Women's Report: Saints 2-1 Durham

Rianna Dean opened the scoring with her first Saints goal inside 15 minutes.

Durham equalised in first half stoppage time only for Dean to quickly restore the lead before the break.

Saints were denied a third from the penalty spot but held out to cap off an impressive week with another three points.

Marieanne Spacey-Cale made four changes from the midweek Conti Cup heroics as Saints lined up for their third game of a busy week at AFC Totton's Snows Stadium.

Saints returned to Snows Stadium. (Photos: Isabelle Field)

In a tight start, it was the visitors who threatened first as they forced some early corners in the opening exchanges.

Saints took the first ten minutes to gather themselves but soon created the game’s first clear opportunity - Lexi Lloyd-Smith set Molly Pike through on goal but a vital last-ditch challenge prevented a shot on goal.

Dean, on her first start for the club, was next to go close as she met a deep cross from Ella Morris but could only direct her header into Tatiana Saunders’ arms.

The same pair were involved moments later to greater effect as they forged the 15th-minute opener.

Morris was released on the right and saw her initial shot saved, only for Dean to arrive and tap home her first Saints goal.

Rianna Dean celebrates her first Saints goal.

Saints looked more comfortable in possession after their opener, but it was the visitors who had the better chances to find the game’s second goal.

A dangerous low ball flashed across the box and was somehow kept out by some composed defending on the line from Megan Collett.

Durham then struck the woodwork just after the half hour mark as Saoirse Noonan’s effort from the edge of the area cannoned off the crossbar.

The equaliser did arrive in first half stoppage time as Eleanor Ryan-Doyle scrambled the ball home from inside the area, past Kayla Rendell’s despairing dive.

Saints weren’t knocked by conceding though and swiftly restored their lead before the break.

Dean, brimming with confidence from her first strike, superbly executed a difficult right-footed volley from inside the area to mark her brace.

Saints were ahead at the break.

As the second half resumed, the game became more of a battle in front of the 1300-strong home crowd.

Durham’s Ryan-Doyle tested Rendell in the opening minutes before Abby Holmes narrowly missed at the near post after a mazy run.

Saints were awarded a golden opportunity to add to their lead when Dean raced through and was hauled down by Saunders in the Durham goal.

However, Saints' goalscorer stepped up and was denied her hat-trick as Saunders matched the powerful penalty with a smart diving stop.

Saunders kept her side in it once more in the 79th minute as she denied Pike’s close range attempt from a Saints corner routine.

Lloyd-Smith tried her luck from range with a curling effort, before Durham had their closest chance to a second equaliser.

A deep free-kick reached Sarah Robson unmarked in the area, who couldn’t connect with enough power as Rendell made an important diving stop.

Saints held firm in the tense final minutes to cap off a fantastic week with another victory that keeps them at the top of the league.

Saints: Rendell, Collett, Parnell (c) (Mott 58), Peake, Purfield, Kendall, Pike, Morris, Pharoah (Peplow 58), Lloyd-Smith (Wynne 89), Dean (Wilkinson 74).

Subs not used: Howard, Rafferty, Milne, Thompson, Kraft.

Goals: Dean 15, 45+3.

Durham: Saunders, Holmes (Briggs 81), Salicli, Wilson (c), Robson, Bradley, Lambert, Ryan-Doyle, Pritchard (Clarke 81), Noonan (Wilkinson 90+1), Andlens (Crosthwaite 45).

Subs not used: McAloon, Nicholson, Ayre.

Goals: Ryan-Doyle 45+1.

Yellow Cards: Salicli 51, Wilson 68, Saunders 70.

Attendance: 1356