Southampton 1 – 0 London City Lionesses
St Mary’s Stadium | Goalscorer; Katie Wilkinson | Attendance; 2,089
Last Sunday, the mighty red and white got back to winning ways, at home in St Marys, as they faced title contenders, London City Lionesses, a game in which ended a goal scoring drought. With an attendance of 2,089 who made their way through the turnstiles ready to watch our team take on the Liones pride and walk away with those precious 3 points. The atmosphere in the stadium, spurring on the girls, echoing out around the ground was relentless in support, driving the play on and was one of the best we had at home. This was in part to local team, Hythe and Debden Girls, who, hats off to the ‘Bobcats’ joined in with the Saints faithful and kept those chants flowing.
To get involved with the Hythe & Dibden Football Team please visit the club Website here!
This fantastic bunch of girls were formed from our successful Lioness training group, and share the same attitude of fun and friendship in football. They love to have a giggle, and always leave the pitch smiling! Go Bobcats!
To say all really enjoyed this game, would be an gross understatement, it was a cracking game of football, and although the performances and effort were no different to previous weeks, what had changed was the desire, confidence and belief, and that for the stadium, was infectious. Admittedly, the first 10-20 minutes it could be argued we had our
backs up against the wall, with LCL dominating possession and chances but we handled that
exceedingly well with our impressive defence and a brilliant keeper. You look at the first match in early December where LCL were probably at the height of their game channeling full Mel Phillips game plan, and I think this was two of our best matches of the season as you could see how much the girls enjoyed it! Other games we have shined would be against Bristol and Palace which for me, the home match being the best.
Determination, fight and grit was put into this performance last Sunday, one by which I don’t
think that LCL were particularly expecting, but we gave them that intensity and played the
game how it should be, creating that end-to-end fast paced football. I’ve just said the word
intensity, and that’s just what it was, from start to finish we were driving forward at any given
opportunity with some slick one touch passing, Ella Pusey, who had a superb game, was
creating so many chances and getting that ball into the box.
Our wing play with Ella Morris was also second to none, she really kept LCL’s player safely in her pocket, a blitzing
performance by her which sometimes even floored the opposition, if you know what I mean!
Chloe Peplow and Alice Griffiths had a sterling game, although I feel sometimes there was no communication between the two of them, meaning they were getting muddled on the ball and running into each other! Let’s not forget that beautiful shot from Peplow from distance, watching it from behind and seeing the ball bend, it would have been scenes if that went in, hats off to the LCL goalie who managed to keep it out! I have to say, it was lovely to see Phoebe back out on that pitch Sunday, I know for a fact that I’ve missed seeing her out there and I’m glad she was able to come on, even if it were a couple of minutes.
First half
The first half started shaky for us, LCL were picking up the majority of the possession and
dominance throughout the first 10-20 minutes but as said above, we handled it well. The first
shot came for LCL in the first 6 minutes as Wilko was dispossessed half way in our area, who
then ran forward and put it through to Jamie-Lee Napier (who has a Chelsea background) who took a touch, ran it forward and shot, luckily not on target and sailed past the goal post. Saints were next with the chance, Peplow took a lovely corner (as always) which targeted Paige on the far post, unfortunately Paige headed it out wide. Another corner but up the other end this time as LCL whipped it into the box, it fell to a LCL player in the box who put it over the bar.
A Saints free kick in our half was taken by Rosie, who targeted Wilko, she chested it down as
she fell and the ball fell to Sophia, she took a shot from distance which went over the bar. A
dangerous chance came from LCL who were back on the attack, they took it through the middle of the park, out to Karin Muya who took it into the box, she squared it to Grace Neville and it was tipped over the bar, Kayla Rendell, she’s magic you know.
Another chance from LCL come from a corner, yet again, which looked like it connected with a shoulder and failed to reach anyone else in the box and went wide. We saw a little bit of pace from Ella Pusey in the next chance, she took it round the first defender but wasn’t quick enough 2 on 1 to reach the ball and take a chance and Shae Yanez was able to clear, her clearance fell to the feet of Chloe Peplow and then came that beautiful bending shot from
distance, unfortunately Shae managed to
stretch for a finger tip save to deflect the ball away from its destined corner, it would have won goal of the season, hands
down!
First half over, deadlock unbroken despite efforts from both teams, the stage was set for another exciting 45 minutes.
Second half
Just like in the first half, London City took the upper hand after the break and was first with a
chance, their player managed to take it behind Ella M and ran it into the box, taking a weak
shot which rolled straight to the hands of Kayla. A chip from a LCL player allowed an onrunning Jamie Lee to run on to it and drive towards the goal, with Rosie causing her a problem, she dropped back took it round the back of Rosie and shot, only to be met by our number 1 with a save!
Another LCL chance came as Amy Rodger’s crossed it into the box to allow Jamie Lee to get
her head on it, her headed chance fell straight to the hands of Kayla. Yet another LCL chance
was struck but the effort was saved!
Ella Morris won a corner deep into the dying minutes of the game, set pieces seems to be
something that has really been worked on in training and this was one of those. Ella M passed to Lucia Kendall, she sent it back out to Ella M who floated a cross to the back post, perfectly targeting Ella Pusey who went for the volley, her chance was denied and parried out to then be poached by Wilko who smashed it into the top of the net!! The roar from the stadium and the reaction from the girls and Marieanne just went to show how much it meant! Deadlock was broken, 1 nil Saints! Kayla’s gol kick was the last kick of the game as the referees whistle echoed through the ground! 3 points gained after a very deserving performance.
Player of the match
Your voted ‘Player of the match’ for todays match against London City Lionesses was none
other than our shot stopper, Kayla Rendell!
What a brilliant game and important role
she played last Sunday (as she does
every game)!! She made some amazing
saves and she kept us in the match! Like
that crucial save where she got a hand to
it to push it over the bar! Calm, collected
and composed just like she always is.
What a keeper, super keeper, our number 1. Well played and Congratulations on ‘Player Of The Match’ Kayla!
Line up
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