New Bradwell St Peter v Milton United in early September through to the SDFA Women's Challenge Cup Final in May. My journey through the Southern Region Women's Football League season drew to a close this Thursday with a visit to the Snows Stadium, home of AFC Totton and Southampton FC Women's team. This was a new stadium for me, although I had visited Totton & Eling FC, which is literally next door and there is a certain symmetry involved. This evening's game at AFC Totton was between Southampton FC u21 and AFC Stoneham Ladies. My visit to Totton & Eling, back in 2019, was a Wessex League game between Totton & Eling and AFC Stoneham in which The Purps obtained the point they needed to win the league, relegating their hosts in the process (Grand Finale).
Arriving at the stadium around 30 minutes before kick-off, it was already clear that there was going to be a decent attendance and, despite Stoneham only being a few miles up the road, the vast majority were supporting The Saints.
Many thanks to Stoneham's X admin for sending the team sheets over prior to kick off. Appreciated, as always.
Arriving at the stadium around 30 minutes before kick-off, it was already clear that there was going to be a decent attendance and, despite Stoneham only being a few miles up the road, the vast majority were supporting The Saints.
Many thanks to Stoneham's X admin for sending the team sheets over prior to kick off. Appreciated, as always.
This was always going to be a tough ask for Stoneham. Despite their excellent season in Division One South, they were facing a big gulf in this game against a Women's Championship team's u21 outfit. Their cause was not helped by going behind so early ion the game. There were only three minutes on the clock when Mollie Peachey outjumped everyone to head powerfully past Lucy Venables to make it 1-0.
It wasn't what The Purps would have wanted but, to their credit, the floodgates did not open. Not yet. It was not for the lack of effort from Southampton though. They pushed forward as much as the could, pressing Stoneham back into the own half and harassing the Purps players into hurried passes and clearances. A Peachey free-kick, delivered from the right-hand edge of the penalty area, swung over Venables but clipped the bar and ran to safety. Stoneham retaliated with a break of their own, Mia Flood finding Chloe Melton with a good pass that gave the striker a glimpse of goal. Under pressure from a covering defender, Melton couldn't get enough behind the shot to trouble Kody Cornish.
By far the biggest threat to Stoneham was the running of the Saints forward line, who were finding gaps in the defence, and and the precision passes from the Saints midfield. Kaylee Buckingham almost profited from one such pass only to find Lucy Venables blocking her path well. Two minutes later another slide-rule pass sent Madeline Hotston through, her first time strike beat Venables but also drifted wide of the post.
As we hit the midway point of the half a Saints corner form the left found Anya Lucas at the back, but the defender couldn't quite grow enough to get her header on target. Stoneham's possession was limited and their ventures into Saints territory even more so. However, Mia Flood demonstrated their spirit when she chased down a long ball that looked a lost cause, shrugging off her defender before sending over a low ball that Cornish was happy to smother.
Back at the other end, Hotston then sent a bobbling shot just wide of the post when she should perhaps have hit the target, before Southampton finally turned their possession into another goal on 28 minutes. Once more it was a peach of a through ball that found Kaylee Buckingham. The number 9 sat Venables down with a drop of the shoulder before slotting the ball into the net. 2-0.
Five minutes later it was a case of all the threes. 33 minutes on the clock and Saints had their 3rd goal. A series of quick passes down the right culminated in the the ball being switched across the face of the goal to Isabel Watts, who had ample time to steady herself before picking a spot just inside the post. 3-0
Stoneham, again to their credit, were still hanging in there especially retiring goalkeeper Lucy Venables, who was in inspired form in her last game for Stoneham. Before the break she once again produced a good save to thwart Buckingham before rushing out to narrow the angle, forcing the same Saints striker to push a shot wide of the mark. The Purps stopper, however, was a bystander just before the whistle when Sky Bedwell thumped a 25-yard screamer off her bar
HT Southampton 3 AFC Stoneham 0. A tough one for Stoneham against a very, very good Saints side. Quick, composed, skilful, can pick a pass, and solid at the back. Stoneham haven't played at all badly but Saints haven't let them settle at all.
