Southampton FC Women kick start their 2020/21 National League South West season away at Poole Town, looking to push past the disappointment from last campaign's early finish.
THE MATCH
Poole Town vs Saints
Dorset FA County Ground
Women’s National League South West
Sunday 20th September, 2:00pm BST
Marieanne Spacey-Cale’s side were top of the division in March, enjoying an unbeaten season until the pandemic brought things all to a halt.
The league was made null and void, meaning Saints were unable to be promoted and rewarded for their successes of the year just gone.
But with a new season comes fresh opportunities, starting away at Poole Town on Sunday.
Saints enjoyed plenty of success against these opponents last campaign, winning both meetings and scoring a combined 15 goals.
LAST MEETING
Goals were not tough to come by for Saints the last time these two sides met, Spacey-Cale’s side running out 11-0 winners in the Women’s FA Cup at the back end of last October.
Both Shannon Sievwright and Rachel Panting scored hat-ticks at Snows Stadium that afternoon, with the remainder of the goals shared out between five other players.
Sophia Pharoah and Shannon Albuery got in on the act either side of the half-time break, with Alisha Ware scoring a further effort in the 65th minute.
Phoebe Williams and Charley Evans completed the scoring in the 68th and 86th minutes respectively.
MANAGER’S NOTES
It’s been a long time coming getting back at Staplewood Campus for Spacey-Cale and her side, and the new season can’t come soon enough for the squad.
“I think first and foremost,” started Spacey-Cale, “we have to send our best regards to those affected by the situation in this county and the world.
“To be back now it’s given us a sense of getting back into training, back into being part of a group again, being around each other and just sharing information.
“Being on a football pitch has been really good for the girls and really good for us as staff to be back in that group.”
“Every season you approach with the mindset that you want to be better than the season before, regardless of the situation that’s what we’ve got to be.
“It was a disappointing end to the season but you have to go out and go again. So our mantra is to be better again we’ve got to step up.
“Everyone will want to win the league, just as last year, so our focus is to be better than last year."
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