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Arsenal make their first signing of the window Back Arsenal sign new goalkeeper Arsenal make their first signing of the window Arsenal FC 5 August 2022 By Charlotte Stacey Arsenal have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Kaylan Marckese on a permanent deal from Danish side HB Koge. Marckese twice featured against the Gunners during last season's Champions League and will provide competition for current number one Manuela Zinsberger. News

Arsenal defender Teyah Goldie has signed for FA Women’s Championship side Watford on a duel registration deal until the end of the season. Back Teyah Goldie joins Watford Arsenal defender Teyah Goldie has signed for FA Women’s Championship side Watford on a duel registration deal until the end of the season. via Watford Women 24 January 2022 By Josh Bunting The 17 year old defender will play at the Hornets until the end of the 2021/22 campaign, as part of a dual registration agreement between the two clubs. The new addition will bring leadership qualities to the Hornets; she is an England Under-19 international and captain of the side. Goldie made her debut at just 16, playing a part in the Gunners 10-0 win over Gillingham in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. She would go on to make further appearances in the competition, including in the semi-final versus Brighton & Hove Albion. Goldie was also a part of the Gunners’ squad for the final defeat against Chelsea back at Wembley in December. In total, she has made six appearances for the north London side and has been a regular in match-day squads this season. The defender will wear number 23 and was eligible to make her debut against Blackburn Rovers at the weekend. Goldie has turned into Watford’s second signing of the transfer window. She joins Anna Patten, goalkeeper Natalia Negri and midfielder Halle Houssein in leaving the club on loan in January to further their development. News

Turner and Magill join the Villans Back Everton duo sign for Villa Turner and Magill join the Villans 5 August 2022 By Charlotte Stacey Longstanding former Everton captain, defender Danielle Tuner has signed a two-year deal with Aston Villa. She is joined by teammate, Northern Ireland international Simone Magill who has also confirmed her move after spending the last nine years with the Toffees. On Magill’s move, head coach Carla Ward said, “she’s a front-footed player with an eye for goal and someone I feel will fit in brilliantly to what we’re trying to do.” News

Arsenal have announced the loan move of defender Anna Patten to Aston Villa for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Back Patten to Villa: A Wise Move Arsenal have announced the loan move of defender Anna Patten to Aston Villa for the remainder of the 2021-22 season. Lewis Storey 5 January 2022 By Charlotte Stacey Patten has a history with the Gunners having her way through the ranks after joining the club at twelve years old. She made her senior debut against Bayern Munich in 2017, aged 18, before going on to play in every match of the Women’s Super League Spring Series that year. After studying in the States for four years, in which Patten played successful stints with both the Florida State Seminoles and the South Carolina Gamecocks, she re-joined The Arsenal last January. Patten has enjoyed plenty of ‘firsts’ since returning to North London, including her first goal, and a break into Champions League football against Gillingham and HB Køge respectively. Further illustrating her ever-maturing potential, on the international stage Patten has been a regular feature of England’s youth camps representing her country at under-15, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels. Patten has secured two bronze medals during her time with the national side; the 2016 U-17 Euros and the U-20 Women’s World Cup in 2018. Patten’s move to Aston Villa can perhaps be viewed as surprising. The loaning of a lifelong Gooner, the foreknown absence of their trade left back, and the injury of their staple centre-half, indicates that the Gunners are looking to reinforce their backline from elsewhere. Nevertheless, this is not to say that in the long-term, this move will considerably benefit all parties. A talent as distinct as Patten must be cultivated, yet such progression can only be achieved through playing consistent minutes, something that, since returning to England, Patten has not received. With a title to reclaim and a reassertion into European football, between developing players, evolving on-field relationships and rotating a dependably robust starting eleven, Jonas Eidevall has a bit of a balancing act on his hands. In saying this, one would still not be indecorous to question Patten’s lack of game time. Enter Aston Villa. Although the Villans lay within the bottom half of the table, Patten could not have secured a better move. Now under the wing of renowned defence curator Carla Ward, and playing alongside the likes of Women’s Super League vets Anita Asanti and Remi Allen, she is about to have the education of her life. The likelihood is that Patten will play with far more regularity given Villa’s league position and Ward’s preference to lock in defensive stability before anything else. Yet Patten brings her own profits to her new club. She is able to adopt the profile of a centre-back, as well as a central midfielder if assigned, however when looking at her most prevalent skills, Patten