Three goals at Home Park kept Devon red as Exeter City Women swept to victory against Plymouth Argyle.
City finished the first half 2-0 to the good after a goal apiece from strike duo Sophie Gillies and, from the penalty spot, Sarah Stacey, before substitute Emily Toogood put the icing on the cake and sealed the win with a header from a corner with just a minute to go.
Abbie Britton made one change to her lineup from the weekend's abandoned game against Billericay, bringing Ishbel Zuurmond into the starting eleven in place of Zoe Cunningham. Sophie Gillies led the line against the the side she scored against in last season's Devon Cup Final, while Lemoni Gouldstone returned to the bench.
First half
Argyle started the brighter of the two sides, pressing City back into their own half early on. However, the Grecians remained composed, sticking to their passing game, which almost created the opening chance.
Five minutes in, City recovered possession high up the pitch after Zuurmond’s driving run down the right, and Phoebe Baker used it to find Gillies inside the area. But before the striker could get a shot away, Argyle captain Giota Papaioannou executed a perfectly timed sliding challenge to clear the danger.
The Grecians came even closer four minutes later, once again through Baker. Cutting in from the right, City’s number seven delivered a low cross into the six-yard box. The keeper spilled the ball, but frustratingly, it deflected away from Sarah Stacey with the goal wide open.
Argyle responded with their first chance, as Georgia Wilson beat Bow Jackson down the right and fired a shot just inside the area, but it sailed over the bar into the stands.
That chance was a warning for City, but they soon showed their strength by taking the lead. Passing their way through the home side's midfield, City created space for Gillies inside the box, where Stacey picked her out. Gillies needed just one touch before firing into the roof of the net, putting the Grecians 1-0 up after 14 minutes.
The game settled briefly before Stacey got her first chance eight minutes later. Finding space on the right wing again, Gillies and Taylor combined to set up Stacey, whose shot was deflected out for a corner. Sandland’s initial delivery was met by Taylor and deflected wide, while the second corner was cleared only as far as Baker, who sent her shot over the bar.
City soon doubled their Devon Derby lead when Amber Pollock was brought down in the Argyle area, earning a penalty. Stacey stepped up confidently and, with a powerful strike to the keeper's right, made it 2-0.
With momentum fully behind them, the Grecians pressed for a third. Baker found Gillies moments after the restart, but this time, Gillies couldn’t hit the target, sending her shot high.
Argyle continued to pose a threat, and Abbi Bond made her first save of the game with five minutes left in the half. A quick counter-attack released Wilson in the area, but Bond confidently caught her shot.
Shortly after, Pollock received the game’s first yellow card for a foul 30 yards from goal, 30 yards from goal on the right. The ball was swung into the area but Jaydee Seaman was behind the ball to block a shot before clearing any danger up field.
An entertaining first half culminated with another City chance, as Zuurmond found Stacey but her shot was deflected wide for an inconsequential corner.
Second half
The start of the second half lacked the intensity of the first, with Argyle taking a slight edge in possession. The Pilgrims began to grow into the derby, floating balls into the box from both a corner and a free kick. City’s defense handled the first, while the second saw a flicked header from Papaioannou that drifted wide.
An unfortunate injury to Zuurmond gave Abbie Britton a chance to rally her players, and immediately after the restart, City went on the attack. Taylor sent a low cross into the box that Stacey held up, allowing Zuurmond’s replacement, Zoe Watkins, to fend off a challenge and lay the ball back to Gillies. However, from a tight angle, her shot went just wide.
City looked close to regaining control, but a quick Argyle counter from a free kick kept them on alert. Pollock’s set piece was cleared upfield, and as Argyle threatened to break through on goal, Seaman stepped up with a perfectly timed sliding tackle to clear the ball out of play.
Watkins nearly added her customary goal against Argyle five minutes later, receiving a setup from Beth Ireland just outside the penalty area, though her shot went wide and didn’t trouble the goalkeeper.
City’s best chance of the half came in the 75th minute through Gillies. The Grecians’ pressing had pinned Argyle inside their own box when Stacey won back possession. She slipped the ball to strike partner Gillies, who rounded the keeper, but the tight angle forced her shot into the side netting.
Argyle substitute Ellie Sara came close to pulling one back with ten minutes to go, but her header found only the roof of the net.
With Argyle looking ever more dangerous going forward, City put the game beyond all doubt from a corner just before the final whistle. Brought on in a defensive role, with her first touch in the game Emily Toogood rose highest in a pack and headed a corner goalwards, and it flicked off a defender and into the back of the net, securing three points to take back up the A38.
The team then celebrated in front of the red and white away end, sharing the moment with their traveling supporters to cap off a wonderful night in Plymouth. With Devon painted red, the Grecians now head to Cheltenham for their third game of the week this Sunday.
Plymouth Argyle Women: Felgate, Dickson (Orchard, 81'), Papaioannou (C) (Jarvis, 68'), Pomfret, Whitmore, Crawford, Wilson, Knott (Sara, 51'), Stephens, Kuyken (Thomas, 81'), Smith.
Substitutes: Erhabor (GK), Kearley, Grigg.
Exeter City Women: Bond, Jackson (C), Seaman, Sandland, Baker (Toogood, 87'), Ireland, Stacey (Gouldstone, 90'), Zuurmond (Watkins, 64'), Taylor (Barbour-Gresham, 79'), Gillies (Jones, 90'), Pollock.
Substitutes not used: Giles (GK), Cunningham.
Goals: Gillies 14', Stacey 29' (pen), Toogood 89'.
Attendance: 1,927 (136 away)