Women's Report: Lewes 1-4 Saints

It was almost the perfect start to the 2023/24 Barclays Women’s Championship season as Southampton FC Women beat Lewes FC 4-1 at The Dripping Pan.

Despite going behind just after the 20-minute mark, a quick recovery and subsequent dominance in possession saw Saints create, and put away, their chances.

Goals from Katie Wilkinson and Sophia Pharoah in the first half were doubled in the second by Ella Morris and Molly Pike to put Southampton FC Women top of the table.

It was Saints who had the first real sniff at goal, as Sophia Pharoah was brought down on the left-hand side with the referee signalling for a free-kick.

The left-footed delivery from Jemma Purfield was a good one, spinning into the box and was met by Alice Griffiths’ head, her shot going over the bar in the 5th minute.

Some good play shortly after saw Katie Wilkinson go inches from the opener, as some great speed and strength from Lexi Lloyd-Smith raced down the right wing and delivered a tantalising ball into the middle that narrowly missed Wilkinson's outstretched foot.

Just after the tenth minute, there was a sharp intake of breath from both sets of fans as Anna Grey was through on goal with Kayla Rendell left in no man’s land. However, the Lewes number 11 couldn’t send her shot further than the recovering Rendell and sliding Megan Collett.

Lloyd-Smith was once again involved from the midfield shortly after, taking a touch to create space and farming the ball out to Collett. Pushing up the line, Saints’ n.23 chipped a ball goalward, but Sophie Whitehouse in the Lewes goal was able to collect. 

Despite the early opportunities falling Saints’ way, it was the home side who opened the scoring. Debutant Hollie Olding spotted Rendell off her line and sent a long-range shot flying into the back in the 21st minute.

It didn’t take long at all for Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side to get back into the game. A searching cross into the Lewes box was tipped away by Whitehouse, only as far as the feet of Wilkinson. Wilkinson took a touch out of her feet and found the top corner with style.

Saints looked to capitalise on their momentum, and Lloyd-Smith was again involved as she sent a cross high across the box to Lucia Kendall. Kendall tapped the ball back across and Sophia Pharoah was able to secure Saints’ second, heading home from close range in the 35th minute.

However, Lewes continued to threaten on the breakaway, with Maria Farrugia looked particularly strong in attack. The Lewes player was the last to threaten in the first half, taking it around Collett and shooting at Rendell, who did well to catch at close range in injury time.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale made her first change of the game at half-time as Ella Morris replaced Lloyd-Smith.

Pike looked to threaten early on, using her pace to race past the Lewes back line and deliver into Wilkinson, but Whitehouse did well to intercept.

However, Saints were to further their lead just minutes later. Wilkinson showed some fantastic skill to feed a ball through a needle-sized gap in the defence to Purfield, whose left-footed ball to substitute Morris was slammed home over a diving Whitehouse.

Ella Morris celebrates scoring Saints' third of the game

It only got better for Saints as Morris then turned provider in the 65th minute, outpacing her defender and slotting across the box. Molly Pike made no mistake in slamming home in her competitive debut, making it 4-1 to the away side.

Further changes for the travelling side saw Emma Thompson make her competitive debut for the club, coming on alongside Megan Wynne to replace Wilkinson and Pharoah. 

Lewes’ goalkeeper Sophie Whitehouse had fans on their feet in the last ten minutes, denying a long-range Griffiths effort before Kendall shot low and hard only to see her shot tipped away.

Two more substitutes before full time saw Laura Rafferty replace Lucia Kendall before Izzy Milne made her competitive debut, replacing Jemma Purfield.

Despite Lewes pushing hard in the closing exchanges, it was Saints with the almost perfect start to the season, securing three points in their opening game.

Lewes XI: Whitehouse, Riglar, Cleverly, Hazard, Garrad, Hamilton, Pursey, Farrugia, Grey, Olding, Brasero-Carriera.

Substitutes: Moore, Hack, Palmer, Vassell, Blades, Oakley.

Saints XI: Rendell, Collett, Mott, Parnell ©, Purfield, Kendall, Griffiths, Lloyd-Smith, Pike, Pharoah, Wilkinson

Substitutes: Howard, Morris, Rafferty, Wynne, Thompson, Milne, Peake.

Attendance: 908