Southampton 0 – 1 Sheffield United
St Marys Stadium | Goalscorer: Courtney Sweetman-Kirk | Attendance: 2,594
Last Sunday, Saints were back home for their very last game of the season, facing Sheffield United, a game which didn’t end the way we’d hoped. With an attendance of 2,594 who made their way through the turnstiles ready to watch our team take on the Blades, the atmosphere in the stadium, spurring on the girls, was amazing too, last game of the season so we needed to make our presence heard.
Expectations and a want to end the season on a high and finish 5th in the table, sadly faded, as the team continued to struggle in front of goal. I feel like we were the better side, and we didn’t deserve to lose the game, we just failed to take our chances when it really mattered, the Blades were a lot more ‘street wise’ than we were, with their experience of the league and their experienced players using this to full effect. They are also a very strong side, and they gave us a competitive physical battle, Saints appearing the dominant side, even with the ref not being equal between teams!
I think it is fair to mention that we faced a different Sheffield United team to the one we had faced back in October. They have a new manager in situ, who had previously managed Burnley in the Northern Premier Division in tier 3 of the pyramid, a side which hadn’t lost a game until last weekend. We faced a revitalised side that no longer would be playing the hit and hope ball or relying on the darker arts of the game to get points. This was a new team, a new style and it meant we had to be better. Sadly, even will all our chances which is still very much a highlight as it shows we are doing the right things, but maybe we just need to be sharper,quicker in our thinking and actions.
Looking at the stats from last Sunday, it shows that Saints had 11 shots, 4 of those 11 were on target, would have been 5 but we had a goal flagged offside and disallowed. Sheffield United had 8 shots on target, really keeping our Kayla on her toes, in which she did pull off some cracking saves this match.
Some player mentions for Ella M literally did not stop running and she gave their defence a horrible time, Alice also having a cracking game! Not to mention our shot stopper Kayla who always does well and has a great game
The girls should all be proud at how their
season unfolded, first time in the Championship and ending mid table with the 2nd best defensive record in the league and with 9 clean sheets! Summer break needs to hurry up because I’m going to miss going to watch them!
First half
The first half took us a while to warm into, as it always does, I’ve noticed, which allowed the Blades to take the front foot and create chances, none tested our back line as such. It wasn’t long until we stuck our foot in and become dominant. The first chance of the game saw Wilko test Stenson, with a shot from outside the area which Stenson was able to push away for a Sheffield defender to clear. The next chance for us come in the 21st minute, Wilko chipped the ball into the box for Sophia who volleyed it straight into Stensons hands.
We began to build up the pressure against Sheffield with our next chance coming in the 23rd minute, Paige delivered a corner into the box which was tipped over the bar by Stenson and out for another corner. Ella M was up next with a little run and then a shot from just inside the area, which was pushed away and out for a corner by their goalkeeper. Next up and Super Kayla came to save the day, the ball was passed from our box back to Maddie Cusack who struck but Kayla got her hand to it to save and put it out. What a save it was, I must say!
Megan C was next with a shot, a nicely weight pass was put into the box by Sophia Pharoah, who saw Meg running by the far post, Meg took a first touch shot and put it out wide. Sheffield next with the chance, this time it come from a corner! The ball was delivered into the box and found Newsham at the back post but luckily it went wide. Our offside goal was next, which now looking back at it, it was off by a small margin! Alice put Ella P through, and she took a shot and scored but the flag was up.
First half over and they went into the dressing room at a deadlock.
Second half
Second half led to another smart save by Kayla, the ball was put through to Sweetman-Kirk who took a first touch shot but it went straight to Kayla, who away from her goal. This led to
an attempted clearance by Paige Peake, which ended up back at the foot of a Sheffield United player. The 59th minute saw the goal, unfortunately not to us! A cross into the box led to a head reaching and putting it into the path of Sweetman- Kirk, the ball went through Kayla’s legs, but Milly was there to clear it from the goal line, Sweetman-Kirk got into the rebound and put the ball into the net.
Sheffield was at it again and testing Kayla with another chance, the Sheffield player kicked the ball through in which there was another running for it, getting away from our back line and managing to take a shot on goal, Kayla made the block, but it met with the Sheffield player who put it into the middle where it was picked up by Chloe Peplow. Last ditch chance of the game saw Ella Morris takes a shot from outside the area which went over the bar.
Full time and the Blades left St Marys with the 3 points.
The Final Table
Player of the match
Your voted ‘Player of the match’ for the match against Sheffield United, is none other that Milly Mott.
As always, she had a brilliant game against Sheffield! She showed yesterday that she is one top class baller, turn goalkeeper with those goal-line clearances she loves to make!
She showed her pace and resilience yesterday, she never stops and it’s amazing to see!!
Well played and Congratulations on ‘Player Of The Match’ Milly❤️🤍
Also, I’d just like to say a MASSIVE congratulations to Southampton U16 Girls who were crowned champions of the Hampshire FA youth cup! They faced Bournemouth U16 girls, in which they won 4-1 and took home the trophy. Thanks to goals from, Sofia Mallon, Natasha Udebhulu, Anya Lucas and Mollie Peachy! Congratulations girls and well done!
Line Up
Podcast of the seson
Don't forget to vote for us in the women's Podcast of the season awards by @onherside1
vote here. we have untill 5pm Sunday 7th May to get your vote,
A year ago, we thought about starting a Pod, dedicated to the Saints Women’s Team. Meeting and getting to know the team, the thought became a reality. We sat down after the amazing season in the Southern Premier Division and we haven’t looked back since.
Our first Pod aired 20th August 2022. Click here to listen @allsaintspod
We thank you for your support thoughout the season.
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