Saints Women held to a 1-1 draw against Durham

SOUTHAMPTON FC Women drew 1-1 with Durham Women with Saints scoring first in the 19th minute through Aimee Palmer and Durham equalising in the 85th minute from Carly Jones’ effort.

On this weekend of remembrance, a beautiful minute silence and performance of the Last Post was observed by the fans and players inside St Marys.

First Half

The first chance came in the fourth minute when Freya Gregory knocked the ball forward from an interception near the Durham box which ran through to Rachel Rowe but she was in an offside position.

Gregory received the ball on the left side of the pitch in the eighth minute and crossed it to Molly Pike who got her head to it but the effort was off target.

Lucia Kendall and Pike played some intricate passes between themselves on the edge of the area but Pikes shot was over the bar just before the 10 minute mark.

After receiving the ball in the right side of the box from Rachel Rowe, Amy palmer lifted the ball over Tatiana Saunders head into the bottom left corner of the goal to make it 1-0 to Southampton FC women in the 19th minute.

At the halfway point of the first half, Saints had the majority of possession, were controlling the game nicely and had a one goal lead.

Durham’s first big chance came in the 27th minute when an in-swinging corner was met by a Durham head, which sent the ball towards goal, but it hit the outside of the post and went out for a goal kick.

There was a stoppage in time shortly after that to give some medical attention to the away sides keeper, Saunders, who was alright to carry on after being checked.

Another stoppage for a Durham injury came in the 35th minute when Lily Crosthwaite went down and required medical assistance but she was deemed fit to carry on.

Just before stoppage time was indicated, a long ball was played over the top which found Pike who attempted an audacious volley from outside of the box which was just wide of the far post she was aiming for.

Saints went into the changing rooms at half time a goal to the good against Durham, and as things stood at half time, Southampton were second in the Women’s Championship.

Second Half

In the 48th minute, Lauren briggs and Rachel Brown both slid in for the ball and ended with both players down, and a free kick to Southampton.

A long range effort from Brown flew over the bar in the 56th minute when the ball fell to her about 10 yards out from the Durham box.

Durham’s Mollie Lambert cut in from the left hand side into the Saints box in the 57th minute and attempted to curl a shot inside of the far post but it was just wide.

A heavy challenge in the 58th minute from Southamptons Chloe Peplow on Crosthwaite left the durham player on the ground and Peplow with the first yellow card of the game.

In the 64th minute, Freya Gregory took the ball into the left side of the box and her left footed shot seeking the near post was just wide but required a dive from Saunders just to be safe as a goal kick was awarded.

A mad scramble inside the Durham box saw multiple attempts from the saints to go two goals up but no-one could take their chance and the keeper made a few brilliant saves marking a crazy 65th minute.

Saints Captain Jemma Purfield gave away a central free kick about five yards outside of the box in the 73rd minute but the attempt from Beth Hepple was sent over the bar.

A 78th minute free kick to Southampton, slightly to the left of the D was hit by Palmer into the jumping Durham wall, but the ball was flung into the air, met by the head of Tara Bourne and it required a goal line clearance from Eleanor Ryan-Doyle, who had only just been introduced to the game.

Durham equalised in the 85th minute when a Carly Jones pass played Lambert through, and her right footed shot beat Fran Stenson at her near post to make it 1-1.

Lucia Kendall put a golden opportunity wide from the middle of the box after a ball was cut back across goal by Pike in the 90th minute.

A hefty chunk of eight minutes were added due to stoppages but neither team was able to take the full three points as it ended Southampton FC Women 1-1 Durham Women.

Lineups

Southampton FC Women: 22 Fran Stenson, 2 Rachel Brown, 4 Lucia Kendall, 6 Tara Bourne, 7 Freya Gregory, 8 Chloe Peplow, 10 Molly Pike, 11 Rachel Rowe, 21 Jemma Purfield (c), 23 Megan Collett, 66 Aimee Palmer.

Durham Women: 1 Tatiana Saunders, 2 Grace Ayre, 3 Lauren Briggs, 5 Sarah Wilson, 7, Beth Hepple, 8 Mollie Lambert, 9 Carly Johns, 10 Hannah Blake, 12 Lily Crosthwaite, 14 Becky Salicki, 20 Michaela Foster.

Attendance: 1163

Sunday 10th November 2024