Exeter City Women progressed into the first round of the league cup with a dominant performance against Portishead Town on Wednesday evening.
Abbie Britton made nine changes to the team from Sunday’s league win, but the Grecians were soon into their stride with Phoebe Baker slotting the ball into the bottom right corner after Mollie Taylor’s cross had been half cleared.
Zoe Cunningham tested Possets goalkeeper Isla Withyman from a free kick, sixteen-year-old debutant Lily Dowling next to test Withyman and the rebound from her effort was converted by summer signing Jade Grove.
Dowling came close to a goal on debut as she just failed to connect with a Cunningham corner, Matilda Franchi striking over the top from a Taylor cross a minute later as city continued to apply the pressure.
Cunningham played Taylor through on goal and she drove her effort inside Withyman’s near post for a third, Jess Sandland’s exquisite delivery headed home by Baker for a fourth as the Grecians put a stronghold on the tie.
Franchi’s latest effort was palmed onto the foot of the post by Withyman, the Town goalkeeper desperately unlucky as a fine save onto the crossbar from a Jones header only fell to Ishbel Zuurmond to fire home on the half time whistle.
Zuurmond added her second a minute after the restart, Zoe Watkins cushioning the ball into her path as she slammed the ball in for a fifth city goal. Franchi got her goal minutes later, a fierce effort from the edge of the penalty area arrowing into the bottom corner.
The visitors were tenacious and committed throughout and they got themselves a consolation goal as city gave away possession in a defensive area, Emily Nicholson hitting a powerful effort from distance over Liv Giles and into the net.
A host of changes for both sides led to a scrappy end to the game, city forcing a number of corners and not converting the chances that came with some probing Sandland delivery.
The Grecians would round off the evening with an eighth goal, Emily Toogood finding Franchi in a wide left position and her low cross was tapped in by Sophie Gillies at the back post.
A strong performance that will give Manager Britton selection headaches for Sunday, with several players making their case for a place in the starting lineup. City now face promotion favorites Ipswich Town at St James Park on Sunday in what will be a firm test of the potential of this team for the 2024/25 season.