Exeter City Women exited the League Cup after Ipswich Town hit two second half goals to claim victory at a wet and windy St James Park.
Abbie Britton made five changes, Bow Jackson, Mollie Taylor and Liv Giles all returning as Jade Grove and Courtney Jones made their first Grecian starts.
Giles was alert to stop an Isabella Fisher drive in the opening minute, City’s backline caught from a long ball as the visitors started brightly. A long-range effort from Town’s Ella Rutherford sailed over the crossbar before Jackson’s effort from a well worked Taylor cross suffered the same fate at the other end.
City’s back line were struggling to match the pace of the Ipswich attack and Summer Hughes’ latest cut back was calmly slotted into the corner of the net by Rutherford, the Town strikers third St James Park goal this season.
Far from being rocked by the goal, it settled the Grecians into a steady rhythm of play, the midfield trio of Phoebe Baker, Zoe Cunningham and Beth Ireland setting the tempo for the home side as they fought for a way back into the contest.
Jackson’s snap shot failed to trouble Town goalkeeper Laura Hartley, before Cunningham skipped past defensive challenges to test Hartley’s handling with a strike from distance. It would be a strike from Cunningham that led to the equaliser, Hartley blocking the ball back into play and Grove’s pass allowed Stacey to fire in the leveler on the stroke of half time. It was just reward for city’s effort and patient build up play.
The visitors started the second period strongly, Jess Sandland blocking a low cross before an effort on the turn drifted wide of Giles’ goal. Jones’ defence splitting pass met the run of Baker but the city midfielders cut back was blocked by the retreating Town defence.
With the game in the balance, a decisive counter would put the visitors in front once more. Maisy Barker released Isabel Bryant down the right side and Angela Addison fired in the low cross from ten yards.
Ipswich Manager Joe Sheehan had also made multiple changes to his regular eleven, and he brought on last season’s top goalscorer Natasha Thomas with thirty minutes to play. Thomas immediately showcased her quality, driving inside the city defence and firing a dipping effort just wide of Giles’ goal.
Grove tested Hartley’s handling once more, but it was the visitors running in behind that looked the biggest threat, Giles down low to deny a third goal. Thomas came close to a decisive goal, blocking Giles’ kick before the ball slid out of play with the goal vacant.
Grove fired wide before the final goal of the game arrived, Barker racing clear of tiring city legs before squaring for Fisher to beat Giles and clinch progression into the next round.
Abbie Britton’s side can take heart from their performance, Town are a side in form and the Grecians remain the only team to score against them this season. The control City were able to obtain in midfield in the first half was particularly impressive, but the visitors once again showed their strength in the second half.
Three league games in seven days are next up for City and they will be looking to return to winning ways, after two clean sheets to begin the season, it is 15 conceded in six for Britton’s side and they will need to get back to that defensive frugality to consolidate a good start to life in tier three.