Saints grab late winner in Conti Cup
A Wednesday night Continental Cup game under the lights in Aldershot saw Southampton beat Reading 1-0 in a tight affair that saw both sides battle it out in search of an opener.
Despite Reading’s valiant efforts it was a late from Southampton's Lexi Lloyd-Smith that secured them the victory on a cold Wednesday night.
On-loan forward Lulu Jarvis went closest for Liam Gilbert's side midway through the second-half, forcing Bethany Howard into an excellent one-handed stop.
Reading started the game well, slowly building up into an attack that saw Mayi-Kith taken down as she drove up the pitch, winning the Royals a free kick. However, the away side cleared Houessein’s fizzing delivery.
The visitors first chance came when Southampton picked up on a loose ball in the midfield, and Dean strived forward at the Reading defence. An important block by Smith smothered her shot, allowing the ball to bounce kindly into Kite’s open hands.
Some confusion at the back gifted Southampton another chance in on goal, but another vital block from Reading’s defence saw Hendrix step across and block allowing Troelsgaard to clear.
The best chance of the half fell to Thompson as Kraft is played in down the right hand side from a quickly taken free kick. She beat her marker and cushioned back a pass for Thompson, whose effort sailed over the bar.
As we approached the 30 minute mark Reading enjoyed their best spell of possession, as they worked the ball nicely from defence into attack, looking to apply pressure on the Southampton backline.
Reading saw much more of the ball in the final 15 minutes of the half as they started string more purposeful passes together in a tight affair so far. Southampton started the half with the better chances, with Reading growing into the game as the half progressed.
Half-time: Reading 0-0 Southampton
The Saints started the second half with intent as Thompson played in behind from a through ball from midfield. She managed to get round the 'keeper and attempted to roll the ball in but Reading skipper Hendrix put her body on the line and was able to clear the ball off the goal line, letting the Royals off early on in the second half.
Elwood showed great tenacity as she stole the ball from Southampton’s midfield, playing in Troelsgaard as she bombed on towards goal attempting to turn her marker inside out. The Dane managed to get her shot off which the Southampton shot stopper Howard was able to get down and smother the danger.
Reading's best chance of the game saw Jarvis pick up on a loose ball on the edge of Southampton’s box, with the Reading forward showing great footwork as she shifted the ball onto her left foot before curling her effort towards the top left corner. However, an incredible acrobatic save from Howard saw the ball tipped inches wide round her post.
The second half saw the game open up much more than the first, `with both sides coming agonisingly close to taking the lead. With 20 minutes remaining and penalties looming both sides were pushing for a late goal to open the scoring.
Heartbreakingly for Reading, it would fall to the visitors. Smith did well to lunge in but the ball fell kindly to Lloyd–Smith as she easily dispatched her effort from close range into the back of the net to give Southampton.
This goal proved to be enough to separate the two teams as a young Royals side fell to defeat in the Conti Cup.
Full-time: Reading 0-1 Southampton
Reading: Kite, Hendrix (Primmer 68) , Mayi-Kith (Gregory HT), Smith , Meadows-Tuson, Houessein, Wilson (Estcourt HT), Elwood (Wade 83), Jarvis (Cooper 90), Longhurst, Troelsgaard.
Unused subs: Orman , Newborough , Annets.
Yellow: Gregory 60.
Southampton: Howard, Morris, Kendall, Parnell (Peake 86), Rafferty, Dean, Wynne, Thompson (Pharoah 83), Kraft (Lloyd-Smith, 68), Milne, Griffiths ,
Unused subs: Rendell, Mott, Wilkinson, Pike, Purfield
Goals: Lloyd-Smith 85.
Yellows: Kraft 31.