Women's Report: Watford 0-2 Saints

Southampton FC Women headed to Watford FC Women’s Grosvenor Vale looking to bounce back from a comprehensive loss against Birmingham City, as well as keep their perfect away record intact.

Sophia Pharoah gave Saints a deserved lead just before the 20th minute but the visiting side couldn’t add to their tally in the first half despite dominating possession and opportunities in front of goal.

A poor start to the second half saw Marieanne Spacey-Cale's side down to ten women, as Milly Mott was sent off for a pull back in a goalscoring opportunity.

Despite being a player down, Saints battled hard to secure all three points in what ended up being a physical encounter, with Molly Pike settling things as she expertly slotted home on the counter attack in injury time.

Changes in the starting line-up saw Paige Peake return in the centre of defence, while Emily Kraft and Rianna Dean also got their first starts of the season.

A familiar face in the Watford starting XI also saw ex-Saint Sophie Harris return to action between the sticks.

It was a frantic start but one where Saints enjoyed the majority of the ball, the visiting side clearly up for the battle following the loss last time out.

However, it was Watford with the first set piece opportunity, as a long ball forward was deemed to have clipped Paige Peake as she shepherded the ball away from danger in the first five minutes. Kayla Rendell rose highest to clutch the ball out of the air from the corner.

Dean nearly caught keeper Harris in possession shortly after, blocking the ball after chasing it down, but it spun away from danger.

Ella Morris looked dangerous down the right hand side, taking it past her player and delivering a tempting ball. Lucia Kendall flew across the box to meet it, slamming into defender Harley Bennett at the same time, with the ball spinning over the crossbar.

Watford tested Rendell from distance just after the 15 minute mark, as they made a rare foray into the Saints half, with the turquoise clad keeper having little difficulty getting across her goalface to deny.

It was Saints who deservedly opened the scoring on the 19th minute mark after some fantastic pressure in the box. Two shots went close, with the latter slamming off the crossbar, but Sophia Pharoah was there to volley home from close range.

It was almost two less than five minutes later as a pinpoint no-look pass from Kendall unleashed Emily Kraft down the left hand side. Driving into the box, she sent a shot across the keeper, with only the woodwork denying the Saints’ number 17.

Saints continued to dominate possession, with Watford unable to make anything stick at the top of the field, playing a completely different tempo to what fans saw at AFC Totton the week previous.

Sophia Pharoah was getting in the right positions as the first half headed into its closing minutes. Molly Pike, who was playing a deeper role than normal, swung a ball in from the left-hand side, with Pharoah heading over the bar.

It was Pike with the last opportunity of the half. Given too much space and time on the ball by the home side, she slammed an effort narrowly over the bar from outside the box.

There was no stopping Sophia Pharoah's close-range volley.

A disaster start to the second half saw Saints down to ten, as Milly Mott pulled down the Watford attacker as she was through on goal and was shown a red.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale made her first changes following the decision, with Rosie Parnell and Katie Wilkinson replacing goalscorer Sophia Pharoah and returning Rianna Dean.

Despite being a player down, Saints still fashioned an opportunity shortly afterwards, substitute Wilkinson brought down the ball and looped a cross into the box. Kraft was arriving back post, but couldn’t make a good enough connection to hit the target.

There was another change in the 58th minute as Megan Wynne took the place of Emily Kraft, with Saints continuing to hold on to their lead.

Some neat play shortly after saw ten-man Saints once again threaten, with Pike sliding a ball across the box, with Wynne just slightly too quick with her run.

However, uplifted by their increased possession, Watford were farming the ball forward with more frequency, and Saints had to keep working hard to deny any real opportunity.

Frustration was starting to creep in and the referee was not shy with her cards as Wynne tussled with Bennett for the ball; the Welsh international inking her name in the book.

Saints had their defending tested by Watford in the 74th minute, as the home side were awarded a freekick on the left-hand side. The ball was looped in, with Rendell having to make the initial save, before Collett blocked on the line and Pike cleared from danger.

It was another set piece at the other end shortly afterwards, as Pike was hacked down in the attack - Laila Harbert becoming the next name in the referee's book.

Peake stepped up to take, and slammed a vicious shot that looked destined to nestle in the top corner, but Harris tipped away from danger.

A tiring Saints side gave away another set-piece opportunity in the 89th minute, Watford playing short, with the subsequent shot once again ending up in the safe gloves of Rendell.

With seven minutes to be added on, the red shirts would have to be strong to hold on as Watford tried to get forward.

Parnell was a little too strong in injury time, and also ended up with a yellow card to her name as she prevented the counter attack.

Saints did well to frustrate Watford and pin them back into their own half in the dying minutes. Ella Morris was particularly unpopular with the Golden Girls as she managed to hold the ball in the corner, outmuscling two yellow shirts.

A member of Watford's bench received a second yellow and was removed from the pitch as time ticked down with the home side teed up for a corner.

Wilkinson was doing her defensive work in the dying minutes, and her strong header away from danger set off a chain of events that sent Saints careering up the pitch.

Pike was the highest player, and drove forward, outpacing the retreating Watford back line and slotting low and hard past Harris to double the deficit in the 90+9.

A battling performance that saw Saints snatch all three points, despite playing over 45 minutes with ten players.

Their attention will now turn to Wednesday night Continental Cup action as they face Bristol City at the Robins High Performance Centre.

Saints XI: Rendell, Collett, Mott (Red card, 47’), Peake, Purfield, Kendall ©, Pike, Morris, Pharoah (Parnell, 49’), Kraft (Wynne, 58’), Dean (Wilkinson, 49’).

Substitutes unused: Howard, Lloyd-Smith, Milne, Thompson, Rafferty.

Watford XI: Harris, Leon (Georgiou, 69’), McLean, Johns, Rossiter (Davison, 54’), Head (Lafayette, 69’), Bennett, Harbert, Chandler ©, Haines, Reid (Henson, 45’).

Substitutes unused: Meiwald, Palisch, Downsett.

Goals: Pharoah, 19', Pike, 90+9'.