Southampton 0 – 1 Bristol City
St Marys Stadium | Goalscorer: Ffion Morgan | Attendance 5,042
Saints were at home again, last Sunday, as they faced top of the table Bristol City, a match we knew would be difficult from the get go. Sadly it didn’t go the way we all hoped but it was a performance to be proud of. In front of a brilliant attendance of 5,043 made its way through the turnstiles ready to watch the Saints take on the Robins, of that attendance, a few being Bristol supporters who made the journey. The atmosphere in stadium, spurring on the girls, was something exceptional, the audible chants and roars from those who attended made an electric atmosphere. Yes there were a number of free tickets, but, when it creates an atmosphere like on Sunday, it’s so worth it.
Writing this and looking back to Sunday actually makes me proud of the girls and how they performed, we may not have won, but with our effort and chances we deserved to win with
their very spirited performance. Truly think this was one of my favourite matches, other than
the Palace home match, still 4 games to watch to change my mind too!
We were the dominant team throughout the whole game, maintaining our intensity and high
energy. Chances were coming as early as the very 1st minute, and we really worked Fran
Bentley, with 15 shots, 6 of those being on target. I must say, Fran Bentley the Bristol keeper
had a brilliant game with some cracking saves that sadly denied some of our chances! We were
a lot more direct with the ball and were going forward at every chance we could take, rather
than going backwards like we have seen a lot thus season. We were also very unlucky to
concede that goal, there was literally nothing Kayla could have done to stop that going in.
A fantastic effort was put in by these girls, slick, controlled and skilful football is what they
were showcasing for us Sunday, a style of football we know they can do well but just hasn’t
been executed the last few matches. Again, we are just lacking one thing and that’s the final
ball/chance!! We do all the hard work to
get it into the perfect position, we just
can’t finish off the move with a goal.
One thing I will say is we need to keep
Chloe Peplow, so Chloe, if you’re reading this, please stay! (We hope to see you as the first name through the door in the summer)
The referee was also the best we’ve had this season, he was playing the advantage, or pulling it back if that came to nothing and blowing for a foul when needed. He was measured,
commanded respect but in a way came across as level and confident. The only bad decision I think he made, was the fact he gave Bristol a free kick when Milly was travelling forward with the ball and was taken out by the Bristol player. Other than that he had a really good game.
Can he referee us every week?
First half
The first half we started as we meant to go on, and with the very first chance, so nearly saw us witness a repeat of what happened back at Ashton Gate, this time though with Ella Morris stealing the ball off the Robin and running it forward into the edge of the box and crossing it
into the middle, sadly Beth’s outstretching leg didn’t quite reach. Ella Pusey was there to
receive the ball after the missed chance and passed it back to Alice who controlled it then shot, it went over the crossbar. 2 great chances and a great start for us.
The next chance come from the Robins, a beautiful ball sliced through our defence for the
rushing Shania Hayles, leaving her one on one with Kayla, she shot but our amazing number 1 saved it! The next opportunity saw the goal, Bristol worked it well with one touch football
until it was blocked by Rosie, only for Ffion Morgan to collect and score a wonder goal that hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced in behind Kayla. It was a ball that was hit with
intent, but a challenging shot for our keeper. 1 nil Bristol, 18th minute. Next chance saw Milly
run to keep the ball in play, then ran it from inside our half, all the way into the oppositions,
pass to Beth who took it round a Robin and took a shot, straight to Fran Bentley who calmly
saved.
A misplaced pass by Bristol, was smartly collected Ella Pusey who rounded the goalkeeper and took her shot into an open goal, but it was an awkward angle and ended up frustratingly wide. All the bodies were on the line with the next Robins chance, Kayla tried running to grab
it but the Bristol player managed to release it into the middle leaving and open goal and a ready Shania Hayles. The
ball come off Milly and was heading into the goal before Laura Rafferty slid in to
keep it out. It rebounded for another chance which was blocked and then Abbi
Harrison smashed it over. The whistle blew, 1st half ended, 1 nil Bristol, but we
were very much in the game.
Second half
We came out from half time, ready and raring to go for the final 45 minutes. First chance this
half came from the Robins, but a brilliant save by Super Rendell put it out for a corner.
Milly passed it to Ella P who one touched it out wide to the wing, linking up to an on running
Ella Morris, she put it along the floor into he box but unfortunately Lucia Kendall’s sliding
efforts didn’t connect, it fell back to Beth Lumsden who took her shot and Fran Bentley finger
tip saved it and put it over the bar. That would have been a delicious goal, but was an
exceptional forced save.
A Bristol attack saw Rosie steal the ball, pass it out to Beth who ran with it then passed it
through space to Wilko, who played it forward for Lucia to run onto, she cut it towards Wilko
which was toe touched by the Bristol defender but it played Wilko in, she rounded the
goalkeeper but slipped which left Fran to run and pick up the ball. Wilko had her say by
pushing her to the floor. Another chance come from a lovely corner by Peplow which was
headed away but went straight to Lucia who volleyed it but it was saved by an outstretched leg of their goalie. Fran Bentley really did have a game! Hoping Lucia takes confidence from that chance and keeps working hard to score. Last season she was on fire, I am not sure if we have seen her reach those heights so far. With 4 games left to play, his good would it be to see her finish the season off strongly. I hope it happens.
The dominance of Saints really showed as the game was slowly drawing to a close. Megan
Collett chipped the ball into the box where Wilko was waiting but she collided with the keeper,
it sent her spinning and the ball went out for a corner. The final chance of the match was from
an Ella Morris corner, a beautiful delivery targeted out Wilko who volleyed it, the ball bounced
and then hit the post, it came back out to Lexi but she put it wide.
The whistle blew and it ended 1 nil to Bristol.
Overall
This was a great game of football, as I predicted it would to be and we were not disappointed
with the performance or the effort displayed by the team. It proved that, we can put in the
performance and if Bristol’s Keeper had not had a superb game, we would have deserved to
have won the game comfortably. Sadly, for the Saints Women, it wasn’t to be, but it showed
the supporters and the Team that if you work like that, we will come out on top more often than not. Let’s hope the tide has turned and the Team can finish the season strongly!
Player of the match
You’re voted ‘Player of the
match’ for the match against
Bristol City is none other than
Milly Mott!
2 consecutive POTM wins,
wow👏🏼 I have to say, Milly had a
brilliant game on Sunday, she was
strong, pushing forward and
making some wavy runs! She took up a central defence role today and she executed that role very well!👏🏼 Well played and Congratulations on ‘Player Of The Match’ Milly❤️🤍
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