Exeter Women kick off 2025 at Ipswich

Exeter City Women kick off 2025 with a daunting away fixture against Ipswich Town, as the division’s top two teams face off this Sunday afternoon.

The Grecians head into the match with momentum, having secured five successive wins following their November defeat at Watford. However, the challenge ahead is significant, with Ipswich's strong form and the 500-mile round trip setting the stage for what could be City’s toughest test of the season.

"I'm really excited to see how we start the new year, hopefully in the same form we finished the back end of last year," said Exeter manager Abbie Britton.

Ipswich Town narrowly missed promotion to the Championship in 2023 on goal difference. Following a fourth-place finish last season, manager Josh Sheehan strengthened the squad with summer signings such as Angela Addison and Ella Rutherford from Charlton Athletic and Natalia Negri and Shauna Guyatt from Crystal Palace.

With a blend of experienced new recruits and key players like Sophie Peskett, Lenna Williams, and Natasha Thomas, Ipswich have emerged as title favourites this season.

Seventeen games into the campaign, Ipswich have suffered just one defeat – a league cup loss to Hashtag United – and remain undefeated in the league. Their clinical form includes a 13-0 victory over MK Dons and emphatic wins against Cheltenham Town (7-0), Oxford United (4-2), and AFC Wimbledon (5-0).

Ipswich have scored 52 league goals this season while conceding just five. Peskett leads their scoring charts with 16 goals in all competitions, while Thomas has netted 10. The reverse fixture in September saw the teams draw 2-2 at St James Park, with Sophie Gillies scoring twice for Exeter before Rutherford’s brace earned Ipswich a point.

Ahead of Sunday’s clash, Exeter City Women have bolstered their squad with two loan signings from Bristol City Women. Maya Kendall, a 19-year-old full-back, and Fearne Slocombe, an 18-year-old centre-back, join the Grecians until the end of the season.

"When you've got the opportunity to bring in two players from Bristol who have got the experience they've got at such a young age already, was a no-brainer for us," said Britton. "We're a small, tight-knit squad anyway and we needed to add depth in the areas they play. It was an obvious solution."

"They've been training with us now for five or six weeks, and they've fitted into the group really well with quality on and off the ball," Britton added.

Both players have impressed in training over recent weeks. Kendall, who has previous tier three experience, made her professional debut against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup last season. Slocombe has also showcased her potential, having made her senior debut for Bristol City at just 16.

Exeter City have also confirmed the departure of defender Courtney Jones, who leaves in search of more regular game time. Jones made 16 appearances for the Grecians after signing in the summer, with her final game coming in the league victory over Lewes on December 15th.

"We are sad to see Courtney go. She has been a fantastic personality to have in the group and a pleasure to work with," said Britton. "Unfortunately, we just haven’t been able to provide enough game time for her and I fully understand her wish to seek regular football elsewhere. We wish her all the best and thank her for her efforts in red and white."

As Exeter City Women prepare for this crucial encounter against Ipswich, their strengthened squad and recent form will be put to the ultimate test. Fans will be eager to see if the Grecians can continue their promising start to 2025 and rise to the challenge posed by the league leaders.