Women's Report: Durham 0-0 Saints
Southampton FC Women were held to a goalless draw against Durham in the Barclays Women's Super League 2.
In a scrappy game of few chances, Saints spurned a couple of opportunities but kept their tricky, relegation-battling hosts at bay in a stalemate at Maiden Castle.
Fran Stenson produced a vital save in stoppage time to preserve the clean sheet, when she was alert to tip over an impressive free-kick under late pressure.
Simon Parker made just one change to his side as the returning Tegan McGowan was restored to the starting line-up, with a shift in personnel from last week that saw Tara Bourne return to centre-back as Michaela McAlonie dropped into midfield.
On the bench, Abbie Ferguson made her return to the squad after missing the last five games through injury.
Reds on the road. (Photos: George Wood/Getty Images)
With a brisk early kick-off at Maiden Castle, Durham set the tone in control of the game's early flow, however it was Saints who created the best opening on the counter attack.
A loose pass from Tyler Toland set Ellie Brazil clear through on goal, but she overhit her squared pass to Atlanta Primus as the chance fizzled out.
Durham were posing most of their threats from corners, and came closest when an inswinging delivery from the left caused pinball in the area as Fran Stenson eventually pushed a bouncing ball a round the post
Saints grew into the contest and wrestled a spell of possession for themselves; some neat play between Brazil and Mary Bashford on the right wing saw the former deliver a dangerous cross that was cleared away before McGowan could connect.
The ball was in the back of the net before the half hour mark for Saints when Atlanta Primus excellently controlled a dinked McAlonie pass just inside of the area and finished smartly on the turn, only to be denied by the linesman's flag on the far side.
Primus' well-taken goal was ruled out in a tight offside call.
In truth, there were very few clear-cut chances in a transitional, scrappy first half - McGowan had a snapshot from the edge of the area saved comfortably as the half wore on and ended goalless.
The second half resumed in a similar fashion, as Saints marshalled some long ball attacks from the hosts well but were unable to carve out any notable shooting opportunities of their own with half chances from range going off target.
Primus, McAlonie, and Aimee Palmer all tried their luck from distance but were unsuccessful in their efforts.
In the closing stages, Durham pushed for a late winner with their survival fight all to play for but substitute Rachel Brown provided a vital double block to deny Grace Collinson and Mollie Lambert.
The hosts' pressure continued into eight minutes of stoppage time, when Stenson was called back into action with her most important save of the game - a well-struck Lucy Watson free-kick had to be tipped over the crossbar at full stretch.
That preserved the clean sheet as Saints take a point back down to the south coast before next week's trip to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town.
Durham: Sheppard, Ayre, Briggs (McFarland 75'), Toland (Stobbs 59'), Wilson (c), Hepple, Lambert, Watson, Bradley, Foster, Agg (Collinson 54').
Subs not used: King, Robson, Blake, Ede, Speckmaier, Jones.
Yellow cards: Bradley (52'), Sheppard (56').
Saints: Stenson, Collett, Goddard, Bourne, Simpson (Brown 77'), Palmer, Bashford, McAlonie, Brazil, Primus (c) (Ferguson 77'), McGowan (Edwards 86').
Subs not used: Pettit, Mott, Hack, Roberts.
Yellow cards: Goddard (12'), Ferguson (90+3').
Attendance: TBC.