is best used as a fullback. Upon viewing, one attribute that is highlighted is Patten’s inclination to push fairly high up the field. There is an obvious desire for pitch progression within her play and typically, it is well executed. Being a quality ‘ball player’ is not something that comes naturally to all, yet Patten shows a great deal of worth here in both carrying and releasing. Pairing this with bursts of pace and shrewd counter awareness, Patten’s time on the ball is altogether valuable. Utilising Patten as such will provide Villa with an added attacking outlet, as well as the perfect complement to offset left back, Maz Pacheco. In return, Villa will provide the opportunity for Patten to exercise and develop her defensive competence against regular competitive opponents. Developing further know-how on opportune periods to apply pressure, favourable positions to intercept and block passages of play, and heightened recognition of opponent’s body shape, areas in which Patten is perhaps not quite as well versed in just yet, will serve her well in fulfilling her undeniable promise. Come May, whether Patten returns to her childhood club or not will remain to be seen. But if this is the case, one would certainly bet on a more well-rounded, self-assured, defensively sound player returning to Meadow Park than the one who left in January. News

We caught up with author and analyst Abdullah Abdullah to speak about his latest book 'The Evolution of Chelsea Under Emma Hayes' and his new series of tactical interviews with players and coaches on his website Pressing Matters. Interview with analyst and author Abdullah Abdullah Saturday, 5 February 2022 By Charlotte Stacey We caught up with author and analyst Abdullah Abdullah to speak about his latest book 'The Evolution of Chelsea Under Emma Hayes' and his new series of tactical interviews with players and coaches on his website Pressing Matters. On Her Side Firstly, congratulations on your new book, Europe’s Next Power House: The Evolution of Chelsea Under Emma Hayes. Would you be able to tell us a little bit out the book and what readers can expect? First of all, thank you, and second of all, what can you expect from the book. Well, the general premise of the book essentially depicts the rise of Emma Hayes over the years, but also the evolution of Chelsea as a club from several years ago to now, their growth over time. Mostly on the pitch in terms of tactical ideas, but also off the pitch, what are the factors that contributed to them getting to where they are and what that means for the future of the club. We put that all together and you can get a decent overview of Chelsea from 5-7 years ago to now, and beyond, in terms of what they want to achieve, what they have achieved and what they’re doing on the pitch tactically and learn all about it. --- You mention the book is full of tactical insights, so for those of us who are perhaps not particularly tactically minded, is it written in a way that we can easily follow Chelsea’s journey on the pitch in this respect? Yes, I like to think, and pride myself on making sure that the way I write is both accessible to people who are tactically savvy and people who are just maybe getting into tactics or who just generally know about football. So both sets can understand without one feeling like it’s targeted too much the other way. I think it’s a good balance between being too technical and not very technical, so I’d like to think I’ve pleased both sets. It worked for the first one! Firstly, Abdullah congratulations on your new book, Europe’s Next Power House: The Evolution of Chelsea Under Emma Hayes. Would you be able to tell us a little bit out the book and what readers can expect? "First of all, thank you, and second of all, what can you expect from the book. Well, the general premise of the book essentially depicts the rise of Emma Hayes over the years, but also the evolution of Chelsea as a club from several years ago to now, their growth over time. "Mostly on the pitch in terms of tactical ideas, but also off the pitch, what are the factors that contributed to them getting to where they are and what that means for the future of the club. We put that all together and you can get a decent overview of Chelsea from 5-7 years ago to now, and beyond, in terms of what they want to achieve, what they have achieved and what they’re doing on the pitch tactically and learn all about it." You mention the book is full of tactical insights, so for those of us who are perhaps not particularly tactically minded, is it written in a way that we can easily follow Chelsea’s journey on the pitch in this respect? "Yes, I like to think, and pride myself on making sure that the way I write is both accessible to people who are tactically savvy and people who are just maybe getting into tactics or who just generally know about football. So both sets can understand without one feeling like it’s targeted too much the other way. I think it’s a good balance between being too technical and not very technical, so I’d like to think I’ve pleased both sets. It worked for the first one!" Speaking of your first book, that was written about Lyon. So, what was it that then drew you to Chelsea, why was Chelsea your second choice? "I think, plain and simple, on the men’s side Chelsea are the team I’ve been supporting since the year 2000, they’re my childhood club. Whilst the men’s side was very saturated, I focus a lot on women’s football and I thought I’ve got