Women's Report: Saints 2-1 Sheffield United

Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side were looking to get back to winning ways after the October international break, and it was back on the St Mary’s stage that they were looking to do it.

A dominant first half and an intense seven minutes saw Saints gain, lose and regain the lead. Sophia Pharoah headed home the opener to the delight of the 1,745 fans at St Mary’s, before Jodie Hutton provided a wondergoal to pull the Blades back into the contest.

Not to be outdone, Katie Wilkinson provided a similarly majestic finish just three minutes later, sending a cross-come-shot into the top corner in the 21st minute.

The Blades came out fighting in the second half and it took a battling second-half performance for Saints to secure all three points on their St Mary's return.

It was nearly a perfect start as birthday girl Katie Wilkinson chested down a Jemma Purfield cross into the path of Molly Pike, but the Blades did well to mop up the danger.

Saints were moving the ball well in the opening five minutes, controlling possession and pushing the Blades back into their own half.

Sophia Pharoah provided a masterful touch to bring the ball down in the box in the 10th minute, but once again, United were able to clear their lines.

It didn’t take much longer for Saints to make the pressure pay off. Milly Mott poached the ball in the midfield and sent a pinpoint ball across the box to the back post. Both Wilkinson and Pharoah were lurking, but it was the latter that rose up to head across the keeper and into the back of the net.

Despite the dominance, Sheffield United were able to net in one of their rare forays into the Saints half. Jodie Hutton provided an impressive curling finish from distance as the red and white shirts failed to play out from the back in the 18th minute.

Spacey-Cale’s side didn’t give the Blades a minute to breathe, however and were once again moving the ball nicely. Lucia Kendall played the perfect ball from the midfield to cut out the defence and unleash Wilkinson down the left-hand side. 

The former Sheffield United player had the time and space to let a cross-come-shot fly, and the crowd held their breath as the ball sailed over Fran Stenson and into the top corner, giving Saints their lead once again in the 21st minute.

After a mad seven minutes, the first half petered out somewhat. Saints were still controlling possession but couldn’t create a meaningful enough opportunity to extend their lead.

A strong first half, but with Sheffield United proving that they could create something out of almost nothing, Saints would be looking to cement their lead coming out after the break.

Sophia Pharoah heads home in the first half

Sheffield United came out of the blocks faster of the two sides, and Saints had temporarily seemed to have lost the composure on the ball that had seen them dominate the opening encounters.

The Blades saw a cross flash across the face of goal early in the second half, before Jess Sigsworth headed wide from a searching ball across.

When Saints did get on the ball, they looked dangerous, and United gifted an opportunity to the home side in the 60th minute as Molly Pike was hacked down on the wing.

The opportunity seemed to rouse the cavalry but Saints couldn't make the most of it, their follow up seemingly hitting an outstretched arm but without the referee blowing her whistle.

The Blades fashioned their own opportunity at the other end shortly after as Kayla Rendell was forced into a double save from their corner kick to retain the lead.

Pike had the next chance of the game as Saints quickly cleared their lines from the corner. Racing down the pitch, she latched onto the final ball into the box, but her shot was sent straight at Stenson under pressure.

In the 70th minute, Pike went even closer, Wilkinson did the work to get herself in space wide-right, punching a ball over the two recovering defenders. Pike had a lot to do, and despite bringing the ball down and sliding in, she couldn't get a shot away.

Rendell was called into action at the other end less than a minute later, making the save of the game from close range, denying what looked like a near-certain goal from Sigsworth.

Spacey-Cale made her first changes of the game shortly afterwards; a triple change. Ella Morris, Rianna Dean and Alice Griffiths replaced Molly Pike, Lexi Lloyd-Smith and Chloe Peplow in the 73rd minute.

The Blades continued to push on, and a break to play for an injury to Milly Mott halted their progression. The defender was replaced by Laura Rafferty shortly after.

With eight minutes to be added on at the end of the second half, Saints would have to hold on a little longer for the three points.

There were once again penalty shouts in injury time as substitute Rianna Dean turned her player and was pulled down, but the referee was having none of it.

A final change saw Emily Kraft enter the fray for Sophia Pharoah in injury time, as Saints looked to see out the game.

A professional performance for Saints saw them keep possession where it mattered and put an important three points on the table.

Sitting second, it's a trip to Reading FC Women in the midweek in the Continental Cup before they welcome 3rd-placed Charlton Athletic in the league, and will be looking to continue building momentum at the top end of the table.

Saints XI: Rendell, Mott (Rafferty, 86’), Parnell ©, Peake, Purfield, Kendall, Peplow (Griffiths, 73’), Lloyd-Smith (Morris, 73’), Pike (Dean, 73’), Pharoah (Kraft, 90+3’), Wilkinson.

Substitutes unused: Howard, Wynne, Thompson, Milne.

Sheffield United XI: Stenson, Newsham, Barker © (Wilcock, 90+2’), Bourne, Sigsworth, Rayner, Goodwin, Hodson, Hutton, A. Brown (Kinsett, 67’), R. Brown.

Substitutes unused: Docherty, Graham, Page, Heeps, Sugden-Brook, Connolly-Jackson, Adebiwale-Arnold.