ON the annual Saints foundation matchday, Southampton welcomed Newcastle United to St Mary’s in a promotion battle in the WSL 2.
The visitors came into this game one point behind Southampton and winless in three, but crucially with a game in hand over the hosts. Saints came off the back of a comfortable 3-1 home victory over Crystal Palace last week, thanks to an Ellie Brazil hattrick.
It was a rapid start to the game to say the least, Jordan Nobbs put Newcastle ahead after just 15 seconds, managing to pounce on the end of a Mollie Pike slide-rule pass, skipping round Frances Stenson in goal and slotting it into an open net.
A disappointing start from the Saints considering it was their kick off, but from that point on it was domination. Simon Parker’s side pressed forward, consistently pressuring the Newcastle backline during the following 20 minutes, specifically targeting Ellie Brazil’s right flank.
There were chances aplenty for Southampton, but no goals to show for it, soon met by a lull in the remaining minutes of the first half.
Even though Brighton were playing Palace 60 miles across the South Coast, the Seagulls paid Southampton a visit, swarming the stadium and sending excrement down onto the field just as fast as the rain was falling.
Sloppy Saints were the architects of their own downfall once again, giving the ball away to the Newcastle at the edge of their own area, only for Jordan Nobbs to one-two with Emily Murphy and curl it nicely past Stenson to put the Magpies two up right before the half.
With work to do in the second 45, Southampton controlled possession and had much more of the ball, but Tanya Oxtoby’s team-talk kept Newcastle tight knit at the back, nullifying the onslaught of Saints’ second half pressure who couldn’t break through.
Some smart subs from Oxtoby made it difficult for Southampton, especially winger Beth Lumsden who caused plenty of problems, with ex-Saint Ashanti Akpan returning to St Mary’s as an opposition player for the first time.
As time went on, and seagulls still soaring the sky, Newcastle remained rigid, and despite a handful of long range efforts and six-yard box strikes, there was still no goal for Southampton, with the hammering rain reflecting the feeling of the Saints fans.
Three minutes before the 90, Tegan McGowan latched onto the end of a Maria Edwards pass down the left hand side, who calmly slotted it through the legs of Tamminen in the Geordie goal to half their lead. Game management was in order for the Magpies, as they started to run the ball into the corner to waste time.
Six minutes were added on, but it wasn’t enough for the home side, as Aimee Keir blew the full time whistle. Newcastle took all three points in a 2-1 win, recording their sixth win of the season and handing Saints their sixth loss.
Two points above them with a game still to play, the Toon Army leapfrogged Southampton to claim the fifth position in the WSL 2, one ahead of the hosts who end the day sixth on 21 points.
Stalled by the Geordies – and the Seagulls – Southampton’s promotion chances have taken a hit. They travel to third placed Bristol City next week, so the Saints will be looking to bounce back to keep them within reach of those promotion places.
