Southampton 0-1 Sunderland
St Marys Stadium | Attendance; 1,436 | Goalscorer; Jenna Dear
Last Sunday, Saints were again back home for their match against Sunderland. Unfortunately, this match didn’t go the way we all wanted, as it ended with a 1 nil defeat and Sunderland leaving with all 3 points. An attendance of 1,436 people made their way through the turnstiles, braving the very muggy and humid weather, to watch our girls and spur them on. Despite the result, the atmosphere was still loud, lifting the team, it’s really lovely and heartening to hear so many joining in with the chants and kids making themselves heard. (song book will be out soon).
Before the match Sunday, I’m sure a lot of us were feeling giddy, from the top of the table performance of the first two games of the season. This wasn’t the case however, and in the nicest possible way, this was not Saints dat, where no matter what we tried, things just weren’t clicking. I think the biggest thing for us was the fact we were not clinical enough when it really mattered, we could of have had 3|4 very easy goals but the ball was just not flying into the back of the net.
Considering the strength in depth we now have within this team, it was a surprise to not see Marieanne utilise all 5 subs, that also there appeared to be no tactical switch up. Which considering we had been playing a plethora of formations in the last 8 months, to not try something different and bring on fresh legs to try and change the result.
For sure we had our good moments, the quick football and the slick passing was present and caused Sunderland no end of problems, frustrating them and pushing their buttons so much they were arguing amongst themselves. Our deliveries also improving week in, week out.Then there were the bad moments, we turned off the throttle and became slow which allowed us to become predictable to the Lasses, allowing them to intercept. I do have to say though, I can see how they have conceded no goals, their defence is as strong as a solid brick wall, sometimes.
What I noticed about Sunderland is that they’re quite a physical side, they’re strong and very good at closing down opposition. I also noticed that they lived up to their ‘wind up merchant’ name, looking for fouls at every given opportunity, think I counted 3 times they went down in the box, hoping to hear the refs whistle, the first one their player wasn’t even touched! Thankfully, the ref wasn’t falling for their antics, well most of the time! Do have to say though, she was not a good ref, despite the experience. The lino wasn’t too great either, she spent most of her time behind the ball.
Side note, Nike need to sort out their kits so people are able to read them, the luminous yellow with white writing was not working and you couldn’t read it.
First half
The first half started slowly but we’re used to slow starts by now, most of the possession however being within our own half. This was when we started to see how well Sunderland were good with closing us down and getting back possession, it was frustrating to watch so I can only imagine how frustrated the girls were getting. The Lasses had the better of the chances in this half but we did start to liven up and become more dominant on the ball.
The first chance came within the first 5 minutes from a set piece, which amounted to nothing as no Sunderland player was able to get on the end of it. The next chance came from a beautiful delivery from a free kick which saw Kayla leap high and punch it away, but the ball fell straight to Sunderland who took a strike but put it wide. The next chance came from our throw, Jemma had a throw in which was not strong enough and allowed Mary Mac to pick up, she took a heavy touch and Jemma was able to get hold of it and pass it into the middle to Molly Pike, Molly powered it along the floor towards goal, but it went just wide of the post.
As the Saints started to liven up, more chances came in. The next chance was ours which came from a mistake from the opposition, a pass to the keeper was caught by the foot of Paige, which then fell into the path of Wilko, she took a shot which looked like it would curl in, but a Sunderland player flew in like superman and blocked it, putting it out for a corner. Our star girl Ella Morris was the next to create, she took the ball from their feet on the wing, ran it and then pulled it back, along the floor to Molly, which now looking at the highlights she was being held. The ball rolled past Molly to the feet of Lucia who got her foot behind the ball but straight to the goalie.
Jemma Purfield was next with the shot, but her shot was not powerful enough and allowed the keeper to save it. That was the last chance that ended the first half with the scoreline staying at 0-0. The Ref really didn’t have a good half.
Second half
The second half started, and the first chance of the half was to us, Milly Mott put a nicely weighted cross to Ella Morris who was able to run onto it, she ran into the box with Molly in the middle, she went it alone and went one on one with their keeper but agonisingly for us
saints, put it wide. This was our best chance of the game thus far. The next chance of the game is the one which led to the Sunderland goal, Jemma backed off Mary on the wing which allowed her space to her a cross into the box, Dear was in the box to tap it home for the Lasses.
1 - 0 Sunderland.
We were next with a chance, a delivery into the box from a Jemma corner was headed out by opposition but straight to Lucia, she put it back in and Wilko who had the perfect opportunity to equalise, put it wide. A perfect through ball delivery by Paige Peake was found by Ella Morris, who had a great game by the way, she took it round the keeper and pulled the trigger, it felt like slow motion as we watched the ball sail past the far post and stayed out of goal.
We were trying our hardest to get that goal, but our final touch just wasn’t working. Our next chance was from a through ball by Wilko to Lucia, she squared it to Ella who took a shot, but her shot was blocked, the rebound saw Wilko strike but palmed out by the keeper for a corner. The next chance came from our short corner, Molly to Jemma to Lexi in the box, Lexi volleyed it but it was saved by their keeper.
Megan Collett found a cross into the box, she was aiming for Emily, but it was blocked by a Lass, who put it in the path for Ella, she put it in for Lexi who headed it wide. Mary Macateer was next with the shot which rattled the crossbar. The very last chance of the half saw Lexi try to shoot but their goalie was there to block it. Every chance we had today was just not going in, hopefully this will change next weekend when we play Reading away.
After that match we sit 3rd in the table just one point bending top of the table, Crystal Palace
Player of the match
The supporters groups voted ‘Player of the match’ for the game against Sunderland is none other than Milly Mott🤩
Milly today was everywhere, all over the pitch with some impressive surging runs. She was out on the pitch today challenging players which were probably about a foot taller than her.
Unfortunately we didn’t bag the win but Milly played well!🤩
Well played and Congratulations on ‘Player Of The Match’ Milly❤️🤍
Lineup
コメント