Women's Preview: Bridgwater vs Saints
Southampton FC Women are in action for the first time in 25 days this Sunday, facing high-flying Bridgwater United in National League Southern Premier.
Bridgwater United vs Saints
National League Southern Premier
Farifax Park
Sunday 31st October, 2pm BST
October 3rd was the last time Saints were in action this season, facing Keynsham Town at Snows Stadium.
It was another comprehensive victory for Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side, hitting nine past their opponents for the third time this season.
Laura Rafferty notched her first two of the season, with futher strikes from Phoebe Williams, Milly Mott, Lucia Kendall, Sophia Pharoah and an Ella Pusey hat-trick rounding off the action.
Bridgwater have played three more games than Saints, currently sitting a place behind them in third with six victories, two draws and two defeats.
Last-time-out saw only their second defeat of the season, narrowly losing out to league leaders Ipswich Town away from home thanks to a Natasha Thomas 87th minute strike.
Home and away fans are charged at the standard rate for this season, with pricing as follows:
Turnstiles open from 12:30pm and payment is accepted in either card or cash form.
Parking is free on the day at the main campus of Bridgwater & Tauton College.
MANAGER'S NOTES
“Bridgwater are a side that continue to impress you,” said Spacey-Cale. “Every time they play a game they grow into how they play, they grow into understanding each other.
“They’re in that stage now where they’re starting to really gel as a squad. Their results show that they can upset people. They played Ipswich and lost in the last three minutes but it was a game that could have gone either way.
“They’ve got the technical quality, the tactical quality but also the strength in character. You’ve got to approach games against teams like this with a similar mentality.
“It’s hard to put into words the impact supporters have. When you see them turning up at away ground in their numbers you get this sense of pride. It just gives us a little edge.
“We’re playing to win and playing to perform but we’re playing for our supporters who have given up their time to come and give us their support week-in-week-out. We’re chomping at the bit to get going again Sunday and I think the supporters are too.
“This is such a big game for us so the more support we can get there the better, the noisier they can be the better.”
