Women's Report: Reading 0-1 Saints
Full report as Southampton FC Women left it late to beat Reading for their first ever victory in the Continental Cup.
It was a return to Conti Cup action as Saints travelled to Aldershot Town’s EBB Stadium to take on familiar foes Reading FC.
It took a late second half goal from Lexi Lloyd-Smith to seal the points for Saints in what was a competitive game.
A much-changed side took to the pitch, with Emma Thompson and Izzy Milne both getting their first competitive starts, while Beth Howard returned to the side after penalty heroics in the last game against Bristol City.
It was a slick pitch after heavy rain all day, and neither side created any real chances during the first five minutes as they tried to get a hold of the ball.
There were glimpses of class though; Thompson nearly worked some space for herself as the clock ticked past the 7th minute, but a touch too many saw Reading recover and clear their lines.
Saints were starting to control possession with ten minutes on the clock, an experienced Laura Rafferty and Rosie Parnell linked up well with Milne to pull the strings from the back. Things looked similarly energetic up top, with Emily Kraft, Rianna Dean and Thompson making a nuisance of themselves on the press.
Megan Wynne broke the lines in the 17th minute, after Thompson used her body well to turn her player and drop a ball into the space beyond the last defender. The Welsh international used her pace to drive forward, but Reading did well to block the ensuing shot.
It was the same pair linking-up that provided the next chance. A quick free-kick for Saints saw Wynne drive up the line, and cut back a good ball into the middle of the box. Thompson was there but her first-time shot flew over the bar.
Thompson went close again minutes later after some neat play saw the young striker unleash a shot from distance, skimming narrowly past the keeper’s far post.
Despite the early chances, Reading were growing into the game and gaining more confidence playing the ball around the pressing Saints at the back.
Kraft won Saints a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left-hand in the 35th minute; But Lucia Kendall’s looping shot was collected by Rose Kite in the Reading goal.
Saints let another opportunity go begging as the half drew to a close. Thompson once again latched onto a ball in the box, but couldn’t make enough of a connection, seeing her shot fly off target.
The half ended even, despite Saints enjoying the lion's share of the opportunities.
Lucia Kendall looked composed in the first half
It was Saints with the first real opportunity of the half, and it was one that you would have betted on to hit the back of the net.
Kraft was fed through into the attack, going one-on-one with the keeper. The no.17 tried to round the keeper, saw the ball blocked, managed to regain possession, but her shot was blocked on the line by the Royals defence.
Beth Howard made her first save of the game in the 57th minute, recovering well to her line to deny Troelsgaard, who twisted and turned her way through the Saints defence.
Howard was called upon again less than a minute later, this time providing a wonderful save to tip away an effort that looked destined for the top corner by Jarvis.
Saints looked less dominant as the second half wore on and Marieanne Spacey-Cale made her first substitution in the 68th minute; Lexi Lloyd-Smith replacing Emily Kraft.
Lloyd-Smith was doing what she's well known for, and was nearly in the perfect area in the 81st minute as an in swinging corner was kneed goalward, but Kite collected.
It was, however, Lloyd-Smith who did find the back of the net in the 85th minute. Receiving the ball in the centre of the box, Saints' number seven curled her effort past the keeper and into the back of the net.
Reading threw everything forward to get an equaliser and the offside flag came to the rescue just before the 90, before Howard once again denied to be safe.
Another strong performance with plenty of chances for Saints, but it was Lloyd-Smith who rescued the full set of points in this Conti Cup tie.
Reading XI: Kite, Houssein, Smith, Hendrix (C), Maya Kith (Estcourt, 45’), Meadows-Tuson, Wilson (Gregory, 45’), Elwood, Jarvis, Longhurst, Troelsgaard.
Substitutes not used: Orman, Annets, Dugdale, Cooper, Primmer, Wade.
Saints XI: Howard, Milne, Parnell (C) (Peake, 87'), Rafferty, Morris, Griffiths, Kendall, Wynne, Kraft (Lloyd-Smith, 68'), Dean, Thompson (Pharoah, 83').
Substitutes not used: Rendell, Mott, Wilkinson, Pike, Purfield.
Goals: Lloyd-Smith 85.
