Women's Report: Saints 5-1 Buckland

Pusey got the opener for Saints just shy of 20 minutes, skipping past her defender with sheer composure to make it 1-0.

An equaliser came out of nowhere for Buckland on 40 minutes; Sarah Stacey hitting an effort from 35 yards which caught Kayla Rendell completely unawares.

It didn’t take long for Saints to respond; Alisha Ware picking up possession inside the box and firing an effort into the roof of the net just 90 seconds later.

Pusey grabbed her second of the game just three minutes into the second half, connecting onto a Shannon Sievwright cross.

Her hat-trick goal came on the hour mark, cutting inside from the left wing and hitting an effort across goal in spectacular fashion.

It took until the 83rd minute for Saints’ fifth; an unfortunate own goal from Buckland’s Alex Sheppard following a trademark Shelly Provan cross.

Buckland looked to press Saints back during the opening stages, winning a free kick after just 3 minutes which eventually resulted in little.

Minutes later came the first breakaway for the hosts; Alisha Ware playing through Georgie Freeland who, with a tight angle, forced Abigail Bond in the Buckland goal to an early save.

Milly Mott was then involved a both ends of the pitch in quick succession; blocking a short from Buckland’s Megan Wood and forcing a corner, then using her pace to fire an effort towards go as Saints countered once more.

The biggest chance of the game so far came in the 16th minute; Ware producing a superb deep cross, met by Freeland in the box who headed just wide.

Provan, returning to the side this week, then put in another good cross from the same left flank which Freeland again came inches away from.

Another returning face, Kirsty Whitton, used her strength in the opening stages to prevent several Buckland counters in midfield.

The next passage of play saw the first goal, Freeland finding Pusey who skipped past her defender and slotted past the keeper with composure for her third of the season.

Following the goal Saints kept possession and controlled the tempo of the game; Sievwright and Whitton controlling the midfield with Provan and Freeland providing wide outlets where possible.

Phoebe Williams was next to go closest for the hosts, Provan finding her just on the edge of the box with another great cross, but Williams rattled the crossbar.

After a lot Saints possession, Buckland equalised from nothing on 40 minutes; substitute Stacey hitting an effort from 35 yards and catching Rendell off her line.

But it didn’t take long for Saints to respond, Ware finding possession inside the penalty area just 90 seconds later and firing her side back into the lead.

The hosts had a glorious chance on half-time to extend their lead; a deep Sievwright free-kick met by Caitlin Morris who could only head towards the keeper, meaning it ended 2-1 at the break.

It took just a minute for Saints to make their mark on the second half, centre-back Rosie Parnell producing a superb challenge to win back possession as the hosts made their intent known early on.

Their first goal of the half didn’t take long either; Sievwright’s free-kick headed into the path of Pusey who, from close range, grabbed her brace on 48 minutes to make it 3-1.

Another set piece, delivered this time by Williams, was met by Pusey at the back post, but the bounce took the ball away from her at the vital moment on 54 minutes.

Just after the hour mark, Pusey completed her hat-trick and grabbed her fourth in two games.

Mott with great work down the right wing, finding Pusey who cut inside from the same flank and hit an effort across goal to highlight her dominant performance.

There was no let-up in terms of Saints pressure on the Buckland goal, Provan with another dangerous cross finding Freeland who could only head wide.

Buckland did well to withstand the waves of attack as the game grew older, whilst Spacey-Cale’s side remained dominant in terms of possession.

Substitute Shannon Albuery looked a threat on several occasions since coming on, occupying the central forward role after Pusey was replaced on 73 minutes.

Sievwright went close in the 78th minute, picking up the ball and hitting a first-time shot after being set up by substitute Lucia Kendall but unable to hit the target.

It took until the 83rd minute for a fifth Saints goal, an own goal from Alex Sheppard giving the hosts a four-goal advantage.

A host of new players featured during the final stages, including Kendall and Tilly Thomas who both positioned themselves up top.

It finished 5-1 once again for the second week running to Saints, who now looking ahead to a trip to Southampton Women on Wednesday night.