Reading FC Women 1-4 Southampton FC Women
Select Car Leasing Stadium | Goalscorers; Molly Pike, Katie Wilkinson, Atlanta Primus, Jemma Purfield, Charlie Estcourt
Last Sunday, Saints travelled north to face Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium for their fourth game of the season, to say it was a good game would quite literally be an understatement. An array of Saints fans was in attendance Sunday, proudly rocking their Saints shirts, it’s truly amazing to see so many travelling fans this season! Sadly, for Reading, the match ended in a royal defeat. For us, a bolstering win!
Fourth match of the season and after the Sunderland game, we weren’t sure what to expect. We knew Marieanne would have a plan but how well would it be executed? To say we bounced back off that loss is understated. We wanted to see a reaction after the frustration of losing a match we should have won comfortably 5-1, where hardwork pays off and you make your own luck. We wanted to see a return of the match sharpened, interchanging of positions, slick 1-2 passing, that we had witnessed in all games up to the Sunderland.
Im happy to say, we weren’t left dissipating. The team from the off were on it, clearly using the frustration and anger at losing as fuel to have to have a quick start and show intent. We threw everything on the table with 90 minutes of slick and beautiful team worked football, ending with four goals on the scoresheet. It’s funny because last season we scored a total of 22 goals over the whole season, four matches into this season and we’re already half that, with 6 different scorers! We are here not just to make a statement this season, we are here for promotion.
The thing I loved seeing on Sunday, was that every time they had the ball at their feet, they looked threatening, it was a totally dominant display throughout the whole game. If we can continue the display we first put in at Lewes and then recently put in, in this game against Reading, I feel teams should fear us. Only 4 matches in and I can already see this being an exciting season.
Our connection in passing and also our build up play was spectacular this match and I’m looking forward to seeing it progress in future matches.
It was also good seeing Marianne making good use of the 5 subs we’re allowed, every sub bought on as well, even if it was for a couple of minutes looked brilliant. Also, did someone say 2 debut goals in a Saints shirt? Congratulations Jemma & Atlanta!
WE ARE TOP THE LEAGUE SAY WE ARE TOP THE LEAGUE
First half
The first half start pretty evenly with both teams having a go at the attacking and also with Reading using their wings very well. They had a very fast player that often-outpaced Jemma Purfield. We seemed to become a lot more dominant after scoring our first goal too, creating a load of chances and also bagging another goal, very impressive half!
The first chance of the half started from Raff playing it forward to Atlanta, she tipped it forward in through into the path of Molly to run on to, the speed of Molly is unreal! She took a long shot from outside the area, but it went wide. The next chance is what led to the goal, a beautiful bit of triangle play in our half ended with Megan Collett putting an in air through ball on the plate for Molly, she took a touch and took a light shot that rolled past the Reading goalkeeper, who if she tried could have easily stopped it. 1 nil Saints!
Reading was next with a chance, a cross into the box from the wing found their player, she took a shot from angle, but Kayla was there to save it, pushing it out of the danger zone. Another chance for Reading as a mistake from Ella Morris was intercepted, the Reading player then took a very long shot on goal, it was saved by Kayla and put out for a corner. The next chance was for Saints, Wilko passed the ball to Lucia in the middle, who put it through to Molly, another light shot from Molly was this time saved by the keeper.
A strong Wilko pushed the Reading player off the ball allowing Atlanta to run onto and then out a lovely ball through, to our target girl, Molly. The goalie come out towards her sliding into her and taking lightly Molly out, Penalty Southampton. Wilko stepped up to the spot and rocketed that ball into the top left corner. 2 nil Saints!
-The next chance again was a through ball to Molly, who squared it on to Wilko who agonisingly put it wide. The last chance of the half was a lone job, Lucia ran it from the halfway line forward and took a shot, the shot was tipped over the crossbar and put out for a corner. The corner was a short corner, which was the crossed into the box and met the head of Wilko who headed it over.
Halftime and Saints are 2 nil up!!!
Second Half
The second half started just as dominant as the first half was, I think this was also to do with the fact that Reading was struggling to settle into the half. Our crossing was also brilliant from both Ella and Jemma. The first chance of this half actually come from a Royal, who took a shot from outside the area, but no need to worry as our super keeper was there to push it away.
It was the back to us with our first chance of the half, Megan Collett put it out to the wing for Ella Morris, who then put it through to Molly Pike, Molly squared it in the area to Atlanta who took a strike, admittedly it hit the defender BUT Atlanta Primus scores on her debut game!!! 3 nil Saints!
Our next chance was yet another goal, Sophia Pharoah, who was subbed on put it out to Molly Pike on the wing, Molly again squared it along the floor, which was blocked by a defender, the ball went back to Molly who, after struggle, tapped it forward to Sophia who took a strike. Sadly, the strike hit the crossbar, but it rebounded back out and Jemma Purfield headed it in! 4 nil Saints and another debut goal!!
Another chance from Saints started from our half, this time it was Raff to put the ball through to Molly, she then passed it to Emily Kraft who took a shot from outside the area that went wide! Last chance of the game was sadly a goal for Reading, ruining our clean sheet. Their goal come from a corner which Estcour got her foot too, Kayla managed to get her hand to it but unfortunately it still went into the net! Full time 4-1 Saints! GET IN.
Player of the Match
The supporter's groups voted ‘Player of the match’ for Sunday's game against Reading with a landslide of votes is none other than Molly Pike🤩
Molly today had an absolutely fantastic game; she was cracking going forward and her pace is unmatchable. She was everywhere on Sunday, involved in all of the goals, from the warning shot for the first real chance, won the penalty for Wilko to smash it home, assisted the 3rd and was heavily involved in the 4th She creates a lot of key moments and is involved in a lot of the build-up of play, linking well into everything.
She brings pace, control, skill and just something different to this Saints squad, a true strong player!
Well played and Congratulations on ‘Player of the Match’ Molly❤️🤍
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