Women's report: Saints start pre-season in style
Southampton FC Women began their preparations for the 2021/22 campaign with an emphatic 18-1 win over local rivals Southampton Womens Reserves at Snows Stadium.
Heading into their maiden campaign in National League Southern Premier, preparations began in perfect fashion as Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side raced into a 11-1 lead by the break.
Matching the searing heat at the home of AFC Totton, Ella Pusey was in hot form from the off, completing her hat-trick inside 21 minutes and ending the half with five goals all to herself.
Pusey’s solo display only marginally outshone that of Lucia Kendall, who, after only being introduced midway through the half, stormed to a 15-minute hat-trick from attacking midfield.
New signing Laura Rafferty notched her first goals in red and white by first directing Shelly Provan’s ricocheted strike into the back of the net, and then heading home from a corner.
A rampant opening 45 minutes also saw Alisha Ware add her name to the extensive scoresheet, with Southampton Womens only enjoying success at the other end after capitalising on a mistake from Kayla Rendell.
The constant pressure resumed following the restart, with Kendall adding a further two goals to her haul either side of a neat finish from Sophia Pharoah.
A 15th of the night was brought up on 67 minutes when Rachel Panting thundered in a strike off of the base of the post, swiftly followed by Pharoah heading home her second of the evening.
With the frenetic pace finally easing in the closing quarter of the match, Georgie Freeland and Ware rounded off the scoring, completing a successful start to preparations for Spacey-Cale’s side.
