30th August 2021
Report by Jamie Cameron
Cheltenham Town Ladies made it three games unbeaten with a fantastic 2-1 win at Exeter City Women.
Tom Davies’ side had notched up a 4-0 victory over Poole and a 1-1 draw with Swindon before making the trip to Devon, and came away from Speeds Meadow in Cullompton with three points.
The hosts had taken an early lead via Zoe Watkins, but Amy Wathan levelled 10 minutes afterwards.
Sammy Hallsworth (pictured) finished off a counter-attack excellently on 74 minutes, which proved to be the winner.
Davies made just one change from the draw with Swindon, as the returning Billie Haynes came back into the side for Tamzin Hayward.
The Robins were only able to name two substitutes due to several injuries, making the result even more impressive.
Exeter’s goal came with one of the first chances of the game as the ball was put in from the right-hand side towards Watkins. Her initial shot was well saved by Aimee Watson, but the rebound fell straight back to her to make it 1-0.
A blocked shot from Lacy-Jai Liggett started a spell of pressure from Cheltenham as Charlotte Criddle also had an effort stopped on its way to goal.
That led to a couple of corners for the Robins, the second of which was headed in by Wathan from close range from Criddle’s delivery.
Wathan’s second goal in a week brought Cheltenham level, and it stayed like that until half-time despite chances for both sides.
Exeter squandered a one-on-one opportunity, and their right full-back had a powerful strike saved, while Liggett and Abby Bevan both came close for Town.
Liggett was found by Rogers at the start of the second half, but the City ‘keeper did well to come out and smother the effort.
The Grecians had the better of the second half, peppering the Cheltenham goal, but it was the Robins who took their chance when they got it.
Liggett played through the onrushing Hallsworth, who controlled well, ran into the space, and finished calmly into the bottom-left corner to give Davies’ team the lead.
Cheltenham had a third ruled out for offside, before a low ball across goal from Exeter was dealt with in the dying moments.
That summed up a hard-working performance that earned all three points, seeing Town into third in the league table, one point behind league leaders Bournemouth.
Cheltenham: Watson, Hallsworth, Butler, Colley, Haynes, Criddle, Barbour-Gresham, Liggett, Bevan, Rogers (Hayward 67), Wathan.
Subs not used: Dix.
Robins’ Player of the Match: Amy Wathan.
