- SRWFL
- Sunday 22nd February
- 14:00 kick off
- 1878 Stadium, Burnham Football Club, Wymers Wood Rd, Burnham SL1 8JG
- Watch live on GasroomTV
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Southampton Women’s FC, not to be confused with WSL2 side Southampton FC Women, had a rebrand in 2022, with a new crest and adopted “The Sirens” as their nickname, to separate them from the other team - “we are not the Saints”. To quote their website: “Inspired by the mythical sea creatures of Greek legend, the Sirens symbolise both beauty and danger. As well as playing the game the right way, while shipwrecking anyone who dares to enter our waters.” Heady stuff!
The Sirens are true pioneers of modern women’s football, founded in 1970 when the FA voted to rescind the 1921 resolution that had declared football was "quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged ", and which forbade women from playing on FA-affiliated grounds and for official referees to officiate their games.
They won the first FA Cup in 1971 and won 8 of the first 11 finals, also finishing runners up twice in that period. Their eight FA Cup wins is second only to Arsenal’s 14, and they are Southampton’s most successful team.
Southampton Women’s captain Lesley Lloyd receives the FA Cup in May 1971, after beating Scotland’s Stewarton Thistle 4-1 at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. The official attendance is unknown, Lloyd estimated it at 1500-2000.
They failed to sustain that initial success, and their history in the following decades is unclear, but they were Southern Region D1N champions in 2015-16, when we last played their first team, the Chairgirls losing 2-3 at home (at Bells Hill Rec, Stoke Poges in those days) and 4-2 away. The Sirens achieved the Southern Region Premier league and cup double the season after, dropping only three points. Promoted to the National D1SW, the Sirens finished second in their first two seasons but gradually found the going harder before being relegated last season, finishing bottom with six points.
This season they have only lost twice in the league, to Reading at home and the Flyers away, both 3-1. They have yet to beat one of the title challengers. In the FA Cup they lost 3-2 at Torquay United in 3QR, and lost 3-0 at home three weeks ago to Portchester in the League Cup. Last Sunday they won 4-0 at Beaconsfield in the league.
Top scorer is ex-Chairgirl Chloe Ball with all of her 10 goals from 11 league games. She was captain of the Wycombe Wanderers Development team, made her first team debut for us aged 17 in 2018-19, and is a highly rated striker at this level. Ball was twice on target against the Rams last week. That game saw the return of goalkeeper Grace Jenman to the club. Six players who made 10 or more appearances last season are playing this season.
Chloe Ball returned to the Sirens last season. Photo: www.southamptonwomensfc.co.uk
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The match stream is now live! Watch here or click play below:
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4’, WW 0-1 SW, caught on the ball, good finish.
10’, Sirens clip crossbar from free-kick. They are all over us, we are struggling to get into their half.
21’, Ball for Sirens shoot just wide. We are in the game now.
Yellow for Melton, harsh, won the ball.
Mulvaney on for Hill.
27’, Melton heads just over from a Jordi free kick, closest yet.
29’, fantastic save by Erin, onto to bar but Sirens shoot over from the follow up, a sitter.
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Strongest opposition of the season so far, at least of the games I’ve seen. Haven’t let us settle and no time on the ball. Having three forwards on perhaps cedes some control in midfield against the stronger sides.
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36’, good chance for Sirens, 11 clean through but misses the target.
37’, Hennessy shot well saved for a corner.
HT 0-1, that was a hard half, we’ve had little time on the ball, the two wingers are tightly marked, midfield struggling. The Sirens are a very good team.
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49’, 0-2, cross to far post, no left back marking, tap-in.
Kern replaced by Wardlaw at HT, playing three at the back to bolster midfield but that contributed to the goal.
53’, Jordanne shoots over from 15 yards.
57’, great save from Potter (?) header, resulting corner put into net by Melton but ruled out, hand ball, no complaints.
Going to be one of those days.
61’, Kimble on for Mulvaney.