Southampton: Saints Women claim Hampshire with cup win over Pompey

Southampton FC Women made sure that Hampshire was red for the second time this season after beating Portsmouth in the Women’s National League Cup.

Two goals from striker Ella Pusey saw Saints claim a 2-0 victory over the club’s local rivals and follow up the 4-0 win over Pompey for the men’s team back in September.

Saints now advance to the semi-final stage of the WNL Cup where they will play Sunderland Ladies for a place in the final.

Pusey opened the scoring after 15 minutes against Pompey in typical fashion when she found space in the area to place home a cross from Ella Morris, who had done excellently to break in behind down the right.

Pompey missed a good chance to level the scores on 41 minutes and were then made to pay as Saints doubled their advantage.

In stoppage-time at the end of the first-half, Pusey’s run in behind the home defence was found by an inch-perfect pass from Alisha Ware and the striker squeezed her shot underneath the advancing goalkeeper to give Saints an unassailable lead.

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Both sides had chances in the second-half to add further goals to the scoreline – with Portsmouth hitting the bar from close-range – but it was Saints who booked their place in the last four of the competition.

Playing in matches like this one that attract interest from supporters of both clubs is important for both Saints and Pompey Women.

Women’s football continues to grow in popularity across the country and games of this magnitude will only boost the profile of both teams.

Saints Women have had a superb time in their short history so far having won their league last year and looking set for promotion in this campaign.

The WNL Cup – or Women’s National League Cup – sees clubs in the bottom six divisions of the Women’s football pyramid put up against each other to fight for silverware.

Promotion this season would see Saints move up to the Southern Premier League, where Portsmouth currently reside.