A late goal from substitute Asato Miyagawa was the difference as Birmingham City Women beat Southampton Women 1-0 in the WSL 2.
Aimee Palmer and Mary Bashford both came close for the Saints in a game which saw plenty of action at both ends of the pitch.
But a sweeping finish from the Blues midfielder in the 76th minute would decide the tight contest and ensured the Midlands side stayed second in the table.
Despite Birmingham dominating the opening exchanges, it was Southampton who first tested the opposition goalkeeper.
Palmer’s sweeping shot four minutes in, from an Ellie Brazil pullback, was denied by the outstretched right leg of Blues ‘keeper Adrianna Franch.
With the rain lashing down, Birmingham soon threatened with a big chance of their own though, striker Wilma Leidhammar failed to keep her shot down when the ball fell to her in the box following a free-kick.
Having grown into the game, the Midlands side were almost gifted the lead when an Océane Hurtré cross was deflected goalwards by Saints defender Amy Goddard.
However, Southampton goalkeeper Fran Stenson leapt across to push the ball wide and keep the game goalless.
That save seemed to invigorate the home side as they began putting more pressure on Birmingham, with Brazil, Atlanta Primus and Bashford all threatening.
It was the latter who would come closest to scoring before the break, flicking Tara Bourne’s inswinging corner just over the visitor’s bar.
The second half picked up right where the first had ended, with end-to-end action and neither team taking control of the ball.
City’s Veatriki Sarri and Saints’ Bashford had near post drives come close to finding the net but both were easily dealt with by the opposition.
As the game wore on and the first round of substitutions were made, the Blues began to pile the pressure on the Southampton defence with winger Lily Crosthwaite being at the focal point of every attack.
The south-coast-side were still showing promise, and a wicked Brazil cross that just evaded the head of Collett a few yards from goal evidenced that.
However, the Birmingham pressure took its toll when, in the 76th minute, a shot from captain Chelsea Cornet was saved by Stenson but only cleared as far as substitute Miyagawa who swept the ball into the bottom left corner of the Saints’ goal.
Southampton attempted to respond to the setback but ultimately offered little in the closing 15 minutes, ensuring the three points would be taken home by the visitors.
