Point gained for Women's Under-19s despite shootout defeat at Southampton

Having fallen behind inside the opening minute on the south coast, we fought back and found an equaliser just after the half hour mark, Rania Oukriss netting her second goal in as many games in the league to put us on level terms as we headed in the break.

We were more controlled in the second half in what was an evenly matched contest with the Saints, but we just lacked conviction in the final third as we settled for a point in normal time before a penalty shootout followed to determine the bonus point.

Oukriss was denied before Eloise Summers-Mee dragged her effort wide in our first two spot-kicks while the Saints calmly converted and, although Grace Bellwood scored our third penalty of the afternoon, the home side were clinical from 12 yards out and won the shootout 4-1 to claim the extra point.

It was the worst possible start for our youngsters as, after just 26 seconds, the Saints took the lead. There was a bit of fortune in the build-up as Holly-Mae Elmes initial clearance ricocheted off Lampard and looped into the air, a header then set her through on goal and she fired low into the bottom corner.

Despite the early setback, we responded well and, having rode out a 10-minute spell with the home side on top, we began applying ourselves more into the contest, Jhanaie Pierre’s teasing cross from the left of the box just inches in front of Grace Bellwood in the middle. However, the Saints should have doubled their lead in the 24th minute, somehow sending a header right underneath the crossbar over the bar.

Having been patient in our build-up to this point, getting into good positions down either flank, we eventually found the equaliser. Eloise Summers-Mee, who had an initial effort blocked, saw her low cross half-cleared to Oukriss just inside the area and she picked out the bottom corner with a low, left-footed strike for her fourth of the campaign.

Those two linked up just before the break, this time Oukriss setting Summers-Mee through one-on-one with Kayleigh Prout but she blazed her effort over the bar as we went into the break all level. We were indebted to a big save from Cassie Shields, who was making just her second appearance for the Under-19s, just minute after the restart as she stood tall inside her own box to block an effort with her body.

Bellwood saw her shot blocked from inside the Saints’ box while at the other end, Elmes produced a goal-line clearance to keep the scores at 1-1 after the Saints forward slotted past Shields in an one-on-one scenario, although there was some slight fortune of the ball hitting the foot of Daisy May Bird before being eventually cleared out of play.

Summers-Mee was a lively presence down the right-hand side, first her fizzed low cross to the front post was superbly defended to deny Bellwood an opportunity at goal before, four minutes from time, her delivery was this time pushed away by Prout to stop Oukriss with an easy headed chance at the end, as the two sides couldn’t be separated in the 90 minutes, taking home a point each but headed into a subsequent penalty shootout for a bonus point.

The home side calmly converted their first spot-kick which was then followed by Prout producing a fantastic save to deny Oukriss. Summers-Mee dragged her penalty wide as we found ourselves two-nil down early in the shootout and despite Bellwood powering home her spot-kick down the middle to get us off the mark, the Saints were clinical in their four penalties and won the shootout 4-1 to earn an extra point.

“There was a lot positive to take in the 90 minutes against a very tough team in this league”

Reflecting on the game, coach Sabiha Jamal said: "It wasn't not good enough to concede that quickly, we know that and we’ve been caught out early again. However, I have to praise the reactions from that moment until the end of the game. We stay in the contest, pulled one back in the first half and, I think, we did enough to win it in normal time, but unfortunately we were unable to convert one of our many chances in the second half.

"It was disappointing to not come away with a bonus point with another penalty shootout win, but there was a lot positive to take in the 90 minutes against a very tough team in this league. Also, we put out a very young squad compared to recent weeks, with five Under-16s involved in the matchday and majoirty of them all featuring in today's game. Collectively, we’ve done really well to compete against a good side."

Line-ups

Starting XI: Shields, Hills (Neill 46), Elmes, Bird (Deria 68), Bush (Ordean 90), Mace, Aramide (Khanna 80), Oukriss, Summers-Mee, Bellwood, Pierre. Substitutes (not used): Northwood.