REPORT | Southampton Women's 0 Southampton FC 6

It was a Wednesday night to forget as Southampton Women's FC lost 6-0 at home to local rivals Southampton FC Women in the FA Women's National League Division One South West.

Ella Pusey bagged a hat-trick in the pouring rain while Georgie Freeland got a brace and former Southampton Women's player Kirsty Whitton made it six.

Captain Lauren Cheshire went off with a broken leg in the first-half and the team finished the game with 10 players when Lucy Mear had to retire through injury.

The night was set for an entertaining game as Arlebury Park hosted it's first National League match under the New Alresford lights and lining up Aaron Smith made two changes as Emily Paines and Jodie Burchell got their first starts of the season.

It was a bright start for the hosts putting Saints on the back foot from the off however, the tides changed as Southampton failed to make the positive start count.

In the 13th minute, Saints got the breakthrough when a quick Alisha Ware found the gap to send Freeland through towards goal and slot neatly past Paines.

Within two minutes the visitors almost had a second however, Paines reacted superbly to block a quick Pusey shot before parrying away Ware's rebounded close-range effort.

Pressure kept coming from Saints who in the 22nd minute made it two-nil with Pusey side footing home a perfect square ball into the box.

Down the other end, Kayla Rendell remained calm and effectively dealt with any through ball situations but was untested by the Southampton forward line.

Nine minutes from the break the third goal came through Kelly Snook out wide her deep cross to the back post finding her fellow winger Freeland who got her second of the evening.

On the stroke of half-time Saints more or less put the game to bed netting a fourth with a neat corner routine.

A low ball from the corner found a free Pusey who controlled before tucking it away in the bottom corner.

The evening got worse for Southampton when an innocuous block by Cheshire saw the captain require lengthy treatment on her leg, the referee called half-time while the fullback was stretchered off to polite applause by the soaked crowd.

Half-time: Southampton Women's 0 Southampton FC 4

Smith made a double change at the break, Sian Wylie replacing the injured skipper and Chloe Tucker introduced to replace debutant Burchell.

Needing a quick goal the hosts looked to summer signing Meg Vella however, her usually good long range efforts didn't find it's intended target.

Substitute Wylie proved to be a bright spark racing around and getting into the Saints players to try and give her team a chance of a comeback.

It was short lived though when the visitors made it five on the hour mark, Whitton, formerly of Southampton Women's, finished off a good move for Saints inside the box.

Southampton kept going Wylie and Holden getting high but just struggling to get on the end of any attacking balls in the Saints final third.

In the 70th minute, Mear went down as her leg appeared to be causing her trouble, despite treatment the defender was unable to continue meaning Southampton had to complete the game with 10 players.

Fitness was really starting to show as the game wore on and the rain had yet to let up throughout the entire game and with two minutes of normal time remaining the sixth and final goal was scored.

Pusey completed her hat-trick, twisting and turning in the area to finish past Paines and keeping the Saints at the top of the table.

The final whistle came with Southampton still going in search of their first point and goal of the season.

Full-time: Southampton Women's 0 Southampton FC 6

There's no time to rest for Southampton as they travel to Exeter City on Sunday, October 4th in their third game of the season.

Next at home Southampton host Poole Town on Sunday, October 11th at Arlebury Park. Tickets are now on sale for the match, buy yours now via https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/southampton-womens-fc.