Southampton FC Women 0 – 2 Charlton Athletic
St Mary’s Stadium | Attendance; 1,404 | Goal Scorers; Kayleigh Green, Melissa Johnson
Last Sunday, Saints were back home at St Marys, for their match against Charlton Athletic. The match ended in misery as those very important 3 points were taken by Charlton! An attendance of 1,404 were there on Sunday to cheer the girls on, to which we were heard from comments by the players! Just wish we could have ended the match with those 3 points and a victory.
Sunday wasn’t our game and I hate to say it but, it wasn’t ‘our game’ just because we lost, it wasn’t our game because the performance was disappointing. Yes, at some points we shone, mainly in the first half when we had good opportunities and some good passages of play, but we fell off massively in the second half. We allowed them to play their game, instead of us playing ours. Which we know when those girls play their game, it’s a brilliant and dominant display! We are always going to be on the wrong side of a result if the setup of the team is to nullify the opposition, and I feel that is exactly what Marieanne did on Sunday.
I did notice on Sunday that we were trying the long ball approach and that just was not working for us, but instead of switching it up, we kept at it, when easy, quick passes of the ball are the way to keep possession and build momentum towards the goal. We just didn’t look after the ball when we had it, especially the second half, and we looked too scared to get stuck in and go in for a tackle. We never allowed the ref to make a hard decision with regard to a dubious tackle, as we hardly got near Charlton, and in not doing so, effectively relinquished the game.
I also noticed how all composure was lost as soon as that first goal went in, it seemed as though
it threw everything off for the girls on the pitch, we truly lost our rhythm and our shaped. The number of times that we could have passed the ball it to the wing too, but instead of that, we opted to go backwards or sideways, allowing Charlton to intercept and press us.
Charltons first goal, there was nothing Kayla could do, it was just one of those things! The second didn’t really count as the damage had already been done, we never actually looked as though we were making enough of a change to actually be able to score.
Also, bringing like for like subs is all very well, but not switching the game plan up, seemed an ineffective waste. Surely having strength in depth, is as such about bringing different skill sets of players to the fore, to be able to swing games to your advantage.
I just really hope it turns around for the match against Crystal Palace this Sunday, because this game is an extremely important game we need to win, especially with Palace having a game in hand.
First half
First half started and we actually looked quite promising, almost as if though we may have got some goals and possibly won the game, but it all changed. The first chance of the half came from come from Wilko latching onto the end of an uncontrolled ball from Charlton, she struck the ball from outside the area, and it bounced off the post! So unlucky! The next chance was from a Charlton corner, which was kept out by the post but kept in play by a Charltons players back, Lucia cleared the ball.
Another Charlton chance up next, a ball was played out onto the wing, a chip and a slight cross into the box, led the ball into the box, a light touch by the Charlton player, was nearly saved by Kayla until another player tried chipping it over Kayla, the ball went over the bar. Saints chance up next, Lucia played the ball to Milly who put a lovely weight cross into the box, it met the head of Wilko who headed for the goal, the Charlton keeper saved it.
Another Saints chance on the cards as Lucia passed it out to the wing to Ella, she was display but luckily Lucia was there to pick it up, she put a lovely through ball in for Molly who took a shot, the Addicks keeper saved it with her foot and put it out for a corner.
First half ended 0-0
Second half
The second half started, and this is where we truly fell flat, this was truly a bad half, passes weren’t connecting, and we made Charlton look good! The first chance of the half came from Charlton, a superb weight free kick into the box was headed by the Charlton player, it hit the crossbar and then unfortunately hit Kayla in the back and went into the goal. 1-0 Charlton.
The next chance was a Saints free kick, Jemma put it into the box but way too close to the keeper, the ball was saved but got loose and rolled out of her arms, luckily for Charlton their player cleared the ball. Another Saints chance up next, a perfect ball from Paige out to Jemma on the wing, was one touched to Lexi, who controlled the ball ran it forward and took position ready to take aim, she shot and the ball sailed over the bar. What a goal that would have been.
Another Saints chance and yet another free kick, Jemma took it and went straight for goal which hit the post. Can’t help but think the better option would have been to play it back to Wynnie, who had all the space in the world, for her to take aim.
The next chance came from a light pass Milly tried getting to Rosie, it was caught by Freya Godfrey who then put it through to Melissa Johnson, she then took it in her stride and ran all the to the box, taking it round Paige and then shooting it past Kayla. 2 nil Charlton. The final chance come from a ball Emily Kraft tried getting to Milly, Freya Godfrey got on the end of it and yet again put Melissa Johnson through, Kayla was way outside the area a sJohnson had a shot which luckily hit Kayla and went back out into play. End of the match.
Player of the match
The supporters groups voted ‘Player of the match’ for Sunday’s match against Charlton is none other than Milly Mott!!
Despite the score and how the game panned out Sunday, Milly worked hard and didn’t stop trying, being the reason, she has been voted. She seemed to push really hard, often more than others. A diamond!
Well played and Congratulations on ‘Player Of The Match’ Milly❤️🤍
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