Southampton’s Ellie Brazil shines through the rain with a hattrick, as Saints Women climb the Women’s Super League two.
Crystal Palace dominated play early on, Eagles striker Elise Hughes header was saved by a diving Fran Stenson in the Saints goal.
Against the run of play, Michaela Mcalonie found an unmarked Brazil on the edge of the six-yard-box, who volleyed the ball into the bottom left corner to give Saints a 1-0 lead 17 minutes in.
Minutes later play switched, Brazil found Mcalonie empty in the box, but from a tight angle the Saints number 10 hit the post.
Pressure from the Southampton maintained, in the 23rd minute Brazil pounced on a loose ball in the box and poked the ball goalwards for her second of the day.
Palace winger Ashleigh Weerden remained the Eagles bright spark at St Mary’s Stadium.
Just before half-time, Weerden’s cross floated over the head of Stenson and into the net.
A rejuvenated London side in the second half, Stenson saved Annabel Blanchard long range effort, which was then followed up by Blanchard hitting the crossbar.
Saints first chance in the second half came in the 75th minute, Chloe Peplow through 1v1 against the keeper, but her effort went off target.
Mcalonie was the next Saints player to have a 1v1 chance against Palace keeper Jessica Shae Yanez, however this time the Yanez made the save.
Brazil completed her hattrick on the end of a Saints clinical counterattack.
Substitute Tegan Mcgowan squared the ball across to Brazil, who tapped home her third into an empty net in the 91stminute.
Southampton finish the day by closing the gap to the playoffs for the WSL to just four points.
