September 14, 2026
Cheltenham Town picked up their first league point of the season with a 4-4 draw against Exeter City on Sunday afternoon at Kayte Lane.
A hat-trick for Leonie Joyce, as well as a goal for captain Emily Owen, was not enough to secure victory, as a last-minute equaliser saw both teams take home a point.
It was a strong start to the match for Cheltenham Town as they looked to apply the pressure early on, with Exeter goalkeeper Tyrii Bell doing well to clear her lines and deny the hosts an early lead.
A last-ditch challenge from Fearne Slocombe would deny Joyce the chance to open the scoring, though minutes later Owen would look to rectify this, as she headed home from the corner, setting the scoreline at 1-0.
Twenty minutes into the match, penalty shouts arose from the visitors after Ishbel Zuurmond went down in the box, though the shouts were quickly disregarded as the referee waved away protests.
Joyce would then go on to score her first of three after picking out the top corner with a powerful strike from outside the box to double the home advantage.
Lily Felgate was forced into action as she denied strikes from both Charlotte Whitmore and Zuurmond as the Grecians looked to get one back.
Joyce then found her second of the match as she latched onto the end of a long ball, calmly slotting home a third for the Robinesses.
It wouldn’t be long before the visitors responded, as Whitmore took a touch on the edge of the box, nestling the ball into the far corner to get one back.
Soon after the visitors would make it 3-2 as Zuurmond’s effort found the back of the net in an effort strikingly similar to that of Whitmore’s minutes earlier.
Just before the half-time whistle, Ellie Sara would set the scoreline level as she struck from close range, striking the ball into the roof of the net.
Half-Time: Cheltenham Town 3-3 Exeter City
The visitors looked to apply the pressure in the second-half, with some early crosses forcing action from Felgate who denied a goal for the Grecians.
However, it would be Town who got the first goal of the half as Joyce rounded off her hat-trick, getting onto the end of a long clearance, cutting into the box and slotting the ball past the Exeter keeper.
A flurry of chances came from the Grecians, but nothing came to fruition, with attempts from former Robiness Ffion Llewellyn blocked, as Felgate made several other saves.
After a period of strong defending from the home side, and the full-time whistle looming, Exeter would get a late equaliser as the ball found Zuurmond at the edge of the box; the attacker’s effort finding the top corner, forcing both teams to come away with a point.
Full-Time: Cheltenham Town 4-4 Exeter City
Cheltenham continue with league action next weekend as they travel to Lewes next Sunday.
Cheltenham: Felgate (GK), Vine, Salisbury-Williams (Power 61), Evans, Curtis (Day 91), Joyce (Bell 83), Wellesley-Davies, Owen, Hall, Snook (Murphy 70), O’Keefe (Jones 73).
Attendance: 142
