This Sunday, Saints head back home as they face title contenders, London City Lionesses in the third to last match of the season. Can’t believe there’s not long until the season ends, it surely has flown by in a flash. The match will be held at St Marys Stadium with kick off being 2pm, it would be great to see as many of you there as possible, bringing that noise and cheering the girls on. Match tickets can be purchased online, over the phone or via the ticket office at the stadium.
Last time out V's LCL
It was a very very cold affair the last time we met London City Lionesses back in in December, a game which was very tight and ended in a 1 all draw. I thoroughly enjoyed this match and I’m sure others can vouch for that too, a true competitive battle until the end, being showed by 2 yellow cards for both us and them. I feel our girls really played their game against LCL and were fully focused throughout the whole 90 minutes. The girls really did enjoy and relish the challenge that this match gave out back in December. Hopefully we see that same feeling this Sunday.
Admittedly, the first half the lionesses were the brighter side, dominating possession and etching a corner but Rosie, as always, was there to rise above and deny a chance. When we did regain possession however, we were just as dangerous on the attack, our first chance sadly, was ruled offside. Kayla had a brilliant 90 minutes again, denying chances left right and centre and really keeping us within the game. I say that as she denied at least 3 chances from close range! Unbelievable goal keeping.
The lionesses were what we hope for from every team in the championship, a very well drilled, organised, exceedingly slick and skilful team, with their one touch passing which was a pleasure to behold and brought out the very best from our girls who handled the style very well.
Having kept the scores even past the hour mark, the scoring opened up in the second half, with LCL taking the lead in the 72nd minute when LCL’s top scorer, Sarah Ewan’s was
introduced to the game, she had an instant Impact but I think that goal spurred us on to keep fighting and pushing for the leveller. As the match was edging to a close it was in the dying minutes, Ella Pusey was adjudged to have been fouled in the box by their keeper, Shae Yazez, and we were awarded a penalty. With Shae still arguing with the ref about the decision, along with LCL’s captain and well any of their players. Lucia had the ball and our players were crowding the penalty spot, with Winnie being her tenacious that we know her to be. The ref took a while to get control but when he did, up stepped our Paige calmly taking the ball from Lucia having not been caught up in the melee, definitely something worked on back in the training pitch, all calm and collected with ALL of us Saints supporters on the edge of our seats, she smashes the ball and converts the penalty! Her very first goal as a Saint! A strike none to dissimilar to the penalty against us for Ipswich last season.
There was 8 minutes of added time but the match finally come to an end and ended in a draw, a well deserved, hard fought point for both teams and a brilliant watch for the support. 1 point gained which then extended our unbeaten league run to 9 and meant we went into the winter break, 3rd in the league. We are still super proud with that achievement, in what is our inaugural season in the championship.
The Table as it stands going into this match as the Saints look to end a dismal run of 1 point in the last 5.
Looking ahead
We head into the match on Sunday with Saints sitting in 6th place in the table. We are 15 points behind Bristol City who are sitting pretty in top spot and are 12 points behind London City Lionesses who sit in 2nd. Birmingham have moved up to 3rd with 35 points. We come off the back of our loss away to Birmingham City last week, which the first half was good, but the second we fell flat and lacked creative. Hopefully, this Sunday against London City Lionesses, we show up and relish and fight for the challenge, just like we did the first time we played them.
As said above, London City Lionesses currently sits in 2nd in the table with 39 points. In 19 matches they have won 12, drawn 3 and lost 4, scoring 37 and conceding only 17. LCL are a team who as you can see, LOVE to score a goal, hopefully we can keep them out this Sunday. LCL’S away form sees them sit 2nd in the table, they’ve gained 19 points in the 9 matches they’ve played away. They have won 6, drew 1 and also lost 2,
whilst scoring 20 and conceding 9.
The last outing that London City Lionesses had was against Charlton, they beat the 1-0 after a very late winner by Atlanta Primus in the 85th minute. They had 54% possession in this match and 6 shots, 2 of which were on target, one of those being the goal.
LCL’s top scorer is Sarah Ewans, she’s put away 9 goals this season for the Lionesses. Second top is Atlanta Primus (one of our own), she’s scored a total of 7 goals this season. The third top scorer is Lily Agg, who has picked up 4 goals this season. Those 3 players alone picking up over half of the goals they’ve scored as a team this season.
Overall
London City Lionesses is a team we’ve only played once before, and from when we played them, we could see just how strong of a team they are. They love to play ball how it should be played and that’s what brings out the best in our girls, a true battle yes, but one more of a chess game with each side actively looking to employ different strategies to gain the advantage. As mentioned above, the last time out the girls looked to truly relish the challenge at Princes Park and Im hoping the same will be shown on Sunday, and it was invigorating seeing them beaming whilst playing.
Since we last played LCL they were flying high at the top of the table and seemingly were very much title contenders but they lost their then manager, Melissa Phillips who sited she was wanting to return home to LA. 2 months on and she is now back in England and has become Brighton’s 3rd manager of their WSL season!! This seemed to have had an impact on the LCL squad and their performances, and they have had a mixed bag in terms of results but since seeing of Bristol at Princes Park, they look to be back at their best, challenging for the title once again. They will be hard to break down because of their formidable organisation and set up, but I believe we can break them down and handle them, just like we did in the reverse fixture.
So, here’s to hoping for a good match, lots of goals (hopefully to us) and to pick up 3 points. COME ON YOU REDS!
Tickets are still available via the ticketing website and in person at the ticket office
Sunday 16th April (2pm).
Ticket Prices:
Adults - £8
Under-18s - £2
Officials
Referee – Lisa Benn
Assistant referee – Steven Walsh
Assistant referee – Soada Tushaj
Fourth official – TBC
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