City serve up six-course feast

Exeter City Women proved once again that Devon is red, securing a third successive county cup title with a dominant 6-0 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the inaugural Devon FA Women's Challenge Cup Final.

A Sarah Stacey hat-trick, alongside goals from Ishbel Zuurmond, Beth Everson and Zoe Watkins, sealed a comprehensive win at Coach Road and capped a fourth Devon Derby triumph this season.

City made four changes from Sunday’s win over Cheltenham, with Beth Everson handed her first start, and Mollie Taylor, Jess Sandland and Fearne Slocombe also coming into the XI.

It didn’t take long for the Grecians to get going. Just three minutes in, Everson rattled the post, and Stacey was clattered trying to reach the rebound. The referee pointed straight to the spot, and Stacey calmly slotted home to give City the perfect start.

It was one-way traffic, with Zuurmond, Gillies and Stacey all going close before the pressure told again. Zuurmond drove through the middle, played a sharp one-two with Gillies and finished with real composure to double the lead.

Everson then marked her first start in style, arriving at the back post to tuck away a pinpoint cross from Sandland. Stacey added her second just before the break, smashing in from close range after Kendall's clever ball through a defender’s legs.

Just three minutes into the second half, Stacey had her hat-trick. Sandland’s cross found her perfectly, and the striker made no mistake with a bullet header.

Argyle could barely lay a glove on City, and when Gillies' fierce strike rattled the bar just after the hour, Watkins was first to react, poking home for number six and jumping into the crowd in celebration.

The Grecians continued to create chances, but the scoreline stayed at six as the final whistle confirmed another dominant derby day and another piece of silverware.

City now head into the final two games of the season full of confidence, starting with a trip to Hashtag United before welcoming Watford to St James Park for the final home match.