The website dedicated to women's football across the country, at ALL levels of the game

Proud day for Bridgwater College ++ Chelsea and Manchester City reach Continental Cup Final ++ Loren Dykes names Wales Under-17 squad ++ Northern Ireland U17 to play Everton ++ Saints go marching on in FA Cup ++ FA makes landmark agreement ++ Vitality Women's FA Cup draw ++ 

About Us…

Contact

News Archive

Get the mag!

Saints go marching on


Southampton FC Women 1 Bristol City 0


Southampton FC Women, of the FAWNL Southern Premier Division, claimed a notable victory over Championship Bristol City in front of close to 4,000 spectators at St Mary's Stadium in a Fourth Round Vitality Women's FA Cup tie.


It was a win born out of tenacious determination, some good fortune and a couple of moments of brilliance which determined a closely fought contest.


Southampton had a couple of dangerous early attacks expertly shut down by Satara Murray but the visitors soon established control over proceedings moving the ball well through midfield and attacking on both flanks. The Saints defence was solid however and behind them goalkeeper Kayla Rendell was in commanding form throughout.


Melissa Johnson saw an early header from a corner bounce off the top of the bar whilst Abi Harrison had an effort held by Rendell on 35 minutes. Saints were limited to occasional through balls with Fran Bentley in the City goal very quick off her line to clear the danger.


The second period started dramatically with Gwennan Dayies hitting the Saints post from close range, then Rendell making a fine blocking save as Johnson got clear of the defence on 49 minutes.


Saints regrouped after those early scares and returned to absorbing Bristol pressure whilst trying to hit on the counter. A flurry of substitutions seemed to give the home side a lift and Lucia Kendall nearly fashioned a brilliant opener on 78 minutes improvising a first time effort just wide with Bentley stranded.


City were inches away from an injury time winner as Aggie Beever-Jones poked a through ball past Rendell but substitute Milly Mott got back superbly to somehow hook the ball away off the line for a corner.


The value of Mott's intervention was doubled within seconds of the start of extra time when Ella Morris gave Saints the lead. A left wing cross was flicked on by Katie Rood and Morris controlled before finishing right footed low past Bentley.


Southampton grew in confidence and Kendall nearly added a second but the Championship team were far from done. With 109 minutes gone, they were awarded a penalty but, after a lengthy delay for a Southampton injury in the area, Jesse Woolley fired the spot kick over the bar. With a couple of late half chances going wide of goal and some superbly resolute Saints defending, the majority of the crowd were able to celebrate a fine victory after four added minutes at the end of extra time.


Southampton FC Women have risen rapidly through the pyramid helped by the backing of the men's Premier League club and are challenging for promotion to the level which Bristol City operate at. However, they must also relish the possibilities offered by the Fifth Round draw after this hard earned success.


Southampton FC Women: Kayla Rendell, Ella Morris, Megan Collett, Caitlin Morris, Rosanna Parnell, Laura Rafferty, Georgie Freeland, Phoebe Williams, Sophia Pharaoh, Leeta Rutherford, Lucia Kendall. Subs: Shelly Provan, Ella Pusey, Shannon Sievwright, Alisha Ware, Sara Luce, Milly Mott, Katie Rood, Ciara Watling.


Bristol City: Fran Bentley, Ella Powell, Lia Cataldo, Satara Murray, Brooke Aspin, Aimee Palmer, Abi Harrison, Gwennan Davies, Melissa Johnson, Izzy Cook, Ffion Morgan. Subs: Sophie Whitehouse, Naomi Layzell, Ava Kuyken, Simran Jhamat, Flo Allen, Maisy Collis, Maddi Wilde, Aggie Beever-Jones, Jess Woolley.  

Photos by Will Cheshire

Ffion Morgan tries to close down Megan Collett.


Bristol City full back Lia Cataldo gets in a

challenge on Georgie Freeland.


Southampton celebrate their winning goal by Ella Morris.