It wasn't what The Purps would have wanted but, to their credit, the floodgates did not open. Not yet. It was not for the lack of effort from Southampton though. They pushed forward as much as the could, pressing Stoneham back into the own half and harassing the Purps players into hurried passes and clearances. A Peachey free-kick, delivered from the right-hand edge of the penalty area, swung over Venables but clipped the bar and ran to safety. Stoneham retaliated with a break of their own, Mia Flood finding Chloe Melton with a good pass that gave the striker a glimpse of goal. Under pressure from a covering defender, Melton couldn't get enough behind the shot to trouble Kody Cornish.
By far the biggest threat to Stoneham was the running of the Saints forward line, who were finding gaps in the defence, and and the precision passes from the Saints midfield. Kaylee Buckingham almost profited from one such pass only to find Lucy Venables blocking her path well. Two minutes later another slide-rule pass sent Madeline Hotston through, her first time strike beat Venables but also drifted wide of the post.
As we hit the midway point of the half a Saints corner form the left found Anya Lucas at the back, but the defender couldn't quite grow enough to get her header on target. Stoneham's possession was limited and their ventures into Saints territory even more so. However, Mia Flood demonstrated their spirit when she chased down a long ball that looked a lost cause, shrugging off her defender before sending over a low ball that Cornish was happy to smother.
Back at the other end, Hotston then sent a bobbling shot just wide of the post when she should perhaps have hit the target, before Southampton finally turned their possession into another goal on 28 minutes. Once more it was a peach of a through ball that found Kaylee Buckingham. The number 9 sat Venables down with a drop of the shoulder before slotting the ball into the net. 2-0.
Five minutes later it was a case of all the threes. 33 minutes on the clock and Saints had their 3rd goal. A series of quick passes down the right culminated in the the ball being switched across the face of the goal to Isabel Watts, who had ample time to steady herself before picking a spot just inside the post. 3-0
Stoneham, again to their credit, were still hanging in there especially retiring goalkeeper Lucy Venables, who was in inspired form in her last game for Stoneham. Before the break she once again produced a good save to thwart Buckingham before rushing out to narrow the angle, forcing the same Saints striker to push a shot wide of the mark. The Purps stopper, however, was a bystander just before the whistle when Sky Bedwell thumped a 25-yard screamer off her bar
HT Southampton 3 AFC Stoneham 0. A tough one for Stoneham against a very, very good Saints side. Quick, composed, skilful, can pick a pass, and solid at the back. Stoneham haven't played at all badly but Saints haven't let them settle at all.
Stoneham began the second half a little brighter, forcing their first corner inn the 47th minute. The cross was cleared initially but fed back in to find Abbie Awdas at the near post. However, she couldn't keep the first time effort down. Probably Stoneham's best chance so far. A promising start for the Purps. Saints captain Kate Jeffreys gave them a reminder of their task on 50 minutes when she lashed a strike just over Venables' bar but Stoneham were at least getting into the Saints half. Larnie Bisson, who had been kept quiet so far, got a head onto a ball into the box, but it was a comfortable stop for Cornish.
Venables was back in action again, making another three decent stops, including tipping a Bedwell effort over the bar.
Just past the hour mark, Stoneham had done well to stem the Saints flow but, it seems that their resistance just poked the Southampton hornet's nest.
On 63 minutes Isabel Watts took possession on the left-hand edge of the penalty area, drove across the face of the box and buried a low drive past Venables. 4-0. Less than a minute later Lucy Venables was picking the ball out of the net again as Kaylee Buckingham absolutely hammered a drive past her Unstoppable. 5-0
Saints were now very much on top. Those two quick goals had, unsurprisingly, taken the wind out of the Stoneham sails and that was compounded just five minutes later when Kaylee Buckingham completed her hat-trick with a delightful clipped finish from the edge of the box, sending the ball curling past Venables. 6-0
Then just two minutes on, it was seven. Four goals in seven blistering minutes from the Saints. Anya Lucas this time, stabbing a loose ball home from close range after a corner was not cleared. 7-0
There was still twenty minutes on the clock but Stoneham must now have been wishing time to pass more quickly. Chasing shadows for an entire game is hard work. We've all been there. It's no fun.
Having said that, like Mia Flood chasing a lost cause in the first half, Sian Lodge, on a s a substitute, gave another demonstration of the Stoneham spirit when she produced a tremendous covering tackle. That was quickly followed by Lucy Venables, my PotM, pushing a Watts shot up onto the bar and over for a corner.
