Women's Report: Bristol City 1-1 Saints (3-4 Penalties)

Robins High Performance Centre was the venue for Southampton FC Women’s opening Continental Cup fixture as they took on familiar foes Bristol City Women.

The hosts snatched a lead in the first half through a Rachel Furness header and Mari Ward deflection, despite Saints creating their fair share of chances.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith secured Saints' equaliser in the second period after persistent pressure from the visitors came to fruition.

With the clash one apiece at full time, Saints were able to snatch a bonus point via penalties, winning 4-3.

Beth Howard was given her first competitive start of the season, while Megan Wynne and Lexi Lloyd-Smith both had the nod in the starting eleven.

The rain was hammering down during the initial encounters, with both sides struggling to make the ball stick.

City had the lion’s share of the possession in those opening exchanges however, with two corners having to be well defended by the Saints back line in the first 10 minutes.

In form Sophia Pharoah had the first real opportunity of the game. Lucia Kendall switched the ball magnificently, Jemma Purfield providing the next ball forward. Pharoah timed her run perfectly, hitting the ball first time, but her shot skidded just past the post.

It was Jamie-Lee Napier with the first opportunity up the other end, as a ball through the centre of the Saints defence unleashed the ex-London City player. Napier took the shot early, and it did little to trouble Beth Howard between the sticks.

Saints looked almost certain to open the scoring through Megan Wynne, as Pharoah played a reverse pass through the two centre backs. Wynne’s shot lacked pace, and although Lexi Lloyd-Smith looked like she was going to turn in the loose ball, Jess Simpson slid in to deny her the chance.

Bristol City were doing well to control possession despite the continued torrential rain, but likewise, Saints were so far absorbing the pressure.

Beth Howard was called into action in the 31st minute as Shania Hayles raced through one-on-one. The keeper did exceptionally well to close down the angle and send the ball spinning away from danger.

However, the Robins had the ball in the back of the net less than a minute later as captain Rachel Furness rose highest at the back post to turn in a Ffion Morgan cross and give the home side the lead in the 33rd minute. Mari Ward later being awarded the goal for providing a deflection.

Saints had a double chance a minute either side of the 40 mark; Wynne could have put the teal clad Saints back in the game as she raced onto a ball in the box before sending her shot spinning over the crossbar. 

Then, Lloyd-Smith created a chance for herself with some excellent footwork on the edge of the box, with her shot sailing just past the top corner.

Despite some bright intervals, it was Bristol City who headed into half time one to the good, leaving Saints with work to do in the second period.

Saints battled through in the rain to match Bristol City

Marieanne Spacey-Cale made her first change of the game at half time as Ella Morris replaced Megan Collett on the right hand side.

The pitch was becoming more and more sodden, and despite out-pacing her player defensively, it was City with the first opportunity of the half, as a slip by Morris saw the reds progress up the pitch and send a header just wide.

It was just five minutes into the half that Saints were back level, however. Katie Wilkinson calmly slid a ball across the box, with Lexi Lloyd-Smith tapping the ball behind her standing foot and past Kaylan Marckese in the City goal.

There was a short break in play just afterwards as Robins’ number 19, Jess Simpson, went down in some pain, and was subsequently replaced.

Buoyed by the goal early in the second half, Saints were playing forward with more confidence; Purfield and Kendall both sending shots over the crossbar in quick succession just after the 60th minute.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale made her second change of the game on the 70th minute mark, as Chloe Peplow made her return from injury, replacing Lucia Kendall in the centre of the park.

It was less than 10 minutes before she made her next substitutions, with attacking options Emily Kraft and Emma Thompson replacing Megan Wynne and Katie Wilkinson.

Thompson almost had an immediate impact as she sent a wonderful hit straight towards the top corner, but Marckese did exceptionally well to tip away.

Bristol City were gifted an opportunity in the dying stages as a challenge on the edge of the box was pulled back by the referee, but the Saints wall did their job to deny.

Despite both sides’ best efforts, the match ended all square at the 90, with the Conti Cup rules dictating a penalty shootout to decide the recipient of a bonus point.

It was Saints who took home said bonus point, 4-3 in the penalty shootout, to get their Conti Cup journey onto a strong start, with Purfield, Peake, Kraft and Morris all netting.

Saints secured their bonus point through penalties

It's a return to Barclays Women's Championship for Saints this weekend, with Durham Women heading down south to AFC Totton's Snows Stadium, with Marieanne Spacey-Cale's side looking to cement their place at the top of the table.

Saints XI: Howard (GK), Kendall (Peplow, 70’), Parnell ©, Rafferty, Lloyd-Smith, Wilkinson (Thompson, 77'), Wynne (Kraft, 77'), Pharoah, Purfield, Collett (Morris, 45’), Peake

Substitutes unused: Rendell, Dean, Pike, Milne.

Bristol City XI: Marckese (GK), Struck (Aspin, 45’), Hayles (Teisar, 71’), Furness © (Rodgers, 70’), Napier, Bull, Syme, Simpson (Mustaki, 59’), Morgan (Jones, 71’), Ward, Murray

Substitutes unused: Layzell, Aspin, Connolly, Thestrup, Clark (GK).