Two domestic trophies, a 100 per cent league record and a promotion to the FA Women’s National League ensured there was plenty to celebrate for Southampton FC Women on Sunday afternoon.
None more so than for Saints pair Ella Pusey and Ella Morris; the former’s brilliant solo goal all but secured the League Cup title against Oxford City Ladies, the latter delivering a woman-of-the-match performance from right-back.
Two superb individual performances on the day, but both were quick to point to the remarkable work ethic of the entire squad on the back of a stunning season.
“Amazing experience and we’ve really grown as a team, I can’t score goals without the girls behind me,” Pusey said.
“Oxford made it hard for us, particularly in the first half and they deserved credit for that. We came out in the second half and just showed our class.
“We didn’t play the way we should have done to begin with but we changed it around and played with our usual intensity after the break and our quality shone through.”
For Morris, whose drive to the line and low cross set up Phoebe Williams for the game’s decisive opening goal, this has the feeling of being the beginning of something special.
“The goal is WSL and if we keep working and improving the way we have this season then I’m sure we’ll get there sooner rather than later.
“It feels great personally but it has been a team effort; we’ve achieved this because of every single player in the squad. It’s a credit to the development we’ve shown as a team the way we came out in the second half and took control of the game.”