to do something on Chelsea. "For me, I’ve always said Lyon is the club I support on the women’s side, but I’m a very close second fan of Chelsea so it was an obvious choice. I wouldn’t have chosen anyone else, it had to be Chelsea because it’s so close to me. It was opportunistic as well, they were doing so well under Emma Hayes. Sam Kerr was just about to sign and the club was really going somewhere. I knew a lot about the club so it was a no-brainer. I thought, let’s do it." Obviously, we speak a lot about Emma Hayes and the focus of this book revolves around Chelsea’s growth under her leadership, have you managed to speak to her? "You’re not the first person to ask me and unfortunately no, I have not been able to speak to her. It was unfortunate, she was covering the Euro’s in the summer when I wanted to try to speak to her but I got the next best thing which were journalists and people around her at the club. I am told she has received a copy of the book and I’ve no clue what she’s going to think so we’re going to have to see what happens!" As well as the book you have another exciting project happening, Pressing Matters: a series of tactical insights with players and coaches. Can you tell us where the idea for this project came from? "I’m not going to lie to you, I was just sitting around thinking ‘what can I do to take Pressing Matters to the next level? I’m loving the analysis that I’m doing but I need to take it a step further.’ I will give Mia Eriksson some credit here! She’s doing a podcast called ‘ Their Pitch ’ (podcast in which Mia and co-host Amanda Zaza speak to players, coaches and other football personnel about their history and professional development, as well as their tactical take on the game). It’s a fantastic idea and people should go and listen to it (interviewer seconds this!). "So, I used that as inspiration and thought about how I could do something that’s equally as innovative and different. It was just one of those things, I was sitting around doing nothing and it just popped – tactical interviews with players! And I’ll make it a written thing rather than a podcast. I asked a couple of people what they thought and they said ‘yeah, not a bad idea’ and the more I thought about it, the more I liked it. From there the journey began and I started sending out a gazillion emails. "The first entry is out, an interview with former Everton manager Willie Kirk, and from this it’s clear that this series will provide analysis from coaches and players, which, aside from Mia’s podcast, has not really been done in the women’s game." Looking at that first article, it feels as if your guests have an awful lot to say about the tactical side of the game. Have you been surprised at the level of insight and the volume of information that they have given? "Yeah, really I have. Willie was great, it was really insightful. He gave me a lot of insight into the way he was working with Everton and the decisions that he made. I guess it was a little bit easier for him to explain simply because he’s left the club so he can give me more detail than others could’ve. "But I think with the players I’ve already spoken to, some of them have really surprised me in terms of their level of insight and their knowledge. When I start some of them [interviews], it starts off with a good answer. But the minute it goes to questions 2, 3, and 4, they really start getting into it and they put time and energy into their answers. You can actually see them sitting there and actively thinking ‘oh wait, no hold on’ – they think about one thing then suddenly they’ll change it and go ‘oh you know what, actually I can add this’. "Every single player in their own way has surprised me with their level of understanding and knowledge, not just their own game and what they’re supposed to be doing, but the deeper meaning of that and they ask a lot of questions which has surprised me. So I think it’s really going to surprise people and will be quite enjoyable." Going off of that, do you think players have enjoyed speaking about tactics and the more technical aspects of their game? It’s not something they generally have the opportunity to do, so what’s the response been in that respect, would you say it’s something they have been crying out for? "Maybe not crying out for, but certainly, I’ve got about six or seven interviews recorded so far and every single one of them has said ‘really happy to do it because it’s not something we usually get to do and it’s totally different. We play football, we play the game so why can’t we talk about what we do on the pitch?’ "Some of them have a lot to say about roles, positions, how they think they should be playing and how to improve. Sometimes the feeling I get is that they get a little carried away with some of the things and I just have to sit there, listen and indulge, which is great! I really get a full insight into it. So I think so far they’ve all really liked it." That’s amazing. Could I be cheeky and ask if you could give us a couple of names we might see popping up in the future? "Alright, you know what, I’ll give you a couple of names that haven’t been posted anywhere else. I have spoken to Elin Landström of Inter Milan who is a left back, hopefully that will come out sooner rather than later. I think I’m safe to say that Rachel Daly might be another one that will be coming some point in the future. There you go, I can give you those two for now." Abdullah's books are available to buy on Amazon .

