Women's Report: Saints 0-1 London City Lionesses
Southampton FC Women were denied their first Women's League Cup points by an 85th minute winner from London City Lionesses' Maddi Wilde at the Silverlake Stadium.
Under the lights in their opening Group C game of the Women's League Cup, Wilde netted the in the final minutes of regular time to make the crucial difference.
Remi Allen fielded a slightly rotated side as Rachel Brown made her first start since joining, with Emma Thompson also coming in for her first start of the season.
Elsewhere, Kayla Rendell returned from injury in goal whilst Chloe Peplow completed her recovery journey off the bench.
Saints' first Women's League Cup line-up of the season. (Photos: Chris Moorhouse)
Saints were ready from the opening of the game; Thompson worked her way inside to receive the ball on the edge of London City’s box, but her early shot trailed just wide.
A succession of corners were then soon earned, but a shooting opportunity failed to arrive.
A few minutes later, the visitors found themselves on the edge of the box, but Gesa Marashi was unable to get a shot off with the ball was eventually put out for a corner that Wilde headed wide.
It was then Isobel Goodwin’s turn to ruffle Saints’ feathers as she collected the ball from a loose pass back to Milly Mott, but Kayla Rendell collected comfortably.
In the 20th minute, Paige Peake was called into vital action to make a stretching goal-line clearance after Rendell was dispossessed by Lucy Fitzgerald.
Just after the half hour, Thompson came close again but Grace Moloney managed to parry her shot wide as the first half eventually came to a square with no breakthrough.
Saints entered the second half with vigour, which saw Rianna Dean turn off her defender to shoot from the six-yard line, but her strike was high over the crossbar.
It was then Alice Griffiths’ turn to test her shooting boots, but her long-range strike went over as well.
Alice Griffiths in action.
Play quickly moved down the other end and a deep free-kick from Marashi was sent into the box, but Saints managed to defend Rendell’s goal.
Just past the hour, Remi Allen looked to her bench and made a double substitution with Peplow introduced after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The midfielder made an immediate impact, winning two free-kicks for the Saints, having been brought down on both occasions.
Two more substitutions were then introduced as youngster Kayla Nohasiarisoa gained more minutes off the bench.
As the game wore on, Rendell pulled off a stretching save to deny substitute Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah from long range with five minutes to play.
However, the visitors opened the scoring no more than a minute later through Wilde, who poked home inside a crowded penalty area.
Seven minutes of stoppage time was added to the clock, but London City maintained their lead to take all three points.
Saints: Rendell, Brown, Mott, Peake, Purfield (c) (Collett 64), Griffiths, Palmer (Peplow 64), Kendall (Nohasiarisoa 72), Pike (Gregory 72), Thompson, Dean (Rowe 80).
Subs not used: Stenson, Bourne.
London City Lionesses: Moloney, Neville, Brougham (c) (Goldie 46), Scofield, Marashi, Meyong (Roddar 46, Mengyu 73), Fitzgerald, Wilde, Brown, Goodwin (Boye-Hlorkah 46), Henson (Mukandi 61).
Subs not used: Orman.
Goals: Wilde 86.
Referee: Ella Broad.
Attendance: 753.
