Ward signs-off as Birmingham City boss with narrow Women’s FA Cup win over Southampton

Carla Ward signed-off as Birmingham City head coach as her side recorded a 3-2 win over fourth tier side Southampton to reach the quarter-finals of the Vitality FA Women’s Cup this afternoon.

Goals from Mollie Green, Emily Murphy and Sarah Mayling gave the hosts a 3-0 lead after 65 minutes before two late consolation goals for Southampton from Caitlin Morris and Ella Pusey threatened to cause an upset at the SportNation.bet Stadium.

Ward announced on Friday morning that she would be leaving her role at the club having led her side to Barclays FA Women’s Super League safety in her first season as head coach.

Having seen off Coventry United in the previous round, the Blues were hoping to also defeat Southampton, a side who had beaten second tier side Lewes in the fourth round to earn themselves a trip to Solihull.

Ahead of kick off, Ward made two changes to her starting XI from the side that suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Sophie Whitehouse started in goal, replacing Hannah Hampton, whilst captain Christie Murray also returned to start in midfield.

In an opening half hour which offered very little from either side going forward, the best chance fell to the hosts. Claudia Walker did brilliantly to find space in The Saints penalty area to turn and cross low but the ball ran across the face of goal behind the onrushing Jamie-Lee Napier.

At the other end, Southampton had two brilliant chances themselves to find a goal against the run of play. Pusey outjumped Georgia Brougham to force Whitehouse into a smart save before an unmarked Shelly Provan headed inches wide from a corner.

The Blues did take the lead though after 37 minutes when Green prodded home beyond goalkeeper Kayla Rendell after the away side had failed to clear Rebecca Holloway’s in-swinging corner.

Substitute Murphy had a brilliant opportunity to double Birmingham City’s lead after 52 minutes when she diverted her header goal-bound after an inviting cross in by Mayling but the ball was kept out by the crossbar before The Saints cleared from danger.

Murphy made sure she extended her side’s lead though minutes later when she headed home beyond Rendell following another brilliant delivery by Mayling from the right.

It got better for the home side after 65 minutes when Mayling showed precision and placement to send a free-kick up and over the Southampton wall into the top-left corner, leaving Rendell rooted to her goal-line.

The away side found themselves a consolation goal seven minutes from time through defender Morris, as she outjumped Harriet Scott at the far post to head past substitute goalkeeper Hampton.

It got better for Southampton two minutes later when Pusey netted her side’s second goal. Following a brilliant counter attack from the back, the ball fell to Pusey who went for goal and her shot rolled into the back of the net after Hampton couldn’t hold onto the striker’s effort.

Despite the two late consolation goals, Birmingham City were able to hang on for the win as they edged into the quarter-finals.