A goal apiece from strike duo Sarah Stacey and Sophie Gillies won all three points for City Women in a 2-1 victory against AFC Wimbledon.
City's number 10 opened the scoring by converting from a corner after just five minutes before the Dons equalised on the stroke of half-time. However the Grecians came out from the break looking in the mood for a winner, and Sophie Gillies bundled home a free-kick in the 50th minute and Exeter rarely came under trouble after that as a strong defensive performance kept them third.
For the Grecians' first home game in over a month, Abbie Britton made three changes from the side that narrowly lost to Ipswich last Sunday. Maya Kendell returned to the eleven at wing-back, while Emily Toogood was also fit enough to be utilised from the start. Amber Pollock started for her 50th appearance in red and white, while Jess Sandland was named on the bench, knowing that if she was brought on she would become a City Centurion.
First half
The Grecians flew out of the traps, and attacked the Dons early with Gillies forcing a save from the keeper, which was turned behind for a corner. Toogood swung in a ball from the right which flew into the six yard box, where Stacey connected on the volley, sending it beyond the keeper and in.
In the driving rain, City didn't relent, with Pollock next to test the keeper with a shot from distance that was dealt with, before a half-volley from Gillies had to be saved by a diving Kite in Wimbledon's goal.
It took the visitors until the 15th minute to register their first chance, but Liv Giles held Ellie Dorey's shot. That marked the start of the Wombles growing into the game though, and they went close with a back post header from a corner eight minutes later, putting the ball over when they really should've hit the target.
City kept probing though, and a fantastic pass by Pheobe Baker played Gillies through on the half hour mark, however Kite came quickly out of her goal to block the effort on the edge of the box, sending the City striker tumbling as the ball went out.
Superb last ditch defending from AFC Wimbledon defender MacKenzie was next up to deny Gillies, but an equaliser would come in the dying moments of the first half through Dons skipper Hincks.
A ball through the middle unzipped the City defence, and a deft lob from the former WSL player brought Wimbledon level.
Exeter had a golden chance to equalise before the interval as Gillies raced through, and after her shot was saved it fell to Stacey, but the striker fired over.
Second half
It appeared to be the visitors starting the second half on top after Giles had to make a good save from a one-on-one situation, but a mistake from Wimbledon's keeper gave City another set-piece to take the lead from.
Kite handled the ball outside her box near the bottom right corner, which gave the Grecians a dangerous free-kick. Baker sent a ball in and after bouncing between several players, Gillies swung a leg at it and sent it beyond the keeper and in.
From there on, the Grecians kept the visitors at bay, controlling the tempo of the game in challenging conditions. Giles made another good save 15 minutes from time from Sabina before Stacey was denied by a brilliant save from Kite in goal.
Abbie Britton's side controlled the final stages and never looked like conceding, as they sealed their first home win of 2025.
City now have a fortnight break until they next travel to Oxford, on March 9.
Exeter City Women: Giles, Kendell (Taylor, 77'), Seaman, Jackson (C), Toogood, Pollock, Baker (Watkins 77'), Ireland (Slocombe 63'), Zuurmond (Sandland, 88'), Stacey, Gillies (Everson, 88').
Substitutes not used: Bond (GK).
Goals: Stacey 5', Gillies 51'
AFC Wimbledon Women: Kite, Russell, Highman, MacKenzie, Hincks (C), Dorey, Bell, Billingham, Knorr, Clifford.
Substitute: Sabania.
Goal: Hincks 45+1'