Women’s Report: Saints 0-3 Spurs
Tottenham Hotspur brought Southampton FC Women’s Continental Cup campaign to an end with a 3-0 win at the Silverlake Stadium.
The first came on 29 minutes, Ramona Petzelberger’s shot goalwards deflected past Saints keeper Beth Howard by Lucia Kendall’s attempts to block.
It was 2-0 on 67 minutes, a corner met by Charlotte Grant inside the penalty area who finished under substitute keeper Kayla Rendell on her return from injury.
The goal of the game came 12 minutes from time, Grace Clinton coming off the bench to hit an unstoppable strike into the top corner from the right flank.
On a windy but comparatively mild night at the Silverlake Stadium, Marieanne Spacey-Cale made three changes to the side that hit three past Watford at St Mary’s on Sunday.
In came Izzy Milne, Chloe Peplow, and Lexi-Lloyd Smith for Milly Mott, Atlanta Primus and Katie Wilkinson. Lucia Kendall continued to captain the side.
It was an even opening ten minutes, both sides looking to sus each other out with breaks in behind but neither truly testing either keeper.
As the game approached 20 minutes the visitors then began to turn the screw, Martha Thomas’ flicked on a cross which rattled the crossbar the pick of the chances.
This seemed to kick Saints back into life. Three minutes shy of the half hour mark a corner sent in by Paige Peake sailed all the way through before hitting the far post.
But just as the chances were evening out Spurs got the breakthrough in fortunate circumstances on 29 minutes. A free kick sent in was met by Romona Petzelberger on the edge of the box, her shot towards goal deflecting past Beth Howard via Lucia Kendall’s right boot.
A goal down at the break Spacey-Cale shuffled her pack, bringing on Atlanta Primus and Milly Mott for Kendall and Megan Collett. There was also a return from injury for Rendell between the sticks in place of Howard.
As far as the second half was concerned it became a case of controlling the game straight from the whistle for Spurs.
It could’ve been two on 57 minutes, the lively Grant feeding Jessica Naz in just to the left of the penalty area. Her low cross met first time by Rosella Ayane who couldn’t find the target.
But as the rain got heavier, soon the scoreline followed suit. It came from another set piece, this time a corner swung into towards the penalty spot where Grant was there to fire towards goal.
The shot was met by Rendell, but she couldn’t stop it from going over the line on 67 minutes.
Spurs added an impressive third 11 minutes later, substitute Clinton had only been on the pitch five minutes before finding the top corner from the right wing.
Before the match was out there was a faint silver-lining for the hosts. Academy duo Kayla Nohasiarisoa and Isabel Watts coming onto the field for their senior debuts during the final ten minutes.
Luckily for Saints it’s a quick turnaround as they return to Championship action, a trip to Sheffield to face United beckoning on Sunday (2pm GMT).
Saints: Howard (Rendell 46), Collett (Mott 46), Rafferty, Peake, Purfield, Milne, Kendall (c) (Primus 46), Peplow (Nohasiarisoa 79), Pike (Watts 79), Lloyd-Smith, Pharoah.
Subs not used: Hotston.
Spurs: Spencer, Grant, Turner, Bartrip ©, Nildén (James 46), Graham, Petzelberger (Bizet 73), Thomas (England 46), Ayane (Clinton 73), Vinberg, Naz (Brazil 59).
Subs not used: Votíkovà, Neville, Summanen, Ahtinen.
Goals: Petzelberger (29’), Grant (67’), Clinton (78’)
Attendance: 1735