Women's Report: Saints 1-3 Manchester United

Marieanne Spacey-Cale made one change to her starting line-up following last week’s league defeat against Crystal Palace, with Alice Griffiths stepping in for Sophia Pharoah.

The Saints were up against Marc Skinner’s Women’s Super League side in front of a sold-out Silverlake Stadium.

Ella Toone’s shot from distance left the Saints chasing the game early on, but they did so with grit.

A hard-fought match saw Southampton ultimately exit the FA Cup after an equaliser from Lexi Lloyd-Smith was followed by a Rachel Williams brace.

Alice Griffiths returned to the starting line-up. (Photos: Isabelle Field)

The opening minutes of the game saw the Red Devils hold onto possession, but Saints were quick and eager to disrupt the flow of their visitors’ play.

United opened the scoring in the seventh minute through an unmarked Ella Toone, who sent a long-range strike straight into the back of the net.

Toone continually looked dangerous for the WSL side, sending in an attempt after a run down the left wing, but Kayla Rendell was quick to collect.

A shot from Nikita Parris came off the left side of the woodwork, and some excellent defending from Collett saw a second strike prevented.

Rendell then denied an attempt by Leah Galton, leaving her box to clear the ball before United’s no. 11 could get another touch on it.

There were chances at both ends in the lead up to the 25th minute, with nobody there to finish a cross sent in from the right by Saints’ Katie Wilkinson, and Galton facing the same problem down the visitors’ left side.

A brief pause in play as Wilkinson received treatment saw Spacey-Cale’s side engage in a team talk and, quickly after the match resumed, produce their biggest chance yet.

On the right-hand side of the Saints’ final third, Molly Pike, marked by two Manchester United defenders, was narrowly unable to control a powerful cross.

Southampton grew into the game and saw further opportunities following this, and a central shot from the edge of the box by Griffiths was blocked by the Red Devils’ back line.

Saints battled hard after falling behind.

After struggling to clear the ball as Saints pushed for an equaliser, Skinner’s side launched another attack. This time, the important block was made by Milly Mott to prevent United from extending their lead.

Paige Peake did well to send away a shot at goal, with Rendell gathering up the ball as the away side had another go.

Spacey-Cale made her first substitution at the half, with Lloyd-Smith replacing Griffiths.

Captain Lucia Kendall deflected a shot down the middle from Hannah Blundell, as the turnover in possession remained high for both teams.

Mary Earps was called into action in the 50th minute, following a deep free kick for the Saints. Atlanta Primus wanted to to fire the ball towards goal, but the power was just missing and the Red Devils’ goalkeeper dived to make the save.

An outstanding save was made by Rendell as the visitors sought after a second goal through Parris. Fighting end-to-end for a goal of their own, the Saints launched a swift counter attack. A tidy midfield link-up between Laura Rafferty and Jemma Purfield saw Southampton drive into the final third once again.

A long ball to Pike was missed as Earps left her area to clear it. At the other end, Rendell was required to gather the ball again from near the edge of her box. In quick succession, Peake demonstrated her ability to hold onto the ball in tight spaces, as she managed to move possession back into her side’s attacking half.

Rendell made yet another vital save in the 64th to keep the Saints in the game, as Parris sent a powerful strike towards her.

A minute later, substitute Lloyd-Smith made her impact with the equaliser when her cross from the right was delivered with intent and made it's away past Earps' despairing dive and into the far corner.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith celebrates the equaliser.

Spacey-Cale’s side appeared increasingly threatening, having found their confidence and rhythm. They purposefully sent further attempts into the box, as Earps had two stop the home side from taking the lead twice in quick succession.

In the 75th minute, Skinner’s side took the lead again, this time through Williams. Some chaos in the box saw the Saints unable to clear the ball, and Williams was left able to send it past Rendell.

Mott went into the referee’s book following a tackle in Parris, as the Saints number 3 denied her opponent access to the penalty area. The subsequent free kick taken by Zelem was well-saved by Rendell, who batted it away mid-air.

The fast-paced nature of the second half persisted, as the Saints worked hard against a heavy presence in the box from the visitors. A header from goal scorer Williams, protested by Saints players, was ruled as having crossed the goal line, and so United’s lead was furthered.

Southampton came close to pulling one back in the 86th minute, but the shot was collected by Earps. The opposite end saw Rendell with her work cut out for her as the guests looked to secure another goal.

Match officials indicated an additional five minutes to be played, during which a fast break saw Kendall hit the post.

Despite a valiant effort, the hard-fought cup tie ended in defeat for the Saints. Spacey-Cale’s attention turns back to the league as their cup run draws to a close.

Saints: Rendell, Collett (Morris 69),Mott, Rafferty, Peake, Purfield, Griffiths (Lloyd-Smith 46), Kendall (captain), Primus (Pharoah 69), Pike (Wynne 89), Wilkinson.

Subs not used: Howard, Haaland, Milne, Thompson, Kraft. 

Goals: Lloyd-Smith 65.

Yellow Cards: Primus 68, Mott 76.

Manchester United: Earps, Evans, Zelem (c), Malard (Williams 66), Le Tissier, Blundell, Naalsund (Guerrero 66), Galton, Turner (Mannion 90+4), Toone (Ladd 82), Parris.

Subs not used: Tullis-Joyce, Aherne, Francis, Chadwick.

Goals: Toone 8, Williams 75, 82.

Attendance: 4554