Exeter City Women continued their pre-season preparations with a strong performance at Ringwood as they defeated AFC Bournemouth 3-1 on a warm Sunday afternoon in Dorset.
The Grecians started brightly, Ishbel Zuurmond, playing in a more advanced position, putting the home defence under persistent demand with her relentless pressing. Jess Sandland’s weighted pass offered the chance for Zuurmond to run at the Cherries defence and as she surged into the area a combination of goalkeeper and defender blocked her drilled goal bound effort to keep the game goalless.
Never one to be fazed, Zuurmond again drove at the home defence moments later, on this occasion she was upended in the penalty area and City had a chance to take the lead from the spot. Sarah Stacey calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net and the Grecians had an early advantage.
The home side struggled to counter City’s pace in wide areas and Emily Toogood’s pass exposed the weakness once more, Amber Pollock driving towards the touchline before cutting back for Zoe Cunningham to slot in a second with only eleven minutes on the clock.
A Kelci Bowers strike from distance briefly threatened Abbi Bond’s goal, the City stopper happy to see the ball drift over as the team’s headed into a drinks break.
Zuurmond buzzed around the home defence once more to force an error, her low cross cut out on the stretch with Stacey looking to pounce for a third. Zuurmond then chased down a lofted Toogood pass, the Cherries goalkeeper and defender causing each other confusion, the loose ball just failing to fall into the path of the City forward with the goal vacant.
Cunningham struck wide as she was the recipient of a Stacey lay off, the City midfielder on the cover at the other end as Bournemouth tried to catch the Grecians out with a short free kick routine.
After a strong opening from the Jaydee Seaman-Georgie Barbour-Gresham-Emily Toogood back line, Steve Cuss’ side were now applying more pressure, a near post effort cannoning off the crossbar from close range.
With only seconds of the first half remaining, the home side found a route back into the game, Ali Hall smashing home from the edge of the penalty area after City had failed to successfully clear a corner. The Grecians were ahead at the break, but the game was now back in balance.
The second half began with Cunningham forcing the Cherries’ goalkeeper into a smart low save as she struck from distance, both teams now countering each other as legs tired in the mid-afternoon sun. Toogood forced another fine save as City pressed, former Grecian Jenna Markham shooting wide at the other end as the game continued to ebb and flow.
With a drinks break pending, City regained their two-goal advantage. Zoe Watkins struck a lofted effort from distance that sailed out of the reach of home goalkeeper Daniela Kosinska and into the back of the net. The now tepid water in the City drink bottles tasted that little bit sweeter as the teams paused for a break.
Substitute Matilda Franchi continued to put the home side under pressure, the teenager chasing down a clipped pass and forcing another low save from Kosinska. The Grecians had retained a measure of control since their third goal, Beth Ireland calmly and efficiently dictating the play as she had done so all afternoon, and it would be City who had the game's final chance. Sandland forced her way into the box with a lung busting run before squaring to Stacey who could not get enough power on the ball to direct it towards the bottom corner, Kosinska gratefully smothering the shot on her line.
A test of stamina, endurance and technical aptitude, this was a good afternoon’s preparation for Abbie Britton’s side.
With Cardiff City Women set to visit the Cliff Hill on Thursday - pre-season is nearing its conclusion - and all eyes can then turn to Sunday’s season opener as MK Dons visit St James Park.