An early goal apiece meant that the points were shared between City Women and Gwalia United on a biting cold afternoon in Taunton.
Mollie Taylor's rocket opened the scoring after 10 minutes before a penalty was awarded to Gwalia shortly afterwards. That was converted past Abbi Bond and despite a battling performance, the Grecians couldn't break down a stubborn Gwalia defence and had to settle for a point.
After last weekend's FA Cup defeat against Sunderland, Abbie Britton made four changes to her starting eleven, signalling a change in system. Fearne Slocombe made her full City debut, while Zoe Watkins, Zoe Cunningham and Mollie Taylor also came into the side. Development side regular Lily Dowling also returned to the squad, with Bow Jackson and Amber Pollock missing out through injury.
First half
It was the visitors who threatened early, with Ruby Scahill flashing an early shot narrowly wide. A long throw was flicked on by Jessie Taylor inside City's box and fell to Scahill, who got a leg infront of Taylor to stick a shot goalwards, but it just trickled wide.
That seemed to wake Exeter up, and five minutes after Gwalia went close City took the lead with a contender for goal of the season. Maya Kendell sent in a throw from the left, and while the visitors got in front of the ball, Watkins knicked it back. Battling between red and green shirts, the ball got poked on to Taylor who unleashed a first-time rocket which rose into the top corner for 1-0.
However, the high tempo of the opening 10 minutes didn't stop with Taylor's goal, and the visitors soon found themselves back on level terms from the penalty spot. Cunningham blocked a shot from just over 20 yards with her hands, and then Chloe Lloyd stepped up, after a lengthy delay, to send Bond the wrong way and level the match.
Tempers began to flare on the pitch after the equaliser, with the referee having to call several fouls for both sides.
City built back up the pitch though, and just past the half hour mark Sarah Stacey won a corner. Emily Toogood sent in a ball that a combination of the keeper and a defender had to block on the line, before a combination of Taylor and Cunningham stopped the quick counter, with the latter being booked for her effort.
The visitors finished the first 45 on top though, with Scahill and Taylor both having shots saved by Bond as City went into the break looking for answers.
Second half
Looking to inject impetus into her side, Abbie Britton made a double half-time substitution and changed the shape of her team, and withing five minutes of the restart Sophie Gillies had a chance to send City back in front.
Stacey turned a long ball over the top round the corner for her strike partner, who turned away from two defenders before shooting from distance, however the goalkeeper got down well quickly to save.
Gillies began to purr after that chance, and five minutes later Stacey played her through down the inside right channel, but the number 21's shot from a difficult angle went into the side netting.
The striker went even closer moments later when she met substitute Jess Sandland's free-kick, hooking it goalwards. This time though, the ball met the top of the crossbar.
From the recycled ball Kendell won a corner, and that was sent in deep by Sandland to the back post. Stacey sent in a shot at goal, and as a visiting defender tripped up her goalkeeper it looked like a second goal was certain, however Gillies flick was cleared on the goalline, and the referee waved away appeals that the ball had trickled over.
City seemed to be enjoying set-piece situations, and next from a Sandland ball on the opposite side Slocombe hooked a bouncing ball goalwards, but the keeper held.
The Grecians remained in control, however it was Gwalia who almost took the lead with 15 minutes remaining. A long ball forward was headed past Bond by Kylie Nolan, but before she could get a shot away Taylor hooked the ball up in the air. The ball crashed off the crossbar before Seaman poked it away.
That was to be Gwalia's only real chance of note in the second half, and while Taylor and Slocombe went close again for City, it wasn't to be, and both sides left Taunton with a point.
Abbie Britton's side now have a two week break before they're back in action, with a long trip to Billericay on the cards. That game comes after the men face Stevenage, and with the two grounds a short drive from each other, why not make it a City weekend in the south east?
Exeter City Women: Bond, Kendell, Toogood (Sandland, 46'), Seaman, Taylor, Slocombe, Watkins (Ireland, 46'), Cunningham (Baker, 80'), Zuurmond, Gillies, Stacey.
Substitutes not used: Giles (GK), Cockayne, Dowling.
Goal: Taylor 11'
Gwalia United: O'Sullivan Jones (GK), Piggot, Lake, Nolan, Scahill, Pearce, Lloyd, O'Keefe, Cole, Jones, Taylor.
Substitutes: Davies, Asker, Caunt, Perrott, Miller, Lister, Vine.
Goal: Lloyd (pen) 20'
Attendance: 179