Exeter City Women suffered late heartbreak on Sunday afternoon, Ella Rutherford with the strike four minutes from time sending Ipswich Town back to the top of the division.
Sophie Gillies struck early for the Grecians to put Abbie Britton's side ahead, before Sophie Peskett levelled for the title-chasing Tractor Girls. Rutherford then won it late for the league leaders.
Joe Sheehan’s team started in determined fashion, SPeskett hooking an effort goalwards for Abbi Bond to claim on her goal line. Town were splitting the Grecians defence with ease, Peskett with the one-on-one chance as Bond made a strong save with her legs to deny the effort.
After weathering the storm, City gathered momentum, Amber Pollock’s cross into the penalty area blocked before Leah Mitchell was booked for hauling down the City forward. With twelve minutes on the clock, the Grecians were ahead, a perfectly weighted pass from Jess Sandland was collected by Gillies and she fired the ball into the roof of the net.
The tide of Town attacks began to taper, and the Grecians were enjoying a better spell, Pollock the threat as she linked with the endeavour of Ishbel Zuurmond. However, just as City settled into the contest, Ipswich drew level, Paskett's low drive deflecting past a rooted Abbi Bond for the equaliser.
Bond was quickly off her line to deny another Town attack as City ended the half under pressure, Jaydee Seaman with a perfectly timed tackle to deny Ruby Doe a shooting opportunity. Sarah Stacey flashed a volley wide from a Grecians corner as the half ended, the Grecians withstanding the late Town threat to see the game evenly poised at the break
Natasha Thomas had the first chance of the second period, slicing an effort wide of Bond’s upright as she raced clear. Whilst the second half territory was Town’s, City remained resilient, Phoebe Baker, Seaman, Bow Jackson, Fearne Slocombe and substitute Maya Kendell all denying efforts at Bond’s goal.
City had failed to trouble Natalia Negril in the home goal for much of the second half but had a glorious chance to take the lead with five minutes remaining, Pollock muscling the defender out of her path before firing across the face of goal.
With the clock ticking down, the home side created a moment of magic to win it. Peskett and Angela Addison working the shooting chance for Rutherford and she fired past Bond from the edge of the penalty area. The forward had scored two late goals to deny City three points at St James Park earlier in the season and was to provide more heartbreak with another late points stealer.
With eight minutes of injury time remaining, there was no clearer sign of respect for the Grecians performance than the full-time league favourites choosing to keep the ball firmly rooted to the corners of the pitch to run down the clock and claim the points. Emily Toogood’s lofted pass just too heavy for the run of Pollock the closest City came to an equaliser.
Loud cheers from a large and supportive home crowd greeted the final whistle, Town return to the top of the league and on course for what appears an inevitable promotion, yet Abbie Britton’s Grecians can be proud of another strong performance with further vindication of their ability to compete against the very best in this division.
City XI: Bond, Jackson (C), Seaman, Slocombe, Sandland, Baker, Ireland, Stacey, Zuurmond, Gillies, Pollock.
Subs: Giles, Toogood, Kendell, Watkins, Everson, Taylor.