Women's Report: Sunderland 1-0 Saints
Southampton FC Women suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Sunderland in the Barclays Women's Super League 2.
After a goalless first half that Saints slightly edged, it was Sunderland who came out fighting and opened the scoring with an untidy goal from Eleanor Dale who nudged the ball over a busy goal-line for the eventual winner.
Captain Atlanta Primus had some scoring chances as Saints looked to respond, but none proved successful in rescuing the scoreline as it ended in defeat.
Simon Parker awarded Tegan McGowan her first full debut since joining the Saints on loan from Birmingham City in January, in a slightly altered shape that saw Primus and McGowan deployed either side of Michaela McAlonie and Ellie Brazil attacking through the middle.
Saints' starters in Sunderland. (Photos: Getty Images)
Saints were the stronger side from the start, occupying much of Sunderland's half, which saw McGowan getting plenty of early touches alongside McAlonie.
Sunderland however produced the first shot of the game, making Fran Stenson punch the ball clear.
At the other end, Primus had two opportunities to test the home side's defence with both a shot towards Grace Moloney, and a neat spin away from her markers on the edge of the box.
The most promising moment of the half came from a pin-point cross that was sent into the box by McGowan to the feet of Brazil, who then teed up the advancing Megan Collett who smashed her shot high over the crossbar.
Sunderland themselves then had a close opportunity as Katie Kitching sent a direct corner towards Stenson, who was required to tip the ball over the crossbar to prevent conceding.
After a goalless first half, Sunderland returned as the greater attacking threat as they forced a multitude of corners after threatening attacks.
Following a direct free-kick, it was the Lasses that opened the scoring after a series of scrappy miss-kicks on the goal-line.
Amy Goddard put her body on the line, quite literally, as she took the ball to the face twice in an attempt to block the shot, but Dale eventually managed to bundle the ball into the net.
Simon Parker turned to Chloe Peplow and Ruby-Rae Tucker off the bench in search of an equaliser that seemed to slip further away as the half ticked on.
Primus took the ball on a solo run as she created the best opening, but her shot was too high to trouble Moloney.
Saints struggled to break through for the rest of the half and, after only one minute of additional time, Sunderland took all three points.
Sunderland: Moloney, Roberts (c), Griffiths, Watson, Scarr, Dale, Kitching, Brown, Fenton, Sheva, Westrup.
Subs not used: Blench, Paxton, Cassap, McInnes, Jones, Blades.
Goals: Dale (57').
Yellow cards: Fenton (36'), Dale (80').
Saints: Stenson, Collett, Goddard, Bourne, Simpson, Bashford, Palmer (Peplow 66'), McGowan (Tucker 66'), McAlonie, Brazil, Primus (c).
Subs not used: Pettit, Brown, Mott, Hack, Watts, Roberts, Edwards.
Yellow cards: Collett (55'), Bourne (63').
Attendance: 392.
