Page 11 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.25 2022-23

Southampton 0 Durham Women 1
Durham Women frustrated Southampton and
their supporters by recording a single goal
Barclays Women's Championship victory at St
Mary’s Stadium in front of a crowd in excess of
2,300.
Rio Hardy's 62nd minute strike separated
the teams as Saints created some good
situations throughout the match but lacked that
vital finishing touch. Durham defended
resolutely under pressure at the start and finish
of the match and carried enough threat going
forward to force home keeper Kayla Rendell
into several fine saves.
The ball zipped through the Durham area
several times early on as Chloe Peplow's free
kick from the right and Lucia Kendall's cross Grace Ayre is tackled by Millie Mott (Will Cheshire).
from the left were well defended. Ironically
Durham had the clearest chance of the opening half hour when a defensive mix up gave
Jess Clarke a sight of goal but Rendell blocked her shot.
The battle between Clarke and the impressive Ella Morris down the Southampton
right was a highlight of the half but it was the hosts who went closest to gaining an interval
lead. Beth Lumsden and Alice Griffiths put shots narrowly wide of Naoisha McAloon's
goal as Saints dominated.
Durham returned with more attacking intent and Saoirse Noonan tested Rendell
with a shot from distance. The breakthrough came via a stunning assist from Grace Ayre
who won the ball on the edge of her own area before powering through midfield shrugging
off tackles and passing to Hardy who curled in a fine finish.
Peplow nearly equalised with a corner which beat McAloon but fell just beyond the
far post and then another delivery was dropped into the goal by the keeper but there was
a clear foul by a Saints attacker which left McAloon requiring lengthy treatment.
Both sides brought on fresh legs and the game became stretched. Such was the
quality of the Durham defending that, apart from a Lumsden half chance it was the
visitors who looked more likely, substitutes Lily Crosthwaite and Maria Farrugia were
both denied by good work by Rendell late on.
Durham jump one place to seventh with the win whilst Southampton drop to fourth
ahead of another St Mary's date, this time with leaders Bristol City next week.
Southampton: Kayla Rendell, Ella Morris, Millie Mott, Lucia Kendall, Rosanna
Parnell, Laura Rafferty, Chloe Peplow, Lexi Lloyd-Smith, Katie Wilkinson, Beth
Lumsden, Alice Griffiths. Subs: Georgie Freeland, Phoebe Williams, Ella Pusey, Megan
Wynne, Sophia Pharoah, Ashleigh Ward, Leeta Rutherford, Megan Collett, Beth Howard.
Durham Women: Naoisha McAloon, Georgia Robert, Becky Salicki, Mollie Lambert,
Grace Ayre, Sarah McFadden, Beth Hepple, Saoirse Noonan, Deirdre Bradley, Rio
Hardy, Jess Clarke. Subs: Lauren Briggs, Sarah Wilson, Maria Farrugia, Bridget
Galloway, Lily Crosthwaite, Tatiana
Saunders.
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