Exeter City Women suffered their first defeat in five games as two late goals ensured Watford picked up all three points on Sunday afternoon.
The home side came into the contest with successive home league defeats and began with a determination to get back to winning ways. Poppy Wilson rounded the advancing Abbi Bond in the City goal before her effort hit a combination of the post and Amber Pollock to prevent the opening goal. However, that wait would only last two minutes, Florence Fyfe converting from close range after City had failed to contest the initial header from a Coral-Jade Haines corner.
Bond was alert to deny Ellie Head and Haines in quick succession as the home side penned the Grecians in on the hunt for a second goal. Yet, with Watford enjoying the majority of both possession and chances, it was City that struck next. Sarah Stacey’s turn and pass found the run of Sophie Gillies and her deft touch past the defender and low finish levelled the game.
Undeterred by the setback, Watford came straight back at the city defence, forcing a succession of corners as the pressure continued. Whilst the football from the home side was slick and effective, it was good fortune that led to the second goal. Jaydee Seaman’s blocked on a low cross only found the feet of Head and she slotted past Bond from close range.
Stacey’s looping header forced a save from O’Sullivan in the Watford goal, but the home side were relentless in wide areas and the third goal was a moment of real quality. The Grecians' defence were left stationary as the ball was worked across the penalty area, Sophie McLean converting a low cross at the back post to round off a stunning team goal.
Watford were relegated from the Barclays Championship last season, and it was a half of football that underlined the quality still in Renee Hector’s squad, city going into the break with plenty of work to do.
Ishbel Zuurmond surged into the Watford penalty area twice in quick succession, the final pass just evading Stacey as City looked for a way back into the contest. A backline reshuffle had stemmed the flow of home attacks and it was Abbie Britton’s side who scored the game’s next goal.
Zuurmond’s latest driving run into the penalty area was halted by a mistimed Watford tackle and the Grecians were awarded a penalty. Stacey stepped up and fired home to half the deficit.
Anna Filbey struck narrowly wide as the game slowed with a series of bookings from the fastidious official, Bow Jackson looping a headed effort over O’Sullivan’s crossbar as city kept looking for that one moment to level the contest.
With five minutes remaining, it was the home side who would score next and with the goal seal the three points. Seaman made an excellent recovery tackle as Watford broke, only for the city defence to slice the clearance into Fyfe who gratefully excepted the gift and slotted past Bond for her second of the game.
With City beaten, Watford added another in injury time, Wilson with a stunning strike into the top corner that perfectly illustrated the quality of the home side’s performance.
A tough afternoon for the Grecians, a talented home side putting their early season inconsistency behind them with a performance that will serve notice to the rest of the division on their intentions for the second half of the campaign. For Britton’s side it was a day to reflect upon and look to bounce back in Sunday’s visit to Milton Keynes.
Watford XI: O'Sullivan, Filbey, Meiwald, Chandler (c), McLean, Georgiou (Rossiter), Wilson, Haines (Bowyer), Head (Davison), Fyfe (Paul), Gale (Baptiste).
Subs not used: Goldsmid, Hind.
City XI: Bond, Jackson (c), Toogood (Grove), Seaman, Ireland (Watkins), Stacey, Zuurmond, Cunningham (Baker), Taylor, Gillies, Pollock (Jones).
Subs not used: Giles