Follow our Live blog from Saint Marys, as Southampton FC Women take on Durham Women with both teams eyeing up a victory that could take them to top in the WSL Championship.
11:55 – Only minutes away from kick off and here are the team line-ups. Firstly the home team Southampton…
11:55 – Now for the a look at the visitors Durham….
11:57 – A minute silence is observed for the lives lost during WW1 and ahead of remembrance Monday.
12:00 – We have KICKED OFF at Saint Marys!
12:07 – First Chance of the game falls the way of Southampton as Freya Gregory crosses in from the left flank but the attempted header narrowly misses Molly Pike.
12:13 – The game has now settled into a pattern as Southampton Dominate Possession with Durham sat on the back foot but pressing the ball eagerly.
12:16 – Another dangerous attack for the home side but this time down the right hand side as Southampton continue to ramp up the pressure on the Durham defence.
12:20 – GOAL SOUTHAMPTON – 1- 0 – Some excellent link up play on the edge of the box ends with an incredible cute finish from AIMEE PALMER who dinks her shot over the keeper and into the far corner of the net.
12:23 – Following the opening goal, Southampton continue to hunt for more as another dangerous left sided cross from Freya Gregory results in a corner for the hosts.
12:28 – Durham have a corner that is headed towards goal but somehow the ball is scrambled away for a corner as the players take a Drinks Break with Southampton comfortably in the driving seat midway through the first half.
12:35 – A lengthy stoppage in play as Durham’s Lily Crosthwaite is down injured on the far side of the pitch and requires the assistance of the medical staff but fortunately she is able to recover and carry on playing.
12:40 – Durham have their longest stretch of possession in the game so far but unfortunately for them it comes to nothing as they attempt one pass too many with Southampton clearing the ball towards the halfway line.
12:45 – Southampton have one Final Chance to double their lead before half time as Tara Bourne plays a long pass in behind the Durham defence where Molly Pike attempts an ambitious half volley which fizzes narrowly wide of the far post.
12:49 – Following an odd looking foul throw, referee Phoebe Cross bring the four minutes of added time to a close as she blows the HALF – TIME whistle with Southampton’s Aimee Palmer scoring the opener and only goal of the game so far.
13:05 – THE SECOND HALF KICKS OFF
13:08 – Certainly no easing off from either side in the second half as Saints Rachel Brown and Durham’s Lauren Briggs clash into each other following a fifty-fifty challenge. Fortunately both players are able to continue after receiving medical attention.
13:12 – Southampton and Durham exchange shots at either end with game beginning to open as substitutions are prepared form both managers with players beginning to tire.
13:20 – Lily Crosthwaite is down injured again as the medical staff give her some assistance following which she hobbles off the pitch clutching her left hamstring. However, just like last time she is able to run it off and get back to playing.
13:25 – MASSIVE GOALMOUTH SCRAMBLE for Southampton as shots fly in from left, right and centre but Durham keeper Tatiana Saunders miraculously manages to stop them all and keep her side in the contest.
13:27 – DURHAM SUBSTITUTION – Kalia Novak replaces Michaela Foster
13:32 – Durham win a free kick in a dangerous central position on the edge of the box but Beth Hepple strikes her effort just over the crossbar as the Saints fans break into their full singing voices.
13:36 – SOUTHAMPTON SUBSTITUITION – A heavy rain shower descends upon Saint Marys with Milly Mott receiving a huge cheer from the home support as she replaces Megan Collet midway through the second half.
13:40 – An Aimee Palmer free kick from the edge of the box hits the wall of defenders before the rebound is cleared of the line by Durham.
13:40 – SOUTHAMTON SUBSTITUION – That would be the end of Aimee Palmer‘s afternoon as she makes way for Alice Griffiths with Emma Thompson replacing Chloe Peplow.
13:44 – GOAL DURHAM – 1-1 – Carly Johns plays in Mollie Lambert down the inside right flank before the Durham striker slides her effort past Fran Stenson at the near post and into the net as DURHAM EQUALISE.
13:49 – BIG CHANCES – Durham continue surging forward in the final minutes of normal time as they have a corner cleared off the line before Southampton go straight up the other end with Rachel Rowe cutting back towards the penalty spot where a stretching Molly Pike agonisingly blazes her shot high and wide of open goalmouth.
13:53 – Entering into eight minutes of injury time, both teams throw counter attack after counter attack as the game enters it’s final moments with either side looking good for a possible last gasp winner.
13:59 – FULL TIME – 1-1 – Despite a late surge from Southampton, it ends all square at Saint Marys with goals either side of half time from Aimee Palmer and Mollie Lambert meaning both teams miss the chance to go clear at the top of the WSL Championship table.
14:00 – Southampton now up to fourth in the league table and Durham remain in third as that’s all from today’s coverage at Saint Marys. We will see you next time!