Saints were relentless though. The game had been in the bag for some time, but they were in no mood to take it easy. Some of their passing moves, especially inch-perfect through balls from the likes of Kate Jeffery and Kayla Nohasiarisoa, were a joy to behold.
With 14 minutes of normal time remaining, Buckingham showed us that she equally as powerful in the air as on the ground, rising to slam home a header from a left wing corner. 8-0
Substitute Sofia Mallon then let Stoneham off the hook when, finding the ball at her feet some 6 yards out in the centre of goal, she somehow put the shot wide. That disappointment wouldn't last long for Mallon though, and it didn't last long for her team either when Flood got a bit too tight on Kate Jeffery in the box, sending the Saints captain sprawling. Jeffery stepped up to take the kick herself, making no mistake. 9-0
There was still time for Venables to make yet another great save, preventing Watts from getting her hat-trick. Then Sofia Mallon made up for her previous miss by firing home a loose ball to make it 10-0.
That just left time for Stoneham's Rebecca Moody to attempt the last say by trying her luck from a free-kick. It skidded through to Cornish but didn't stretch the keeper.
FT Southampton 10 AFC Stoneham 0. Congratulations to Southampton. There's a lot of talent in their squad and it was hard to see a weakness on the night. Stoneham never really got into the game but that was testament to Southampton rather than Stoneham playing badly. The Saints never game Stoneham a second on the ball and managed to keep the pace going for the entire game.
A really hard game for Stoneham to end what has been a really good season, where they only just fell short of the top.
Best wishes to Stoneham goalkeeper Lucy Venables who is hanging up her gloves after the game.
Southampton: 1.Cornish, 2.Lucas, 5.Peachey, 7.Beard, 8.Jeffery(c), 9.Buckingham, 10.Bedwell, 11.Watts, 14.Nohasiarisoa, 17.Hotston, 18.Surin.Subs: 13.King, 16.Machado, 15.Henry, 12.Mallon
AFC Stoneham: 13.Venables, 2.Lewis, 3.Stevens, 4.Moody, 5.Ingram(c), 6.Flood, 7.Marshall, 8.Awdas, 9.Melton, 10.Delaney, 11.Bisson. Subs: 12.Curtis, 14.Webster, Freeman-Woods, Lodge
Venables was back in action again, making another three decent stops, including tipping a Bedwell effort over the bar.
Just past the hour mark, Stoneham had done well to stem the Saints flow but, it seems that their resistance just poked the Southampton hornet's nest.
On 63 minutes Isabel Watts took possession on the left-hand edge of the penalty area, drove across the face of the box and buried a low drive past Venables. 4-0. Less than a minute later Lucy Venables was picking the ball out of the net again as Kaylee Buckingham absolutely hammered a drive past her Unstoppable. 5-0
Saints were now very much on top. Those two quick goals had, unsurprisingly, taken the wind out of the Stoneham sails and that was compounded just five minutes later when Kaylee Buckingham completed her hat-trick with a delightful clipped finish from the edge of the box, sending the ball curling past Venables. 6-0
Then just two minutes on, it was seven. Four goals in seven blistering minutes from the Saints. Anya Lucas this time, stabbing a loose ball home from close range after a corner was not cleared. 7-0
There was still twenty minutes on the clock but Stoneham must now have been wishing time to pass more quickly. Chasing shadows for an entire game is hard work. We've all been there. It's no fun.
Having said that, like Mia Flood chasing a lost cause in the first half, Sian Lodge, on a s a substitute, gave another demonstration of the Stoneham spirit when she produced a tremendous covering tackle. That was quickly followed by Lucy Venables, my PotM, pushing a Watts shot up onto the bar and over for a corner.
Saints were relentless though. The game had been in the bag for some time, but they were in no mood to take it easy. Some of their passing moves, especially inch-perfect through balls from the likes of Kate Jeffery and Kayla Nohasiarisoa, were a joy to behold.
