Seven heaven for Exeter City Women at Poole

EXETER City Women recorded their biggest League win of the season on Sunday as a clinical performance in Dorset saw them overcome Poole Town with a 7-0 victory. David Gribble, Daniel Clark report.

Connie Pengelly netted yet another hat-trick while Mollie Taylor, Sarah Stacey, Steph Beck and Jess Sandland all got in on the act.

The win, which saw the Grecians climb to third in the table, was the perfect way to bounce back after their title hopes were ended last weekend. With three home games to go, City are in a strong position to maintain that spot.

City started slowly, with Poole battling keenly in midfield and the free-flowing football that is a hallmark of any Grecians performance was difficult to establish. The home side were restricting City to efforts from distance, Phoebe Baker, Beck and Sandland all testing the handling of Town ‘keeper Dani Maidment.

But City upped the tempo and with 25 minutes played, Beck’s flicked header found Pengelly and she turned her marker to fire past Maidment for the lead.

A second soon followed, Sandland delivering the perfect corner for Pengelly to head home and double her tally.

Stacey had a goal ruled out for offside before a set piece brought thethird. Sandland once again delivered into a perfect area and Taylor nodded in to give a commanding half -ime advantage.

Teenager Sandland scored her first National League goal for City’s fourth. Taylor repayed the favour from the first half with a perfect back post cross for Sandland to tap in.

Slick passing football saw Watkins, Anthea Kaptein and Stacey all combine to provide the chance for Pengelly to hit a treble, and the young forward was not going to miss such an opportunity and fired past Maidment.

Sandland then breezed past her marker once more to square for Beck to hit a sixth.

Abbie Britton and Aaron Wakley made several changes as the game came towards a conclusion, substitute Mia Preston’s shot falling to Stacey who turned to slot the ball past Maidement for the Grecians’ seventh.

Watkins, Stacey and Taylor all went close to adding more, with the ever-willing Manfy Sharpe making several forays into the Poole penalty area in search of ending her long wait for a goal, but City will be more than happy with this decisive display.

Three home games now await as the Grecians complete their season, starting on Easter Sunday with the visit of AFC Bournemouth.

The visitors have to win to stand any chance of overtaking Cheltenham Town at the top, in what is the Cherries final game of the season.