A Devon Cup semi-final awaits for TULFC after a 2-0 victory over derby rivals Exeter City on Sunday.
Bad weather meant that the usual pitch at Cullompton was unusable. The game had to be moved to the Cat and Fiddle training ground in a 3pm kick off.
After recovering from illness, Becca Wakley and Hannah Eglon returned to the starting line-up, with Naomi Binding keeping her place at right-back. The game was an open affair from the opening whistle, with both teams having a good amount of possession. Exeter looked to play balls over the top to striker Kate Finch. They were dealt with superbly by skipper Alex Sheppard and Wakley. Exeter have a raw talent in winger Hope Suonimen, the tricky winger was their main threat but full-back Adele Rogers stuck to her task admirably.
Rhi Bailey and Hannah Eglon were working tirelessly in midfield, breaking up play and looking to play the ball out. Steph Beck and Sarah Smith were making great runs down either flank. On 30 minutes Beck placed the ball straight into the path of Daisy Self, who beat a defender and smashed the ball beyond the advancing keeper. 0-1 to TULFC and the lead was fully deserved.
The second-half began with TULFC the brighter of the two teams. Exeter continued to work hard. City captain Danni Skinner was showing her quality on the ball, looking to pick out players from midfield. Goalkeeper Beth Marshall was on standby numerous times and reacted quickest to long balls forward. City began to tire and several fouls were conceded in dangerous areas. In the 65th minute Rhi Bailey stepped up to take a free kick from 25-yards out. The free-kick beat the ‘keeper but unfortunately it did not beat the woodwork and it bounced back off the bar. Daisy Self was on hand to head it goalwards and score her second of the day. 0-2 to TULFC and a brace for Self.
Emma Mingo entered the field of play to replace Bailey and made an instant impact on the right causing a threat with her attacking play. Former TULFC player Jana Richards made her debut for Exeter City but was dealt with easily by the TULFC defence.
Overall a fantastic win for TULFC which sees them in the semi-final of the Devon Women’s Senior Cup where they will play Plympton on January 21st.
Next week TULFC are back into league action against Exeter City at home.
TULFC Line-Up:
Marshall
Rogers
Wakley
Sheppard
Binding
Smith
Beck
Self
Bailey
Eglon
Chapman
Subs
Mingo
Wyatt
Randle
Subs not used
Fannon
Mann