grove), Ireland, Barbour-Gresham (Jones), Zuurmond, Cunningham (C) (Wathan), Gillies, Pollock.
Substitutes: Read (GK), Grove, Jones, Watkins, Franchi, Wathan, Dowling.
Oxford United Women: Howard, Gibson, Wiseman, Creaney, Barratt, Poole, Gotch, King (Budaieva), Oliver, Burridge (C) (Legg), Trinder (Sealey).
Substitutes: Sercombe (GK), Legg, Sealey, Richardson, Lindaek, Budaieva, Cook.
Goals: Poole 75', 77', Lindbaek 90+6'
Attendance: 720