Match Reports

14th September Cosham Blues away....

Winning start for Saints
14th Sep 08 - Cosham Blues 0 vs 2 Southampton Saints
Report by Richard Caddick

With a solid performance, the u14's went to Cosham and put in a mature display to bring home 3 points.

In our first league game of the new season, we travelled to Portsmouth full of confidence, boosted by our superb win at Luton.

Play was fairly even in the opening exchanges, however it was Saints who settled best and began to create goalscoring opportunities. We went close a few times before CHELSEA ran on to a ball behind the Cosham defence to slot home the opening goal. We were strong in midfield and when Cosham did get past, the defence held strong. Any time that Cosham did get through, Jess handled comfortably.

We doubled our lead when good work by Leah on the right of midfield saw SHAUNA run on to a through ball to lift the ball over the advancing keeper.

Cosham started the second half stronger, yet the Saints defence seemed to be even more so. We soaked up their pressure and played on the counter attack. Zoe sprinted past the Cosham defence on a few occasions, hitting the post once. As the home team began to tire, Saints, again, took control of the game, yet couldn't extend the lead and the game ended in a 2-0 win to the red and white stripes.

21st September home to Warsash Wasps.....

U14's continue impressive start.
21st Sep 08 - Southampton Saints 1 vs 0 Warsash Wasps
Report by Richard Caddick

Saints were made to work hard to record a second win of the season.

Following a last minute change of venue, the game kicked off on a warm sunny afternoon, on a pitch larger than we would usually play on. These two factors alone would make for difficult conditions. However, Warsash Wasps were motivated, organised and prepared for a battle.


Warsash started strongly, moving the ball around and testing our defence who responded well. We soaked up their early pressure and began to come into the game ourselves. We got forward on both wings, creating chances of our own. A corner taken by Leah wasn't dealt with by Warsash and KATE pounced to head home. We almost doubled the lead moments later from a carbon copy corner but the ball was cleared off the goal line. Moments before half time, Warsash were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty box. It was struck well, beating Jess in goal but fortunately the ball came back off the crossbar and was cleared.


At the start of the second half, both teams pressed forward but again the defences dealt with most attacks. Warsash came close during a series of corners which saw Jess come off her line twice to punch clear. Saints however created chances from open play through Chelsea, Megan L, Zoe and Poppy who combined well with Megan L to shoot well from almost 25 yards out. Ultimately, the game was played out in midfield where the teams were evenly matched and we remained strong to keep all three points in Southampton.

28th September home to AFC Portsmouth....

1st half hat trick makes it a hat trick of wins for u14's.
28th Sep 08 - Southampton Saints 4 vs 1 AFC Portsmouth
Report by Richard Caddick

Hat trick hero Megan R inspires Saints to victory.

We finally made it to Clayfields and despite withstanding an early onslaught from AFC Portsmouth, we quickly made ourselves at home. Portsmouth had three corners in the first 5 minutes but couldn’t capitalise. Then on Saints first attack, MEGAN R pounced on a loose ball in the box to put us 1-0 ahead. Our defence were continuing their fine form, holding strong against a relentless Portsmouth attack. On 12 minutes, Zoe was blocked off on the edge of the box but MEGAN R met the ball superbly 25 yards out to shoot first time into the top corner. Still, Portsmouth pressured and on the occasions when they got behind our defence, their finishing was off target. Once again MEGAN R was in the right place to complete her hat trick and firmly put Saints in charge. Portsmouth managed another shot before half time but Jess was equal to it, saving with her feet.


The second half started a little more subdued, with Saints getting tighter in midfield and Portsmouth, seemingly, unable to reach the same level of attacking play as they had in the first half. We began to take a stronger hold on the game as we mounted attack after attack. We got into the box almost at will yet the keeper was now saving our attempts on goal. This was until SOPHIE picked up the ball on the left, outside the box. She cut inside into the penalty area, beating two players and picked her spot at the far post to extend our lead to 4-0. Portsmouth began to mount more attacks and forced Jess into another couple of saves and fortuitously, they got a consolation goal where their player found space on the edge of the box to shoot past Jess at the far post. In the last minute, a strong tackle was punished by a penalty but Jess was equal to it as she caught it comfortably. The game ended and we maintained our 100% record although there is still a lot of hard work to come.


We say thank you and farewell to Jess as she goes off to pursue her diving career.

Cup Game Called Off
U14's | Fri 17th Oct 08
Posted by Richard Caddick


Fleet Town unable to play cup game due to underage players.
It has come to light that Fleet Town, who are an U13 team, would be ineligible to play in an U14 cup because they have U12 players in their squad.

Therefore, Saints get a bye into the next Round where we are due to meet Aldershot Town Juniors Youth at home on 16th November 2008.

Saints back into the swing of things.
16th Nov 08 - Southampton Saints 6 vs 0 Aldershot Town Juniors
Report by Richard Caddick

A storming 1st half and 10 minute hat-trick put Saints firmly in control and on the way to the semi finals.

Due to recent bad luck and poor weather, this was our first game for 7 weeks. Not having played for such a long time, the girls were desperate to get on the pitch and back into competitive action.


Our rustiness showed in the first 5 minutes as Aldershot came at us from the kick off and we were showing signs of dis-organisation. However, on our first meaningful attack, we scored when EMMA picked up the ball from a throw in on the half way line and sprinted through to finish neatly.


It then turned into the SHAUNA show as she scored twice within 2 minutes, skillfully dribbling inside the penalty box to score. She almost made it three in 4 minutes but sliced wide 6 yards out! She did however complete her hat trick inside 10 minutes, once again beating the Aldershot defence inside their penalty box.


EMMA then found space to shoot inside the far post to bring the score upto 5-0 before half time.


Both teams shuffled their packs at half time, which meant that Aldershot became tighter defensively. Our strength in depth meant that we barely changed shape or strategy. We continued to attack and perhaps should have extended our lead further. LEAH beat two defenders to find space in the box to fire our 6th goal home and despite creating more chances we couldn't score again.


Many thanks to Kate for filling in as keeper. She put in a very accomplished performance, handling everything that came her way extremely comfortably.