Women's Report: Sheffield United 0-1 Saints
Southampton FC Women returned to winning ways with a narrow victory on the road against Sheffield United.
Katie Wilkinson gave Saints an early lead against her former club, opening the scoring with a smart finish from close range.
The visitors threatened in the second half but Saints held firm to take the three points back to Hampshire.
There were four changes from the midweek Conti Cup defeat, but just one from Saints’ last league outing as Kayla Rendell returned to the starting line-up in goal.
Kayla Rendell made her first start since returning from injury. (Photos: Isabelle Field)
Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side almost got off to the perfect start inside the opening two minutes when Lucia Kendall calmly slotted home, only to be denied by the offside flag.
There wasn’t much time to wait until the opening goal, however, as Wilkinson returned to haunt her former side with a composed finish in the 11th minute.
An inch-perfect deep, diagonal cross from Sophia Pharoah was straight into the path of her strike partner, who swept the ball past Fran Stenson from close range.
Wilkinson almost had a brace five minutes later as she flashed a shot wide from the edge of the area.
Wilkinson celebrates her goal.
Sheffield United had taken their time to get going at Bramall Lane, but had a spell of chances that went begging before the half hour mark.
Charley Docherty hit the side netting from the left of the area that, in truth, was never troubling Rendell, before Tara Bourne headed wide at the back post from a corner.
Saints hit back and went in search of a second; Laura Rafferty tried her luck from distance with a deflected strike requiring a concentrated catch from Stenson.
A Jemma Purfield corner then caused havoc in the area, almost deflecting in off a red and white shirt before penalty area pinball led to a Kendall attempt going over.
The hosts had their best chance to equalise in first half stoppage time as Izzy Goodin raced down the right onto a through ball, but her shot across goal went wide.
Saints held their lead into the break, but were made to work hard to maintain it as Sheffield United came out the more threatening in the second half.
It took until the 67th minute for their first meaningful opportunity, though, as substitute striker Bex Rayner fired a vicious half-volley back towards goal that hit the side netting.
Wilkinson went close to scoring again when, after some neat build-up play, she wriggled her way into space inside the area but saw her shot saved from inside the area.
The Blades bombarded Saints’ defence for most of the closing stages but, in truth, didn’t pose any clear-cut threat to Rendell’s goal.
It took until stoppage time for their closest late chance when Bourne stabbed the ball over the bar after a deep cross wasn’t fully cleared.
Saints held firm though, managing the closing stages to ensure another vital three points in the Barclays Women’s Championship.
Sheffield United: Stenson, Docherty (Sigsworth 67), Barker (c), Graham, Bourne, Goodwin, Haywood (Hodson), Kinzett, A. Brown (Rayner 53), R. Brown, Connolly-Jackson (Butler 82).
Subs not used: Davies, May, Wilcock, Muir, Edwards.
Yellow Cards: Connolly-Jackson 63, Sigsworth 90+5.
Saints: Rendell, Collett, Mott, Rafferty, Peake, Purfield, Kendall (c), Primus, Pike, Wilkinson, Pharoah (Lloyd-Smith 75).
Subs not used: Howard, Haaland, Milne, Watts, Nohasiarisoa, Hotston.
Goals: Wilkinson 11.
