16:01
The Full-time whistle blows and Newcastle have snatched a point, which you can’t deny they deserve. It ends Southampton 2-2 Newcastle. The Saints look dejected, the Toon look elated.
16:00
And there it is as we enter the 94th minute Amy Andrews got on the end of Stenson’s spilt ball to hammer in an equaliser. Southampton 2-2 Newcastle.
15:55
2,598 in attendance today at St Mary’s, all as nervous as eachother as added time looms!
15:52
POST AGAIN! A sweeping Newcastle cross smashes off the inside of the far post and Southampton are living very dangerously here.
15:49
A fantastic outside of the boot ball by Murphy found Demi Stokes, her shot hit the post, hit the goalkeeper and then hit the post again! Southampton survive! Still 2-1 to the home-side.
15:42
Mullett is off for Aimee Palmer for the Saints. 76 minutes gone.
15:41
SAVE! Emily Murphy broke the Southampton defensive line but her sliding shot was saved well by the outstretched leg of Fran Stenson.
15:34
CHANCE! Pike faced up the goalkeeper again but smashed the crossbar and Newcastle stay within one.
15:32
Vivienne Lia is certainly the outlet for the Saints. She raced down the left, leaving her opposing fullback in the dust, lifted it over the goalkeeper only to see the ball trickle narrowly wide of the near post.
15:27
2-1! It’s the league’s top scorer Shania Hayles who strikes again and with half an hour remaining the Saints’ lead has been cut to one.
15:22
Vivienne Lia raced down the left and in on goal but her touch took her too wide. Fairly comfortable save for Moan in the end.
15:11
The teams are back out and the second-half is underway. Saints kickoff from right to left.
14:55
HALF TIME. Southampton 2-0 Newcastle and it’s a Molly Pike double that makes the difference. It’s been a disciplined first half from the Saints and despite, plenty of Newcastle set pieces and a late scare, they’re well worth their lead.
14:46
The board is raised for nine minutes of added time. No surprises there after a couple of lengthy injury breaks.
14:36
Saints fullback Rachel Brown goes down screaming and clutching her knee, it’s not looking good for the player who has made such a bright start to this game. Milly Mott is getting changed and ready to come on.
14:34
Deanna Cooper’s injury forces her off; Hannah Greenwood is on to replace her in the first change of the day 34 minutes in.
14:30
Quick break in play as a Newcastle defender recieves some treatment. It’s been largely even since the second goal, the away side yet to really threaten yet though.
14:18
GOALLLL! It’s two-nil and its Molly Pike at the double! A sensational through ball from Megan Collett ripped open the Newcastle defence and Pike raced from within her own half to finish emphatically in the top left corner.
14:14
A flurry of Newcastle set pieces spells danger for Southampton. The Saints defence resolute thus far.
14:09
GOALLLL! Southampton lead and it’s Molly Pike who slid the ball in behind the goalkeeper who couldn’t quite get a hand to Rachel Brown’s cross. 1-0 Southampton.
14:08
The first big chance of the game is a Saints one, as Vivienne Lia bursts down the left but her shot was deflected into the keepers’ hands.
14:07
Fran Stenson makes her first catch of the game after an inswinging Newcastle freekick from the left.
14:06
Five minutes in and it has been all Newcastle. Neither team to threaten the opposing goalkeeper yet though.
14:01
Newcastle get us underway after a tribute to Black Lives Matter. The Saints are kicking left to right in the first half.
13:57
The teams are out and getting ready for kickoff.
13:45
The teams have head in for some fina pre-game preparations… Kickoff to come.
13:20
The visitors, Newcastle, line up like this: Claudia Moan, Demi Stokes, Amber-Keegan Stobbs (c), Shania Hayles, Katie Barker, Freya Gregory, Deanna Cooper, Jasmine McQuade, Lois Joel, Charlotte Wardel Lia Cataldo
Subs: Grace Donnelly, Hannah Hawkins, Hannah Greenwood, Amy Andrews, Rachel Furness, Isabella Sibley, Beth Lumsden, Ava Chapman, Emily Murphy
13:15
The Saints’ team today: Fran Stenson, Rachel Brown, Laila Harbert, Tara Borune, Chloe Peplow, Molly Pike, Araya Dennis, Vivienne Lia, Jemma Purfield, Megan Collett, Paige Peake (c)
Subs: Milly Mott, Benedicte Haaland, Siobhan Wilson, Isabel Milne, Sofia Mallon, Esta Roberts, Natalie Matthews, Natasha Udebhulu, Aimee Palmer
13:08
The players are out to warm up ahead of today’s big game at St Mary’s Stadium.
