Women's Report: Saints 3-0 Watford
Southampton FC Women marked their return to St Mary’s with a 3-0 victory over Watford in the Barclays Women’s Championship.
After half-chances for both sides in the first half, Megan Collett eventually opened the scoring just before the break.
Sophia Pharoah gave Saints breathing room in the second half with a spectacular, quickfire brace either side of the hour mark.
There were two changes from last week’s Adobe FA Cup triumph, as Pharoah and Paige Peake returned to the starting line-up in place of Rosie Parnell and Rianna Dean.
Lucia Kendall captained the side in Parnell's abscence. (Photos: Isabelle Field)
It was Saints who had the game’s first shot, when Pharoah had an effort from range that was comfortably held by Safia Middleton-Patel.
At the other end, Beth Howard was also forced into early action as she produced an excellent, diving save to tip away Lucia Leon’s clever flick from a corner.
Following those chances inside the first ten minutes, there was little materialising for either side as the first half wore on.
The visitors forged a dangerous spell just after the half hour mark when Sophia McLean struck an angled shot across goal that whistled past the far post.
Coral Haines then let fly from distance with an effort comfortably held by Howard, before Saints made the Hornets rue their missed opportunities.
In the 40th minute, Lucia Kendall's cross reached the onrushing Collett at the far post who sent the delivery back across goal and into the bottom corner for her first ever goal at St Mary’s Stadium.
Saints celebrate their opener.
Katie Wilkinson almost doubled the lead when she hit the side netting, but Saints took their one goal advantage into the break.
Much like last week’s cup triumph, Saints found an extra gear in the second half as they looked to put the game to bed.
They did so in style thanks to a quickfire brace from Pharoah, who needed just three minutes either side of the hour to leave her stamp on the afternoon.
Her first came through a well-executed, cushioned volley from inside the area that floated into the top corner with Middleton-Patel left on her heels in goal.
The second, and Saints’ third, was even better; released in behind the defence by Wilkinson’s through ball, Pharoah spotted Middleton-Patel out of her goal and sent a delightful lob into the back of the net from almost 30-yards out.
From then on there was no way back for the stunned Hornets; in truth, very few chances for further goals followed and Saints were able to see the game out with confidence.
Saints: Howard, Collett, Mott (Milne 84). Rafferty, Peake, Purfield, Kendall (c), Primus (Peplow 86), Pike, Wilkinson (Dean 72, Wynne 90+7), Pharoah (Lloyd-Smith 86).
Subs not used: Rendell, Nohasiarisoa.
Goals: Collett 40, Pharoah 59, 62.
Watford: Middleton-Patel, Leon (Head 72), Meiwald, McLean, Agyemang (Baptiste 82), Bennett (c), Georgnoll (Johns 62), Harbert, Wilson, Haines (Rossiter 72), Reid.
Subs not used: Lafayette, Fleming, Goldsmid, Palisch.
Attendance: 1851.