Get to know every member of the current Lionesses squad. Lionesses Squad Rachel Daly Rachel Daly is an experienced and adaptable player with a unique skillset. When playing domestically, Daly occupies the centre forward role and is currently wreaking havoc across defensive lines with Aston Villa. Her forward role is that of a deep-lying striker who excels in linking play, playing in other attacking players and creating interchangeable sequences of play. But of course, Daly does also possess that no. 9 killer strike. Internationally, however, Daly is usually situated further back, primarily featuring for England as a left-back. Here, Daly utilises her strikers’ tendencies and pairs them with the defensive qualities developed as a result of her slightly unusual placement. Daly’s ‘off the ball’ traits are under appreciated at times, but her pressing and positional awareness are key in bringing a balance to England’s backline. Photograph courtesy of the FA.

My Story by Kelly Smith My Story My Story by Kelly Smith All Kelly Smith ever wanted to be was a footballer. Blessed with brilliant talent which she honed with hours of practice, it was soon clear to all who saw her that Kelly was the best women's footballer that this country had ever produced. Yet for this shy girl from Watford, it would be a long and difficult journey to the pinnacle of the world game, and one which would involve the hardest of challenges. After starting drinking to mask her loneliness thousands of miles from home at college in the United States, a series of career-threatening injuries led to severe depression and a battle with alcoholism. But with the fighting spirit that was so essential on her path to be Britain's first women's professional player, Kelly bounced back to inspire Arsenal to countless trophies and become England's record goalscorer. Available to buy: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Footballer-My-Story-Kelly-Smith/dp/0593069331/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1685728134&sr=1-1

Back Niamh Charles (Reserve) Club Chelsea Position Midfielder D.O.B 21/06/1999 Bio Chelsea’s Charles is a player that can seemingly slot into any formation that is presented. Her first season with the Blues has been exceptional and she has shown a great amount of positional potential. Charles has played in both left sided and right sided positions and in both attacking and defensive roles demonstrating a clear and prepared adaptability. via Niamh Charles Twitter E3

Get to know every member of the current Lionesses squad. Lionesses Squad Ellie Roebuck Although she’s still only in her early twenties, Manchester City’s Ellie Roebuck has long been on the scene having made her senior debut back in 2018. Roebuck was a regular feature for England throughout the youth age groups and has a growing amount of international experience to her name. Roebuck and Sandy MacIver were both selected to play in the 2021 Olympic Games, in which Roebuck donned the gloves as Team GB’s number one. Roebuck is now firmly back between the sticks for her club after spending some time out with injury last year and is once again showcasing her perceptive and quick movement. Roebuck is perhaps the most agile of Wiegman’s keepers, using her quick footwork and sudden shifts of weight to execute effective body position. Roebuck is also known for her ‘sweeper’ abilities and is aware enough to come some way off her line to tidy up without compromising readiness to protect the goal. Photograph courtesy of the FA.

