Women's Report: Saints 0-1 Sunderland
Southampton FC Women fell to their first defeat of the season in a gritty encounter against Sunderland at St Mary's Stadium.
A lacklustre first half and slow start to the second allowed the Black Cats to take the lead through Jenna Dear early after half time.
Despite a late resurgence from the home side, Saints were unable to make their chances count, and fell to their first defeat of the season.
Sunderland had an early opportunity from a set piece as Jemma Purfield’s sliding tackle was a late one on the right-hand side inside the first five minutes, but no bright yellow shirt was able to make a meaningful connection on the ball.
The travelling side were trying to pen in the Saints in the opening ten, using a great deal of physicality to do so, and there were little or no chances for the red and white shirts to pounce on.
Molly Pike had a half-chance just after the period of Sunderland possession, as a quick throw-in from Sophia Pharoah saw the number 14 get a shot off, but on the turn and with a ferocious bounce, it was a tough ask to get the ball on target.
16 minutes in, Sunderland were given another opportunity from the set-piece, this time swinging the ball in from the left-hand side. Despite clearing the initial ball, Katie Kitching’s curling follow-up was far too close for comfort.
Molly Pike had her second opportunity of the game minutes after, as another Katie Wilkinson ball over the top looked appealing. Racing forward alongside defender Briana Westrup, Pike was unlucky to be taken down with appeals to the referee waved away.
Molly Pike proved a handful for Sunderland defensively
Both teams were given a respite from the heat in the 25th minute, with a short drinks break.
Rejuvenated, Saints had another opportunity straight from the restart, Purfield’s throw was set across to Pike, who had enough time to turn and send a shot just past the post.
After a frustrating start, Saints were growing into the game, and created another opportunity just minutes later. Megan Collett was the provider of an enticing cross, which Sophia Pharoah arrived to head goalward at speed, but her effort was just wide.
It was Saints with the final opportunity of the half, as Pike once again left her player for dust and raced into the box to latch onto a through ball. Her touch was just away from her though, and despite sliding to get a shot off, it was not quite enough.
Sunderland looked for a quick start, shooting directly from the kick off, and despite not troubling Kayla Rendell, they did look the brighter of the two sides, which paid off.
Mary McAteer was the provider of a searching cross into the box, and Jenna Dear timed her run to leave Saints’ defence with too much to do, slotting past Rendell and giving Sunderland the lead in the 55th minute.
Saints were unlucky not to go level less than five minutes later, as Wilkinson found herself inside the box with the ball at her feet. However, under pressure, she slammed her shot just wide.
The home side went even closer through Morris shortly after. The pacey number 2 raced past her defender, tipped the ball round the keeper and shot from a tight angle. The ball skimmed across the box, millimetres past the post and evaded all the red shirts lurking.
Lexi Lloyd-Smith was the first set of fresh legs to enter the fray in the 60th minute and Saints looked dominant for a good ten minutes, with a number of chances going amiss.
It certainly looked like it wouldn’t be Saints’ day as the half wore on, with the home side creating all the chances without the final product.
Pike’s yellow card after winning a free-kick in the 72nd minute summed up what was becoming a frustrating afternoon in SO14, but Saints continued to search for the elusive equaliser.
Marieanne Spacey-Cale provided more attacking firepower as Emily Kraft replaced Katie Wilkinson in the 75th minute.
Sunderland looked to kill the game off, with players holding the ball up in the corner.
Lloyd-Smith went agonisingly close to equalising in injury time, as she reacted to an improvised ball forward and slammed goalward at close range, only to be denied by an impressive Claudia Moan save.
Despite creating the better chances in the closing stages, it was Sunderland who came away with all three points, moving up to second in the table and pushing Saints to third.
Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side will hope to put things right next weekend as they make the short journey to Reading FC Women and continue to cement their place in the top three.
Saints XI: Rendell, Collett, Mott, Parnell ©, Purfield, Kendall, Peake, Morris, Pike, Pharoah (Lloyd-Smith, 60’), Wilkinson (Kraft, 75’).
Substitutes not used: Howard, Rafferty, Wynne, Milne, Milne, Thompson, Primus.
Sunderland XI: Moan, Griffith, McAteer, Kitching, Brown, Fenton, Goddard, Ede, Dear, Westrup ©, Ejupi.
Substitutes: McCatty, McInnes, Beer, Jones, Borthwick, Watson.
Attendance: 1,436