Great start but Ammies ladies slip to defeat

Emerald Exiles Ladies 3, Exmouth Amateurs Ladies 1

Ammies ladies went into the final game of their league season looking for a sequence of results that would have delivered them the runners-up spot.

Ammies needed to win in Exeter and then hope for a Windmill defeat at Budleigh.

Sadly the Greenway Lane result was inconsequential as Ammies, despite starting well and taking the lead, slipped to a 3-1 defeat.

Ammies made a blistering start putting the home side under lots of pressure not allowing them time to settle on the ball and it was great closing down from Holmes and Harkness that blocked an attempted clearance from which Hawkins benefited.

As the ball broke her way she took a few strides forward before firing home.

With both sides struggling to come to grips with the bumpy surface, chances were at a premium at either end of the pitch.

Exiles did have one shot that crashed back off the bar and Rowe just stabbed wide following a corner for Ammies.

Exiles grabbed the equaliser late in the half when they were awarded a hotly disputed free-kick.

However Ammies could do nothing but admire the skill and power that was used to put the set-piece into their net!

With both teams desperate for the three points the second half became very stretched. Steele and Harkness both had shots saved and a couple of last ditch tackles prevented Rowe and Holmes from getting shots on goal.

Exiles took the lead midway through the second half with another great strike from the edge of the box.

Just as Ammies were regaining their composure Exiles scored the decisive goal to kill the game off, although Ammies felt aggrieved that a foul had not been given in the build-up to the goal.

The result will probably mean the ladies finish in fourth place this term, but that constitutes a great effort in their first season as a ladies side and should give them plenty of confidence for the next campaign.