SOUTHAMPTON’S winless run in the league stretched to 11 matches after being overpowered by league leaders London City Lionesses.
Despite the defeat, the Saints remain 8th on 18 points in the Women’s Championship, 12 clear of the league’s one relegation place with just two matches remaining.
London City opened the gap at the summit to five points with a fourth consecutive win.
The visitors struck early, with Freya Godfrey charging down the right flank and squaring the ball to Isobel Goodwin, who tapped in from close range with just four minutes on the clock.
Southampton responded positively, with Georgia Mullet whipping in a dangerous cross that flashed across the face of the goal, but no red and white shirts were on hand to apply the finish.
But the visitors struck again in near-identical fashion 15 minutes later, with Godfrey once more finding an unmarked Goodwin in the box, who curled a shot past Fran Stenson to double the lead.
A third goal came late in the half, with Goodwin capitalising on a misplaced pass to power through the Saints backline, before playing the ball through to Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah who thrashed it into the back of the net to complete the perfect first half for London City.
A glimmer of hope was provided on the hour mark after some solo brilliance from Molly Pike, dancing past the visitors defenders before perfectly placing a right-footed effort into the top corner the reduce the deficit.
Goodwin quickly extinguished any hope of a comeback, slotting home from close range just five minutes later to complete her hat-trick and restore the three-goal cushion and seal the result.
Southampton now turn their attention to a trip to bottom-side Sheffield United next week in their penultimate match of the league season.
The Blades have managed just one win all season and sit on six points.
