Southampton slot four past Ipswich Town in Parker’s dream opener

A crowd of 3,896 travelled to St Mary’s Stadium for Southampton's opening fixture in the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 against newly promoted Ipswich Town. 

Last season, Ipswich finished top of the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division by six points, with an impressive +79 goal difference.

 The last meeting between these two sides was a mere three years ago in the FA Women’s Premier League Premier Division, with a 2-1 win for Southampton. The Saints will be looking for history to repeat itself. 

Ipswich’s most recent pre-season friendly was a 2-0 win over Aston Villa U21s, giving Joe Sheehan a confident performance which they will be hoping to build on in the league. As for Southampton, they faced a Barclays Women’s Super League side in Tottenham Hotspur, losing 3-1. However, it was a well-battled contest which presented many positives. 

Lineups

Southampton: Stenson, Goddard, Bourne, Brazil (Tucker 45’), Peplow (Akpan 45’), McAlonie (Watts 90’), Ferguson (Sena 76’), Bashford, Simpson, Primus (Roberts 90’), Collett.

Unused substitutes: Mott, Hack, Pettit, Trujillo

Goals: Primus (9’), Goddard (29’), Bashford (45+2’, 57’)

Ipswich: Negri, Boswell, Mitchell, Thomas, Robertson (Doe 54’), Dean (Earl 75’), O’brien (Dear 54’), Neville, Peskett, Roe, Peake

Unused substitutes: Hartley, Hughes, Seaby, Wearing, Bonwick

The build up

In his first competitive match in charge, Southampton manager, Simon Parker favours the new additions with six summer signings in the starting eleven. Atlanta Primus leads the team out after recently being appointed as captain.

 As for Ipswich, two former Southampton players joined the starting lineup: Rianna Dean and Paige Peake both joined Ipswich during the summer.

 Approaching kick-off, the fans are on their feet, welcoming the teams out onto the pitch. Building the atmosphere, the band locate pitch side for a rendition of ‘Oh when the Saints’.

First half

Southampton start brightly in the opening few minutes. Primus finding Michaela McAlonie, with her effort palmed away by Natalia Rae Negri. 

Ellie Brazil found herself in acres of space down the right, squaring the ball to Primus who fired it into the back of the net. 1-0 to Southampton inside ten minutes. A dream start for the number twenty, leading by example.

The Saints continued to pile on the pressure, soon before Ipswich had some joy. In the 14th minute, Dean put just a little too much pace on her shot, narrowly missing the target. Shortly after, Lucy O’Brien fired the ball across the face of goal, put behind by a scrambling Southampton defence.

Just inside the half hour mark, Southampton double their lead. After looking so threatening from set-pieces, a corner whipped in by Tara Bourne finds Amy Goddard, who nets her first goal in a Saints shirt. 

Southampton score their third from another set-piece. Mary Bashford is perfectly placed to meet the corner delivery from McAlonie, her second assist of the afternoon. The goal comes in additional time at the end of the first half, just 3 minutes before half time. 

Southampton closed out the first half confidently and will hope to continue this stellar form for the rest of the match.

Second half

Brazil is withdrawn at half time after a positive performance, replaced by Ruby-Rae Tucker. Also leaving the pitch for Southampton is Chloe Peplow, Parker bringing on Chelsea loanee Ashanti Akpan.

 Ipswich made substitutions of their own in the 54th minute, withdrawing Kyra Robertson and O’brien, bringing on Ruby Doe and Jenna Dear. 

Mary Bashford nets her second goal of the afternoon, assisted by Tara Bourne. Negri could not do enough to keep the ball out of the net. 

Director of women's football at Southampton (and their former manager), Marieanne Spacey-Cale watches on from the stands, no doubt pleased with the performance Saints are putting on. 

In the 75th minute, Ipswich withdrew Dean, bringing on Madison Earl in her place. Earl is on loan from UEFA Women’s Champions League winners, Arsenal, a bright young talent.

Just a minute later, Southampton replaced Abigail Ferguson with Kiera Sena who joined the club in the summer transfer window from Cork City.

To see out the game, Southampton brought on academy products Issy Watts and Esta Roberts; withdrawn are Primus and McAlonie.

Southampton confidently finished the match and currently sit top of the WSL 2 table. Mary Bashford was awarded player of the match after an outstanding performance.

Full time score at St Mary’s: Southampton 4-0 Ipswich Town. 

Looking ahead

Southampton will be hoping to continue this form for the rest of the season, as they aim for promotion into the WSL. A 4-0 win to kickstart Parker’s campaign at the helm is a huge confidence boost for the squad.

As for Ipswich, they will look to bounce back to winning ways as they face Nottingham Forest on the 14th of September. Being a newly promoted side, they must turn up the tempo to match the tougher opposition in a new league.