AFC Bournemouth v Exeter City Women Reserves

Report by Maxine Coupe

Exeter City Women Reserves began their season with a tough trip away to AFC Bournemouth, Dale Russell’s side embarking on a second season in the National League Reserve’s section. With four players aged 16 years in the squad making their debuts, Eliza Bryant-Rowe, Abi Harrison, Freya Horler and Lemoni Gouldstone, this game started a new cycle of talented young players for the Grecians.

And what a start, as City were ahead after only 57seconds. Abi Whistler, who was ever the workhorse in midfield in this game, played in Connie Pengelly to slot past the Goalkeeper from outside the box and into the right hand corner.

Yet, despite the bright City start, AFC Bournemouth created the better chances early on and Eliza Bryant-Rowe had to be at her very best in making numerous saves

The Cherries eventually got the break through when a shot from the Freya Jennings on 12 minutes looped over Bryant-Rowe and in off the cross bar to equalise. The home side’s second came on 22minutes, a corner wasn’t cleared by the City defence and Elin Starck was able to shoot from edge of box and beat Bryant-Rowe.

More Bournemouth pressure followed, but Bryant-Rowe was keeping the Cherries lead to a narrow one. However, her resilience was dented on 32 minutes, Mia Hammick scoring Bournemouth’s third goal when another corner was not dealt with by the Grecians defence and the ball sneaked in between the post and Goalkeeper.

At half time Manager Dale Russell brought on Kitty Rumens for Danni Skinner in defence and tweaked the formation of the team, but the home side were now rampant, adding a fourth goal on 55 minutes when an under hit back pass by was capitalised upon by Amie Cooper who calmly slotted past Bryant-Rowe.

City had a goal disallowed minutes later when Pengelly had a shot which the keeper fumbled and Franchi pounced to score, however the referee had deemed Franchi had fouled the keeper and disallowed the goal.

Russell made more substitutions on 60 minutes, bringing on Freya Horler, Lemoni Gouldstone, Jess Cockayne and Maddie Brandon for Ellen Dixon, Steph Beck, Lauren Bullock and Abi Harrison. The fresh legs gave Exeter more energy in midfield and it was on 70mins when Pengelly got her second goal of the game with a brilliant free kick twenty-five yards out after a foul on Whistler.

Gouldstone had a great effort on 78 minutes, winning the ball high up the pitch she had a shot from the edge of the penalty area but the effort went narrowly wide of post.

The comeback nearly gathered more momentum when a shot by Cockayne was handled by a Bournemouth player, but the referee did not deem it a penalty, much to the dismay of the City bench.

Lots of positives to take from the game, but the Grecians will know that the hard work needs to continue to make a challenge at the top end of the division this season. There were strong performances from Amy Salter and Izzy Baker, but manager Russell awarded his Player of the Match to debutant Goalkeeper Eliza Bryant-Rowe for some incredible saves .