Exeter City Women overcame the weather and a tenacious Worthing side to progress to the FA Cup Fourth Round for only the fifth time in the team’s history on Sunday afternoon.
Sarah Stacey and Sophie Gillies with the goals in extra time to book a place in Monday evening’s draw.
Abbie Britton made two changes from last week's win against Billericay Town, with Zoe Cunningham returning in midfield and Liv Giles coming in for Abbie Bond in goal. Development team player Skye MacDonald-Brown was included in the first team squad for the first time, while Lemoni Gouldstone also returned to the bench.
First half
The Grecians were quickly into their rhythm, Sophie Gillies pressing a turnover of possession for Sarah Stacey to prompt Worthing Goalkeeper Lauren Dolbear into a smart save at her near post. Dolbear was in position to deny Gillies a minute later before a Mollie Taylor low cross was struck over the crossbar by Stacey from close range.
With City wasteful in front of goal, the visitors began to find their way into the contest, Bow Jackson cutting out a dangerous cross as the Rebels countered.
Ishbel Zuurmond forced Dolbear into a low save after another driving run towards goal, Taylor heading the resulting corner towards goal only for the Worthing defence to block the effort on the line. Amber Pollock’s weighted pass just evading the run of Zuurmond as City continued to probe away with a series of chances.
Gillies raced clear for another Grecians opportunity on the half hour mark, she turned inside the defender only to be denied once more by the impressive Dolbear. More Worthing blocks continued to frustrate City, Zoe Cunningham’s teasing cross not attacked by the City frontline as the home side headed into the break with a host of chances not converted and the scoreline goalless.
Second half
Pollock’s driving run and cross just evaded Gillies run as the second half commenced, Emily Toogood’s perfect diagonal cross controlled by Zuurmond but her effort slid narrowly wide of the post. Toogood fired an effort towards goal that was again blocked as the pressure continued to build.
However, the FA Cup is a competition that supporters love for a reason, and Worthing took their opportunity from a corner to claim the lead. Georgia Tibble delivering the corner and Sophie Humphrey flicking the ball past Liv Giles for the opening goal.
Stacey took the ball around Dolbear but drifted wide and could not find a path to goal, the Rebels goalkeeper then denying Pollock from close range. Stacey’s diving header drifted wide before City finally found the goal their play deserved, Zuurmond cutting inside to fire towards the goal as Gillies slid into level the game.
Worthing then had two huge chances to regain the lead. A coming together between Jackson and Jessica Richardson gave the Referee a big decision to make, the official deciding that the contact was mutual. A minute later, Tibble, who had been impressive throughout the contest, struck a sensational effort from a distance that struck the inside of Liv Giles’ post and bounced to safety.
The midfield combination of Beth Ireland and Phoebe Baker were beginning to dominate proceedings as the game concluded, Ireland’s pass finding Stacey who was denied once more by Dolbear. Baker’s header dipped over the crossbar from a Toogood corner as City threw everything at the Worthing backline, Taylor’s back post header looking to have sealed the game, but the ball hit the side netting and into extra-time the tie would go.
Extra-time
Pollock had finished the game strongly and the Worthing defence had failed to heed this particular Amber warning, the City wingback driving into the penalty area and forcing a low save from Dolbear, the loose ball falling kindly to Stacey who converted from close range for the lead.
Cup tie over? Not for this Worthing team, a headed effort struck the crossbar before Pollock cleared the resulting follow up off the line. Tibble then hit an outrageous volley from the edge of the penalty area that narrowly flew over the crossbar, the flow of the game switching back into the visitor's favor.
Gillies was denied by the onrushing Dolbear as City looked to clinch the tie in the closing moments of the second period of Extra time, the City forward having the final say moments later as she raced clear of tired legs to fire the ball in at the near post and secure the Grecians progress into round four.
A fascinating contest, with full credit going to Jesus Cordon’s side who made the Grecians work tirelessly for their victory. City now head into Monday evening's draw with a potential Super League opponent as a possibility.
Exeter City Women: Giles, Taylor (Jones, 105'), Jackson (C), Seaman, Toogood, Pollock (MacDonald-Brown, 119'), Cunningham (Ireland, 64'), Watkins (Baker, 64'), Zuurmond, Stacey, Gillies (Gouldstone, 119').
Substitutes not used: Bond (GK).
Goals: Gillies 70', 118', Stacey 91'.
Worthing Women: Dolbear, Young, Franklin, Linscer, Talbut-Smith, Rowe (C), Lane, Tibble, Humphrey, Winchester, Scott.
Substitutes: Kingschott, Cooper, Bell, Amerena, Keegan, Richardson, Davies.
Goal: Humphrey 56'