Charlton 1 – 0 Southampton
The Valley | Goalscorer: Bethan Roe | Attendance: 758
Saints headed to The Valley Sunday for their match against Charlton Athletic, a match which ended in an unfortunate result. With a recorded attendance of 758, it was nice to see a fair chunk of that being Saints supporters, some of which come in tow on a minibus arranged by fans, bringing the noise to The Valley which would have been silent without us. Thank you to Jude for driving and to Bob for organising, each one of us on the bus really appreciated it.
A two week break sat in between our win at Sunderland and our defeat at Charlton on Sunday, I’m not saying this is an excuse for the loss because I’m sure they’ve been training hard to get match ready, Charlton though had played a game in between that. Sundays match was one we all expected to be a tight affair being us in 3rd and Charlton in 5th, only four points separating us. None of us expected the match to pan out this way, we were expecting to turn up and show what we’ve learnt from the start of the season, but we didn’t. In my opinion, it was a poor performance from both sides on the pitch, with Charlton taking the upper hand and clinching a goal in the first 6 minutes due to a mix up with our defence. I’d like to say that our performance on Sunday was very uncharacteristic for us, we seemed second best pretty much throughout the match, last to the balls and giving it away far too much, which keeping the ball and possession is something we’re usually quite good at. The Charlton pitch was also absolutely terrible.
It seemed as though we weren’t strong enough against them, that or their strength come from their constant shirt tugging of our players which the ref blindsided throughout. The Addicks aggression and physicality of the match is what I think a helped them a lot, as well as being very well drilled. Our final cutting passing in the final third just wasn’t being made which would allow us to get through on goal. Admittedly, we did have a fair few attacking chances this match, some coming a lot closer than others, but it just wasn’t our day on Sunday and we couldn’t get that goal in the net. I think we’re missing a bit of pace within our strike force too, even when we got the ball in a good position and through, we were getting outpaced to the ball. They reflect, learn from it, train and go again next Sunday against Blackburn.
First half
The whistle blew, the first half started, what was a very frustrating tassel began.
Saints were the first of the two teams to put in attack, although, it mounted to nothing. Chloe squared it to a running Wilko on the right, who then squared it along the floor, into the box and onto the path of Sophia, who put it way over the bar. Ella Pusey, who was in the centre of the box when the ball was squared, tried her luck but had no connection with the ball. The next chance was the one which ended in the back of the net, unfortunately, not for us. The Charlton payer put it right forward from in our area, Raff failed to clear it and it carried on bouncing as Paige also failed to connect to clear, allowing Bethan Roe to use her pace to push, take it out slightly wide and score. I can’t help but think if Raff still chased the ball down and not slow down after jumping over Kayla, that maybe, just maybe she would have managed to get there to block it. 6 minutes in, 1-0 Charlton.
The next chance came from our wing, our star girl Ella Morris, accelerated to take it round their player, crossed it past the goal line but it failed to meet any of our players leaving Meg C chasing it which led to a corner. A big opportunity arose in the 25th minute from a corner, we took it short and Paige crossed it in, Raff got her head to it but the Addicks managed to keep it out. A follow up headed shot from Wilko was blocked and then Lucia’s striking chance was also blocked. A poor chance from Raff to try and retrieve the ball from the Charlton player led to their next chance, which allowed her to run it into the box and take a close range shot which Kayla was able to deal with. Charlton at this point, really running triangles around us with ease, a thread of 1-2’s led to them to get in the box but a weak shot went straight into the arms of Kayla. Poor but even first half from both teams.
Second half
Saints started off the half with an early chance from the Saints which saw Ella slot the ball into the far post, Ella P got ever so close to connecting but didn’t get there. Charlton we’re next with the chance with a powerful long range shot from outside the area which went wide, thankfully. Silky feet Sophia was next to create something, weaving the ball around the Charlton players and making her way into the box where she passed it back to Ella P who fell to the ground letting the ball sail past her and into the path of a ready Ella M, she passed it back to Chloe who then one touched it back to Ella. Ella was being challenged with the ball but she took a long range shot which, like Charlton’s previous, sailed wide past the post.
Changes to the team around the 56th minute saw Megan C and Ella P come off to make way for Milly Mott and Beth Lumsden. I feel like although it’s only 10 minutes in, these changes should have been made at half time and also the later changes in the half, I feel they would have made a better difference to the match. Fresh legs on the pitch and Beth Lumsden is already charging through, Charlton player on her toes constantly, Beth weaved round and shot but straight at the goalie. Leeta too her chances with a effort which went high, the curve of her kick would have seen it go in but the Charlton goalie calmly caught it, then doing a Jordan Pickford, falling to her stomach, holding the ball and looking out. A lot of our chances actually come from the wing, Ella M running it ragged as she always does. A last ditch chance come in the dying minutes of the second half, we won a free kick in a dangerous area but Wilko put it over the bar.
A bad day at the office, seeming second best throughout the whole match, we couldn’t put 2’3 passes together and looked as if though we were chasing the ball a lot whilst trying to get back into formation.
Player of the match
You’re voted ‘Player of the match’ for todays match against Charlton is Ella Morris!
There’s a star girl running down the right, her name is Ella Morris and she’s proper dynamite! That’s exactly what happened today, she was running that wing well and putting some beautiful crosses into the box! That goal line clearance of hers too?!
Congratulations Ella & well played to the whole team, unfortunate result but we look forward to next week!
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