Southampton 2 – 0 Crystal Palace
ST MARYS STADIUM | ATTENDANCE: 2,576
Saints were back home on Sunday for their match against Crystal Palace, one where history
from the start of the season really repeated itself. Difference is this time, we controlled the
game, scored at critical times and didn’t allow Palace an opportunity to score. As we had the
back line working hard and Kayla pulling off a couple of good saves. 2,576 fans were in
attendance to witness what I believe was the girls best performance of the season so far, truly spectacular. Our intentions were clear from the very minute that whistle blew, and we
maintained that throughout the whole 101 minutes of the match. One in which we showed true passion, pure dominance and high pressing skilful football which saw us bag those 3 points, clean sheet and score twice.
Another poor officiated match, even fouling our players and just carrying on when it should
have been stopped for interfering with play. Poor refereeing is becoming a common occurrence in the leagues and it needs to be dealt with because in some cases, it’s costing teams the match.
As mentioned in the ‘All Saints Podcast’ prior to the match, we noticed how Palace are a team of individuals who don’t often gel well together and I feel we saw that on Sunday. They had their best players on the pitch but something just wasn’t clicking and flowing for them,
that or they just couldn’t handle how excellent we were playing. One thing I will say is that it
was truly lovely to see so many Crystal Palace fans out in support for the team they love. Their flags took over the length of the Chapel Stand, which we haven’t seen from a side we’ve faced previously and they looked great.
First half
tThe first half really started how it was meant to go on. We came out with a fire in our belly and a true intention on how we wanted that match to play out, we meant business. Early chances were coming in thick and fast with a dominant display. Ella Morris had an absolutely fantastic game on Sunday too, everywhere she needed to be and creating chances left, right and centre. Our next chance on goal come from a lovely corner ball from Paige that reached the head of Lucia but she didn’t connect with it properly sending it over the bar. Leeta gathered the ball in the middle of the park and saw a run from Ella Morris.
Ella ran it into the box and shot straight at the keeper. The next chance came from a
Palace attack down the wing, it saw Blanchard take a shot from the wing outside the box, which magic hands Kayla dealt with and tipped it away for a corner. Winnie had a great opportunity to bag her first goal but with an on running keeper and defender closing in, I think she panicked and pulled the trigger one step too early and put it wide. Just before half time saw a beautifully worked team effort that broke the deadlock. Sophia passed the ball to Megan W, Winnie passed it back to Lucia who with one touch passed it to Ella who then ran it forward and put Sophia through on goal with a lovely ball. GOAL 1 nil to Southampton!
Second half
Second half started with the same amount of fire in our bellies as the first did, the hunger for those 3 points were there and we weren’t going to give up, we wanted another goal. Our new signing, Chloe Peplow come on at the start of the second half to replace Alice, who picked up a
knock to the head at the end first half. A very good chance come from Ella Morris who ran it forward squared it to Sophia who then returned it for Ella to cross it in to Lucia, unfortunately the Palace defender put it out for a corner before Lucia could get onto the end of it. Another corner into the box saw the Palace keeper punch it away, a little scramble and then Raff took a
light shot which went to the way of the keepers hands. A mess up with the Palace player saw Sophia take it away from her feet pass it back to an on running Chloe who took the shot but the keeper was there to save. What a debut that would have been for her if that went in! Palace were next with the shot from outside the area but it went straight into the hands of Kayla.
A mess up with the Palace defence yet again led to the second goal, Ella Pusey dispossessed the Palace player, took the ball and put it straight into the net. This goal come in the 93rd minute and 4 minutes later the whistle blew to the delightful sound of cheers from the supporters. The celebration of Marieanne was something of pure passion, jumping, beaming in smiles, pure ecstacy.
Again, I will say it but I believe the performance on Sunday was one of the best performances from the girls I’ve seen this season. It really took a lot of us back to last season and how we dominated constantly, it was really nice to see. I’m so incredibly happy for Sophia too for getting her well deserved goal after having her last ruled wrongly offside against Durham.
Very excited for our match against Sunderland next week! Oh and it’s also great to see 5 at the back working for us!
Player of the match
You’re voted ‘Player of the match’ for
Sundays match against Crystal Palace with a an absolute landslide of votes was none other than Megan Wynne!!
What a game she had today, she was
literally everywhere and the Palace defence didn’t know how to handle her! She doesn’t stop and she’s pushing and fighting through the whole time she’s on that field. She put in an absolutely amazing performance today. Congratulations Megan & well done to the whole team who put on such a good team performance, grabbing those 3 points and clean sheet!
Team Sheet
Southampton Crystal Palace
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Shannon Stephen
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