Division One South West: Bridgwater United Women 1-5 Exeter City Women

Exeter City Women started their 2023/24 season with a dominant performance against Bridgwater United in Somerset. 

The Grecians opened the scoring with just 22 seconds on the clock when Zoe Watkins pounced on a loose ball and bundled in the rebound off the goalkeeper.

Chance after chance came for Exeter from there on, but it took until the 38th minute for them to double their lead. Watkins scored her second when she smashed it into the far corner from the edge of the box.

It was more of the same in the second half as Exeter managed the game well.

Captain Manfy Sharpe challenges for the ball. (Image: Craig Blake)

In the 60th minute, former Bridgwater striker Jenna Markham won a header that fell into Watkins' path to tap it home for her hattrick. 

Markham then followed that up with a goal of her own soon after with a strike from distance and that looped over the goalkeeper to make it four. 

The game looked to dwindle to full-time but in the 90th minute, Exeter were awarded a penalty which was dispatched by Watkins to make it four for her and five for City.

Then in added time, Holly Tappin pulled a goal back for Bridgwater after dispossessing the goalkeeper and sliding it into the bottom corner. 

Exeter will host Plymouth Argyle in a Devon derby at the Exwick Sports Hub on Sunday in the FA Women's National League Cup on Sunday.