Women's: Exeter City are unmatched

Exeter City Women kicked off their season in spectacular fashion, dominating MK Dons with a 7-0 victory that placed them at the top of the division after the opening weekend. 

The Grecians, making their debut in tier three, delivered a commanding performance under manager Abbie Britton, with goals coming from multiple key players.

Sarah Stacey opened the scoring with Exeter’s first-ever tier three goal, confidently converting a penalty after 17 minutes. 

Sophie Gillies then took centre stage, scoring twice before halftime and completing her hat-trick in the second half. 

Emily Toogood added to the tally with a header, while Stacey and new captain Bow Jackson rounded off the scoring.

Britton’s starting lineup featured familiar faces from last season’s promotion campaign, showing her faith in the largely unchanged squad. 

The Grecians quickly found their rhythm after an early exchange of chances, with Gillies and Stacey proving to be a constant threat to the Dons’ defence. 

By halftime, Exeter had already secured a 4-0 lead.

The second half saw Exeter continue their dominance, with Gillies completing her hat-trick and Stacey adding a second goal. 

Despite a few missed opportunities, Exeter remained relentless, and Jackson capped off the afternoon with a seventh goal.

While this comprehensive win sets a high standard for the season, Britton’s squad is aware that tougher challenges lie ahead as they settle into the higher tier. 

Nonetheless, their opening day performance suggests they are well-prepared for the journey.

You can find the whole match report here.