Report: Southampton Women 0-6 Saints

Amongst the six goals was yet another Ella Pusey hat-trick, her second in as many games and her eighth goal in just three outings so far this season.

Georgie Freeland put the visitors ahead after just 13 minutes; Alisha Ware’s defence splitting through ball finding the forward who slotted past the onrushing keeper.

The second came just nine minutes later; Pusey connecting to a low cross from close range as he scoring streak continued.

After a spell of competitive football mainly played in the midfield areas Saints added a third in the 36th minute; Freeland tapping home for her second following a Kelly Snook cross at the back post.

The fourth resulted from a clever corner routine; a ball hit across the floor to unmarked Pusey who found the bottom corner for her second of the evening on 45 minutes.

A fifth Saints goal came on the hour mark; Kirsty Whitton taking hold of the ball just outside the box and finding the bottom corner for her first of the season.

The sixth of the evening wrapped up Pusey’s hat-trick, the forward placing a neat effort into the corner for her eighth in three games.

Saints made several changes to the side who won against Buckland at Snows Stadium on Sunday; notably a first start of the season for Lucia Kendall in midfield.

Shelly Provan was rested, meaning Snook returned at full back whilst Ellie Head, who scored four for the Women’s B team on Sunday in their 11-0 win, made the substitutes bench.

The rain bucketed down throughout the warm-ups and, following a glimmer of hope as the teams walked out, continued to pour down during the opening minutes.

Despite the conditions Saints started to play some neat football; Ware winning possession in midfield, before finding Freeland out wide who slipped the ball into Kendall, the striker ultimately denied an effort on goal after a strong challenge.

On 13 minutes, that pair were involved again for the opening goal of the game; Ware slipping in Freeland clean through, who coolly slotted across the keeper to put Saints ahead.

Two minutes later came two more glorious Saints chances; Pusey twisting and turning inside the box and forcing a strong save from keeper Emily Paines, who then did remarkably well to parry away Ware’s rebound from close range.

22 minutes gone and it was two; Snook doing tremendously well to skip past two Southampton Women defenders, before playing the ball down the line to Ware.

Out on the left flank with bags of room, Ware fired a low cross across the face of goal to Pusey, who made no mistake.

Kayla Rendell had very little to deal with during the opening half-an-hour, however showed her ability to use her feet under pressure exceptionally well when called upon.

After a spell of competitive, physical football mainly played out in midfield, Saints scored their third; a high cross coming in from Snook on the left-hand side and touched home by Freeland at the back post for her second.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side were not done at three, despite half-time approaching; Pusey playing through Kendall who forced a low save from Paines at her near post.

The fourth then came in the 45th minute from the resulting corner; a low set-piece along the floor finding the feet of Pusey on the edge of the box, who produced a side footed finish into the far corner for her second of the evening.

As the half came to an end, Southampton’s skipper Lauren Cheshire went down after colliding with a strongly hit cross, forcing her off with a dislocated knee after a considerable time receiving treatment.

The second half started with more of the same as far as the weather was concerned, the pitch becoming visibly heavy underfoot as a result of the persistent rain.

Saints’ first chance of the second 45 came five minutes from the hour mark; Freeland recycling a cross from the left with one of her own from the right, which was narrowly missed by a sliding Kendall at the far post.

The fifth came on the hour mark itself, Whitton picking up possession on the edge of the area and finding the bottom left corner with ease.

Saints were really starting to turn on the style now; substitute Shannon Albuery playing in Kendall, who was denied an effort due to a last-second challenge from Southampton’s Gracie White.

The rain subsided on 70 minutes, giving the players some much needed rest bite from the torrential downpour that dominated the game up until this point.

Southampton Women were really began to struggle with injuries during the second half; Lucy Mear was forced off after 70 minutes meaning the hosts had to play the remainder of the evening with ten men after all substitutes had been used.

Saints on the other hand were able to experiment with their side; Head coming on for her first-team debut with ten minutes to go.

Spacey-Cale’s side were so close to a sixth five minutes from time; Phoebe Williams with a beautiful through ball finding Pusey, who forced a strong save from keeper Paines.

Head then came agonisingly close to a perfect debut, heading a whipped corner just wide of the far post.

The sixth came two minutes from time; Pusey wrapping up her hat-trick with a clever twist and turn inside the box and a placed finish past Paines just inside the penalty box.

It finished 6-0 to the Saints, who will be happy with not only the goals but also their first clean sheet of the season.

With this Sunday free, Spacey-Cale’s side’s next outing sees them host Exeter City at Snows Stadium on 11th October.