Women's Report: Portsmouth 0-5 Saints

In a full-blooded face off on the south coast, Saints led at the break after an own goal from Pompey skipper Riva Casley.

The lead was extended in the second half by childhood Saints fan Meg Collett with a dream derby goal, before an incredible late salvo of three goals in three minutes put the result beyond all doubt.

A brace from Rianna Dean and a deserved finish from Molly Pike were the final goals of a scintillating display.

Remi Allen reverted to almost the same selection as her side’s last league game, as Paige Peake came in for Milly Mott as the only alteration from two week’s ago.

The first south coast derby line-up of the season. (Photos: Chris Moorhouse)

With no explanation needed on the magnitude of the first south coast derby in the Barclays Women’s Championship, both sides were at full focus at a lively Fratton Park.

There was almost a perfect start for Saints after just two minutes when Molly Pike was released behind the defence and cannoned a shot off the underside of the crossbar, with the rebound narrowly evading Lucia Kendall.

Pompey looked to respond and forced a couple of early corners of their own, along with two wayward attempts that didn’t trouble Fran Stenson in goal.

Saints were fashioning the better opportunities in the opening exchanges, and Rachel Rowe was next to go close with an angled drive that was pushed away and eventually cleared.

Saints’ September Player of the Month-nominee was gliding through the Pompey midfield at times, as Freya Gregory also seemed to have the beating of the hosts’ full-backs.

The latter swapped wings and cut in from the right to hit a bending effort for her side’s next opportunity.

Pike went close again after Megan Collett’s cross picked out the forward in the area, but two blocked shots from a determined Portsmouth defence kept the scores level.

The game mellowed for a moment as the half wore on, but the deadlock was eventually broken in the 41st minute; Gregory twisted and turned in the box and drilled a low cross that was diverted in off Casley from close range.

Freya Gregory is congratulated for forcing the opener.

The opener riled up the hosts, who almost found an instant response when Erin McLaughlin curled an effort wide from the edge of the box.

At the other end, Rowe came close to doubling the advantage with a one-on-one shot that was saved when a square pass to Pike was on.

Saints were ahead at the half but not out of sight, as Pompey came out firing in search of an equaliser.

Sophie Quirk’s cross hit Jemma Purfield in the area, who recovered with a crunching tackle to prevent Annie Hutchings from sliding in.

The derby clash went up a notch as fierce tackles flew in with game still in the balance, before a special moment for Megan Collett gave Saints breathing room.

Collett, a lifelong Saints fan and Academy graduate, battled free down the right and slid the ball in at the near post before wheeling away to celebrate with the travelling support.

Meg Collett's dream derby moment.

That goal killed off any Portsmouth momentum, as it took until the final 10 minutes for another chance, as their captain Casley headed over from a corner.

Fran Stenson did well to push Quirk’s cross away, before a stunning salvo from Saints put the result beyond any doubt.

Pike won the ball high up and unselfishly squared to substitute strike-partner Dean for the simplest of finishes to make it 3-0 with three minutes of normal time remaining.

Then, less than a minute later, Saints won the ball from kick-off and Rowe released Kendall behind the defence, who squared to Pike to make it four.

The ruthless finish to the game wasn’t over, as Dean added her second, and Saints’ fifth, as she rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home with the game in stoppage time.

Portsmouth: Annets, Hutchings (Dent 61), Casley (c), Williams, Collins, Barker (Rolf 81), Freeland, Hornby, McLaughlin, Quirk, Jones (McLachlan 81).

Subs not used: Etheridge, Barrett, McEwen, Rowbottom.

Goals: N/A.

Yellow Cards: Williams 20, Hutchings 51.

Saints: Stenson, Collett (Brown 90+1), Peake, Bourne, Purfield (c), Griffiths, Palmer (Peplow 82), Kendall, Gregory (Dean 72), Rowe, Pike.

Subs not used: Rendell,, Mott, Thompson.

Goals: Casley (OG) 41, Collett 60, Dean 87, 90, Pike 88.

Referee: Isabel Chaplin.

Attendance: 2390.