Quick guide to the teams in Group A Euro's Information and News Get to know: Group A Girls on the Ball By Paul Donegan 7 July 2022 Northern Ireland Northern Ireland qualified for their first finals after beating Ukraine 4-1 on aggregate in a play-off. They had finished as runners-up to Norway in Group C who they will play again in the finals group stage. They are the lowest ranked team in the Euro’s, and all the players turned professional at the start of the year for the build up to the tournament. FIFA Ranking – 47th Manager – Kenny Shiels Squad 1. Jacqueline Burns (BK Hacken) 2. Rebecca McKenna (Lewes) 3. Demi Vance (Rangers) 4. Sarah McFadden (Durham) 5. Julia Nelson (Crusaders Strikers) 6. Ashley Hutton (Linfield) 7. Chloe McCarron (Glentoran) 8. Marissa Callaghan (Cliftonville) 9. Simone Magill (unattached) 10. Rachel Furness (Liverpool) 11. Kirsty McGuinness (Cliftonville) 12. Becky Flaherty (Brighouse Town) 13. Kelsie Burrows (Cliftonville) 14. Lauren Wade (Glentoran) 15. Rebecca Holloway (Racing Louisville) 16. Nadene Caldwell (Glentoran) 17. Laura Rafferty (Southampton) 18. Louise McDaniel (Cliftonville) 19. Emily Wilson (Crusaders Strikers) 20. Joely Andrews (Glentoran) 21. Caitlin McGuinness (Cliftonville) 22. Abbie Magee (Cliftonville) 23. Shannon Turner (Wolverhampton Wanderers) Norway Norway qualified as a group winner with 6 wins from 6 (2 games were cancelled). This will be their 12th appearance in the finals. They won it in 1987 and 1993 and have finished runners-up on another four occasions. Ada Hegerberg is the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Women’s Champions League is included in the squad after recently returning to play for her country after a five year absence. FIFA Ranking – 11th Manager – Martin Sjogren Squad 1. Guro Petterson (Valerenga) 2. Anja Sonstevold (Inter Milan) 3. Maria Thorisdottir (Manchester United) 4. Tuva Hansen (SK Brann) 5. Guro Bergsvand (SK Brann) 6. Maren Mjelde (Chelsea) 7. Ingrid Syrasted Engen (Barcelona) 8. Vilde Boa Rise (Manchester United) 9. Karina Saevik (Avaldsnes) 10. Caroline Graham Hansen (Barcelona) 11. Guro Reiten (Chelsea) 12. Sunniva Skoglund (Stabaek) 13. Celin Bizet Ildhusoy (Paris Saint-Germain) 14. Ada Hegerberg (Lyon) 15. Amalie Eikeland (Reading) 16. Lisa Fjeldstad Naalsund (SK Brann) 17. Julie Blakstad (Manchester City) 18. Frida Maanum (Arsenal) 19. Elisabeth Terland (SK Brann) 20. Synne Skinnes Hansen (Rosenborg) 21. Anna Josendal (Rosenborg) 22. Sophie Roman Haug (Roma) 23. Aurora Mikalsen (SK Brann) Austria Austria will be taking part in their second finals. In 2017 they lost on penalties to Denmark in the semi-finals. They qualified as one of the three best group runners-up having finished behind France in Group G. FIFA Ranking – 21st Manager – Irene Fuhrmann Squad 1. Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal) 2. Marina Georgieva (SC Sand) 3. Katharina Naschenweng (1899 Hoffenheim) 4. Celina Degen (1. FC Koln) 5. Maria Plattner (Turbine Potsdam) 6. Katharina Schiechtl (Werder Bremen) 7. Carina Wenninger (Roma) 8. Barbara Dunst (Eintracht Frankfurt) 9. Sarah Zadrazil (Bayern Munich) 10. Laura Feiersinger (Eintracht Frankfurt) 11. Viktoria Schnaderbeck (unattached) 12. Laura Wienroither (Arsenal) 13. Lisa Kolb (SC Freiburg) 14. Marie-Therese Hobinger (FC Zurich) 15. Nicole Billa (1899 Hoffenheim) 16. Jasmin Eder (St. Polten) 17. Sarah Puntigam (1. FC Koln) 18. Julia Hickelsberger-Fuller (1899 Hoffenheim) 19. Verena Hanshaw (Eintracht Frankfurt) 20. Lisa Makas (Austria Wien) 21. Isabella Kresche (St. Polten) 22. Stefanie Enzinger (St. Polten) 23. Jasmin Pal (1. FC Koln)

