Southampton FC Women travel to Larkhall Athletic in the Women’s National League this Sunday, hoping to continue their unbeaten run in the competition.
THE MATCH
Larkhall Athletic vs Saints
Plain Ham
Sunday 8th March
2.00pm (GMT)
Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side will be looking to pick up where they left off, having beaten Maidenhead United 7-0 at Staplewood Campus last week.
After being frustrated by the visitors for the majority of the first half despite an early Shannon Albuery goal, six second half efforts, including an Alisha Ware hat-trick, sealed a comprehensive victory.
Larkhall meanwhile are playing catch-up in the National League, winning five of their eight games in the division so far.
Their last league outing also saw a meeting with Maidenhead; Larkhall eventually coming out 2-0 winners away from home at the start of February.
LAST MEETING
Sunday’s fixture is the third meeting between the two sides this season, having met in the WNL Cup earlier in the campaign; Saints gaining a 3-1 win at Larkhall on that occasion in October.
Their last clash came a month later at AFC Totton, where a double hat-trick courtesy of Sophia Pharoah and Ella Pusey, alongside another from Ware, secured a dominant 7-1 win.
Larkhall took the lead in that game after just five minutes through Rhian Robbins and managed to hold onto their advantage until the 34th minute.
But the floodgates then opened, with the score eventually 4-1 before the break.
MANAGER’S NOTES
“It’s going to be a very tough game," admitted Spacey-Cale. "We struggled when we played them up there the last time.
“They are a very good organised team. Where they play suits them, the pitch suits them and the environment suits them.
“Larkhall play very well at home so we’ve got to be better than we were in the first half against Maidenhead.
“We started well against Maidenhead with the goal and if we can start well against Larkhall it will give us a good boost.”