Women's Report: Saints 0-2 Birmingham
Southampton FC Women suffered just their second defeat of the season after being unable to hold off league leaders Birmingham City at St Mary's Stadium.
Autumn was in full force in SO14 as the rain and wind set up a battle in the elements at St Mary’s, with goals in either half from Lucy Quinn and Lily Agg the difference.
Remi Allen reintroduced Milly Mott and Rianna Dean back into the starting eleven for the team’s sixth Barclays Women’s Championship match of the season.
Saints' line-up against the league leaders. (Photos: Chris Moorhouse)
The opening minutes of the game saw both teams getting their share of comfortable spells of possession; Fran Stenson was the first keeper to be called into action, collecting from a spill in the box.
Birmingham opened the scoring after just 11 minutes when Lucy Quinn connected to a loose ball on the six yard line, after a cross from the right made its way to the back post for an unmarked header.
Saints weren’t immediately thrown by their opponent’s early lead and had an attacking opportunity from an Aimee Palmer free-kick which led to a potential pull to the ground in the box, but the referee signalled for play to continue.
The game turned end-to-end as neither side managed to find their flow, but the Blues came close to doubling their advantage through Simone Magill, who hit the ball over the crossbar.
The rain poured down on St Mary’s once more as Southampton entered the break one goal behind.
The visitors remained on top in the opening of the second half though, and quickly got their second goal of the game in a similar timeframe to the first.
More tricky play down the right from the threatening Tegan McGowan led to Lily Agg’s touch towards goal that bounced in past Stenson.
Saints were low on luck in the final third after that; Molly Pike drove towards goal but Rebecca McKenna tracked her well and slid in to put the ball out of play.
Frustration started to show for the home side as substitute Freya Gregory was shown a yellow for a hasty foul after she was introduced to add a late threat on the left.
Palmer had a handful of set-pieces in a ten-minute period, but her pacy balls into the box found no teammates.
Substitute Ivana Fuso looked to add to the Blues’ tally with a fierce strike that Stenson managed to save with a stretching right hand that pushed the ball onto the post.
Saints' shot-stopper had to show her reactions again to make another crucial save, denying Fuso once more from close range off her right foot, this time one-on-one.
There was to be no late dramatics as Joanna Horwood’s full-time whistle blew, and the visitors went home with the three points.
Saints: Stenson, Collett, Mott, Bourne, Purfield (c), Griffiths (Gregory 57), Palmer (Peplow 78), Kendall, Pike, Rowe, Dean (Thompson 85).
Subs not used: Rendell, Haaland, Brown, Peake, Nohasiarisoa.
Yellow Cards: Gregory 61.
Birmingham City: Thomas, Louise Quinn (Harris 86), Harrison-Murray (So-Hyun 70), Agg, Holloway, Magill (Fuso 70), Lucy Quinn (Mason 41), McGowan (Baker 86), Akpan, McKenna, Herron.
Subs not used: Szperkowska, Lawley, Wilson, Worsey.
Goals: Lucy Quinn 11, Agg 50.
Yellow Cards: Agg 37, Herron 90+2.
Referee: Joanne Horwood.
Attendance: 2117.