Two off the bench for Rachel Williams to send the Red Devils to the next round of the FA Cup Back Match Report Super Sub Rachel Williams heads United through against Spirited Saints Two off the bench for Rachel Williams to send the Red Devils to the next round of the FA Cup Manchester United Women 11 February 2024 By Finley Chung Two headed goals off the bench for Rachel Williams saw Manchester United overcome a very spirited Southampton side at The Silverlake Stadium. Ella Toone had given United the lead with a stunning goal, but a leveller from Lexi Lloyd Smith midway through the second half appeared to put the tie back in the melting pot, however a headed double from Williams off the bench saved United’s bacon and sent them through to the Quarter Finals. To reach this stage, Southampton have seen off Portsmouth in Round Three and Sunderland in Round Four, with a 3-1 victory over their South Coast rivals before Christmas, with Jemma Purfield scoring the winner on 72 minutes to set up the Round Four tie with Sunderland. The second game in this years competition was a much ‘easier’ affair, with a Katie Wilkinson brace secured a 2-0 win at Sunderland to set up a first ever meeting in any competition with Manchester United. Last years Cup runners up have only played once in this terms FA Cup, seeing off a spirited Newcasstle side 5-0 thanks to a Nikita Parris brace and further goals from Rachel Williams, Ella Toone and Melvine Malard. Southampton boss, Marianne Spacey-Cale made one change from last weeks league defeat, bringing in Alice Griffiths for Sophia Pharaoh. Man United handed a start to Gemma Evans with Jayde Riviere being ruled out after picking up an injury in last weekends win over Brighton, with Leah Galton also replacing Geyse in The Red Devils’ only two changes. The championship side got the game underway in the South Coast sunshine with a long kick off routine that Man United saw off and Hannah Blundell immediately looked for Nikita Parris with a over the top pass, but it rolled out of play before the flying winger could get there. Lisa Naalsund had the first effort of t4he game just two minutes in, after Leah Galton drove down the wing and cut inside before laying it off, but the centre midfielders effort was weak and was an easy hold for Kayla Rendell in the Saints goal. The visitors soon made their early dominance pay with a stunning strike from Ella Toone. Millie Turner won the ball back inside the Saints half and set Galton away before she pulled it back for Toone who unleashed a pearler of a shot into the bottom left corner, leaving Rendell with no chance and giving United an early lead. Gemma Evans very nearly set United on their way to a second constantly afterwards, but her clipped ball towards Parris couldn’t be trapped by United’s in form star. Toone once again made a menacing run behind the Saints’ back line before twisting and turning Megan Collett, but her cross was well claimed by Rendell. United so nearly had a second on the 20 minute mark but somehow the hosts survived. First, Nikita Parris was fed through but her low effort came back off the post, which fell invitingly to Galton who seemingly had an empty net if not for some brilliant Megan Collett defending to throw herself infront of the shot and clear it off the line. United’s number eleven was Saints’ chief tormentor in the opening exchanges, once again bursting away from her marker before spooning a cross into the middle which couldn’t be reached by her team mates. Katie Zelem was the next to have a poke at doubling United’s lead, firing a low free kick around the wall but it whistled inches wide. Just after the half hour, Saints had their first effort on target as an in-swinging free kick from deep fell kindly to Alice Griffiths but her effort was blocked by a melee of United bodies. This led to a good spell of possession and pressure for the Saints, their most sustained of the game but Collet’s cross looped out pf play before making the box. United probed going forward again and there was no surprise to anyone that Galton was at the heart, racing onto a Zelem through pass but seeing her cutback put behind for a corner which ultimately came to nothing. Southampton were digging in and defending deep and did very well to clear a dangerous United move after Parris had pulled the ball back into Zelem. United saw out the half with one final chance, with Maya Le Tissier lofting an effort into the arms of Saints keeper, Kayla Rendell. HT - Southampton 0-1 Man United Spacey-Cale made a change at half