With 14 minutes of normal time remaining, Buckingham showed us that she equally as powerful in the air as on the ground, rising to slam home a header from a left wing corner. 8-0
Substitute Sofia Mallon then let Stoneham off the hook when, finding the ball at her feet some 6 yards out in the centre of goal, she somehow put the shot wide. That disappointment wouldn't last long for Mallon though, and it didn't last long for her team either when Flood got a bit too tight on Kate Jeffery in the box, sending the Saints captain sprawling. Jeffery stepped up to take the kick herself, making no mistake. 9-0
There was still time for Venables to make yet another great save, preventing Watts from getting her hat-trick. Then Sofia Mallon made up for her previous miss by firing home a loose ball to make it 10-0.
That just left time for Stoneham's Rebecca Moody to attempt the last say by trying her luck from a free-kick. It skidded through to Cornish but didn't stretch the keeper.
FT Southampton 10 AFC Stoneham 0. Congratulations to Southampton. There's a lot of talent in their squad and it was hard to see a weakness on the night. Stoneham never really got into the game but that was testament to Southampton rather than Stoneham playing badly. The Saints never game Stoneham a second on the ball and managed to keep the pace going for the entire game.
A really hard game for Stoneham to end what has been a really good season, where they only just fell short of the top.
Best wishes to Stoneham goalkeeper Lucy Venables who is hanging up her gloves after the game.
Southampton: 1.Cornish, 2.Lucas, 5.Peachey, 7.Beard, 8.Jeffery(c), 9.Buckingham, 10.Bedwell, 11.Watts, 14.Nohasiarisoa, 17.Hotston, 18.Surin.Subs: 13.King, 16.Machado, 15.Henry, 12.Mallon
AFC Stoneham: 13.Venables, 2.Lewis, 3.Stevens, 4.Moody, 5.Ingram(c), 6.Flood, 7.Marshall, 8.Awdas, 9.Melton, 10.Delaney, 11.Bisson. Subs: 12.Curtis, 14.Webster, Freeman-Woods, Lodge
Kate Jeffery from the spot
The Ground
AFC Totton's Snows Stadium or Testwood Park as it was known, is situated just to the North of Totton, on the edge of the New Forest. There's parking directly outisde the stadium and on some open ground next to the servcie road that leads in off the A36. There are a few turnstiles situated aroind the ground but for tonigt's game entrance was through the main gate, where members of the SDFA commitee wre taking entrance fees and handing out programmes. The clubhouse is just to the left as you enter and houses the bar and snack bar, as well as the toilets.
The stadium has one large main stand to the left as you enter. There is tiered standing sections all around the ground, as well as another smaller covered seating area opposite the main stand. This has a a media gantry sitting on top of the roof. The pitch looked to be in good condition espeically afetr a long, hard season. All in all, it's a very well maintained stadium, well worthy of AFC Totton's Step 3 status and probably capable of hosting Step 2.
The Programme
The SDFA produced a 16-page match programme for the game which was included in the entrance fee. The ouside cover pages are glossy and colour. Inside pages are black and white. Features included a message from the chairman of the SDFA, a history of both competing teams, pen pictures of the Stoneham squad and a page introducing the match officials.
Ground Number: 408
Att:
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: Included
AFC Totton's Snows Stadium or Testwood Park as it was known, is situated just to the North of Totton, on the edge of the New Forest. There's parking directly outisde the stadium and on some open ground next to the servcie road that leads in off the A36. There are a few turnstiles situated aroind the ground but for tonigt's game entrance was through the main gate, where members of the SDFA commitee wre taking entrance fees and handing out programmes. The clubhouse is just to the left as you enter and houses the bar and snack bar, as well as the toilets.
The stadium has one large main stand to the left as you enter. There is tiered standing sections all around the ground, as well as another smaller covered seating area opposite the main stand. This has a a media gantry sitting on top of the roof. The pitch looked to be in good condition espeically afetr a long, hard season. All in all, it's a very well maintained stadium, well worthy of AFC Totton's Step 3 status and probably capable of hosting Step 2.
The Programme
The SDFA produced a 16-page match programme for the game which was included in the entrance fee. The ouside cover pages are glossy and colour. Inside pages are black and white. Features included a message from the chairman of the SDFA, a history of both competing teams, pen pictures of the Stoneham squad and a page introducing the match officials.
Ground Number: 408
Att:
Entrance: £6.00
Programme: Included
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