Women's Report: Portsmouth 1-2 Saints

It was a fiery affair as Southampton FC Women travelled the short distance up the south coast to face Portsmouth Women.

Despite a lethargic start for Saints, it was Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side who took the lead in the 16th minute, as Ella Morris’ searching cross forced a headed own goal.

The hosts went level through a well-worked set piece before the break; Nicole Barratt put it on a plate for a nudged header from Emma Jones.

Jemma Purfield secured Saints’ lead once again in the 72nd minute, finding space at the back post to head home.

It was Pompey who looked bright in the opening five minutes of the game, ex-Saints player Beth Lumsden turning her player and feeding in Nicole Barratt who won a corner which Saints cleared.

Beth Howard nearly provided Portsmouth with their first opportunity of the game as she attempted to clear a back pass from captain Rosie Parnell but sent the ball skidding across the ball in the centre of the pitch. Paige Peake did well to clear.

It was Pompey with the first chance of the game in the 10th minute, Lumsden slamming a shot across the turf off target.

Lexi Lloyd-Smith had the first opportunity up the other end. Rianna Dean did well to win the ball back on the edge of Saints’ own box, feeding Ella Morris on the wing, with the England Youth international sending a well-placed ball across the Pompey defence. 

It was another wonderfully placed ball that caused Pompey issues in defence. Lloyd-Smith once again slipped a ball through to Morris on the wing who drove down the line and once again crossed. This time, seeing lurking Saints shirts at the back post, a Pompey defender attempted to head clear, but instead sent the ball spinning into her own net in the 16th minute.

Saints had another chance sail just wide after the 20th minute. Pharoah was hacked down and awarded the free-kick, with Kendall sending her delivery narrowly off target.

Lloyd-Smith was next with the opportunity in front of goal as Riva Casley’s header dropped to the number 7 on the touchline; She cut inside and shot, despite having options in the middle, and Hannah Haughton in the Pompey goal did well to deny from close range.

At the other end, Pompey made their chances count to put things level in the 36th minute. A free-kick was whipped in by Barratt, and Emma Jones rose highest to nod past an onrushing Howard in the Saints goal.

Neither side were able to find a breakthrough in the closing ten minutes of the first half, with the South Coast derby remaining 1-1 at half time.

Saints had an early scare in the opening five minutes of the second half as a similar free-kick, which saw the hosts score in the first half, was awarded once again. The ball bobbled around the box, before Milly Mott was finally able to clear.

Saints did look brighter in the opening periods of the second half however, with Dean leading the press from the top.

Primus nearly got herself in the perfect position to head level in the 55th minute, as Kendall’s corner delivery towards the back post did not quite receive the best connection.

Saints were just inches from finding the goal to put them ahead shortly afterwards. Dean, again on the high press, picked up the ball outside the box and sent an audacious effort towards goal; Haughton was beaten were it not for her crossbar, with her defence clearing away from danger.

The tie was turning into an end-to-end affair, but this was brought to a halt as Jemma Purfield and Georgie Freeland clashed heads, with both sides’ physios called onto the pitch.

Following the restart, Saints were once again denied only by the woodwork, as this time, Pharoah headed a bobbling ball onto the post, with Pompey once again clearing away.

Spacey-Cale made her first changes of the game in the 65th minute, with Laura Rafferty, Alice Griffiths and Molly Pike taking the place of Paige Peake, Atlanta Primus and Sophia Pharoah.

It didn’t take long for Saints to find the breakthrough with new legs on the pitch, but it was relentless Jemma Purfield who had made her way up the pitch. Meeting a ball at the back post, Purfield made no mistake in heading into the back of the net.

The game became more and more open as Pompey searched for a way back into the game. Howard, who had really grown into the game, was having to dominate her box as the side in blue sent ball after ball her way.

It was a change at the top that Spacey-Cale made next though, with Katie Wilkinson taking the place of Rianna Dean in the 84th minute.

With seven minutes of stoppage time to play, it had to be a professional performance to see out the game, and Saints did just that, booking their place in the next round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup in the process.

Before that however, there’s the no small matter of Durham away in the Barclays Women’s Championship, where Saints will look to end their 2023 in a winning note.

Portsmouth XI: Haughton, Barratt (Bowers, 90'), Rutherford (Lane, 90'), Younger, Rowbotham (Hall, 57’), Jones, Quirk, Freeland (Humphrey, 81’), Collins (Pitman, 90'), Lumsden, Casley.

Substitutes: Rolf, Smith, Wild, Reynolds.

Saints XI: Howard, Morris, Mott, Parnell, Peake (Rafferty, 65’), Purfield, Primus (Griffiths, 65’), Kendall, Dean (Wilkinson, 84'), Lloyd-Smith, Pharoah (Pike, 65’).

Substitutes: Milne, Wynne, Kraft, Thompson.