time, bringing on Lexis Lloyd-Smith for Alice Griffiths. Southampton had the first sighting of goal in the second half , with Jemma Purfield swinging a free kick into the middle but Atlanta Primus’ header was easy pickings for Mary Earps in the United goal. Megan Collett continued her fine performance at right back for The Saints, defending expertly up against Lisa Naalsund to snuff out upcoming United danger. The Hosts then had their keeper to thank fior only being a goal down, with Nikita Parris latching onto a through ball from Naalsund and firing a low effort goanward which Rendell got down really well to save. Southamptons chances to break relied on the ever energetic Molly Pike and it did look at one stage like she had a clean run through on goal, but Earps was alive to the danger mopped up the loose ball. Parris had a massive chance to put the game beyond the reach of the hosts just after the hour, taking down another Naalsund through ball and turning inside her defender with ease, but her effort was straight at Rendell in The Saints goal. That miss proved so costly minutes later, as half time substitute Lexi Lloyd Smith smashed in an equaliser which sent The Silverlake into delirium and bring the Championship side level. Marc Skinner responded with a double change, introducing Rachel Williams and Irene Guerrero in place of Melvine Malard and Lisa Naalsund. Saints had their tails up now and so nearly had a second afterwards, with Megan Collett steaming down the wing and crossing for Molly Pike, but the latter’s header drifted into the arms of Earps. Southamption then made their own double change, with Megan Collett and Atlanta Primus being replaced by Ella Morris and Sophia Pharaoh. Pike was once again at the heart of things for Southampton, spinning away from her marker and feeding Katie Wilkinson who rode a challenge but her effort was a easy hold once again for Earps. United;s super sub, Rachel Williams then proved her worth off the bench with quarter of an hour to go, after brilliant work down the left, the super sub rose above her marker to power the header past Rendell and put United back infront. Milly Mott was then carded after a foul on Parris just to the right of the Saints box, but the set piece was confidently punched clear by Rendell. United finally put the game out of reach of The Hosts, after a Katie Zelem corner was once again met by Williams who’s header squirmed through the legs of Rendell and despite the best efforts of The Saints defence, was adjudged to have crossed the line by referee, Jade Wardle. After the goal, Ella Toone was then withdrawn for Hayley Ladd as we entered the final seven minutes of play. Saints felt further aggrieved by the officials as an effort appeared to be charged down and blocked by a hand of a United player, but the referee was unmoved despite numerous appeals. Molly Pike was then withdrawn in place of Megan Wynne as we entered 7 minutes of added time . Somehow, the Saints didn’t give themselves a chane at a comeback in added time as Lucia Kendall’s shot trickled past Mary Earps and came back off the post, Millie Turner was then replaced by Aoife Mannion for Marc Skinners side for some fresh legs at the back. The game was seen out with Saints continuing to put a shift in and not disgracing themselves against last seasons FA Cup Silver Medalists who advance into the Quarter Finals of this years competition. Full Time - Southampton 1-3 Manchester United Saints - Lexi Lloyd Smith 65’ Manchester United - Ella Toone 6’. Rachel Williams 74’, 82’. Attendance - 4,554.

Back Jill Scott Club Everton (loan) [Manchester City] Position Midfielder D.O.B 02/02/1987 Bio Lionesses and Manchester City veteran Scott has been placed in just about every situation. Spirited, persevering with a fine passing skillset and a stamina that rivals those ten years her junior, Scott has remained integral to any side she plays in. Scott’s time loaned out to Everton this season certainly did the trick in keeping her fresh in the mind as the familiar midfielder heavily impressed once again. Girls on the Ball C4