SOUTHAMPTON Saints' boss Sue Lopez is hoping a dose of experience will inject some much-needed life into their season.

Going into tomorrow's home match with AFC Wimbledon (Winchester City FC, 12 noon),

Saints' young pups are still without a point in the FA Women's Premier League Southern Division, and badly need some older heads to steer them in the right direction.

To that end, Lopez has signed 32-year-old Dee Baker Boaitey and 28-year-old Velaneek Ramsey - both formerly of Reading and Barnet and ex-teammates of Saints' Jamaican international Ann Marie Collins, who signed at the beginning of the season.

In addition they have welcomed Brockenhurst College student Charlotte Young back to the ranks after a summer honing her skills overseas.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who broke into Southampton's first team last season, played for Boston Tornadoes in the United States.

Lopez said: "Charlotte will bring some muchneeded strength and athleticism to the squad and having Ann Marie here makes us the envy of a few other teams.

"All four of these players will provide us with the experience currently missing in the squad.

"If they can gel quickly with the young talent we already have, we can be a force like we were last season before losing key players during the summer."

The other huge bonus for Saints is the return of Isle of Wight midfielder Gemma Woodford from Fulham.

After months struggling with ligament damage, she looked back to her best in the unlucky 1-0 home defeat by Crystal Palace two weeks ago.

"What pleased me most about Gemma that day, apart from her wonderful dead-ball kicks, was her maturity when she slotted back into defence after we had two players sent off," said Lopez. "She not only defended well, but she delivered dangerous balls into Palace's half. Gemma also brings us the added physical strength of an 18-year-old, which we very much need when we play some of our tougher opponents in this league."

On last season's form, tomorrow's game would have been a heavyweight clash between two of the top sides in the league.

But both have fallen on hard times since the Dons pushed Saints all the way to runners-up spot behind Bristol City in 2003/4.

While Southampton's account remains empty, Wimbledon are only a point better off down in the Southern Division basement.

SAINTS reserves were also without a fixture last Sunday. Their scheduled match was postponed because Watford couldn't raise a team owing to illness and holidays.

Tomorrow they entertain Millwall (Stoneham Park, 2pm) looking to re-create some of the excitement of their opening-day trip to Chelsea, which ended in a thrilling 5-5 draw.

Fielding one of their youngest ever sides, Saints fell behind early when Brook Chaplin put through her own goal, but they equalised on eight minutes through Kim Stenning.

Vicky Vickery latched on to Chaplin's free kick to make it 2-1, but Chelsea hit back twice to lead at the break. It took Southampton's young guns just four second-half minutes to level again through Stenning only for Londoners to poke their noses back in front 4-3.

Back came Saints through Vickery, but again Chelsea took the lead before Stenning completed her hat-trick in injury time following good work from Chaplin and Sarah Williamson. SOUTHAMPTON Saints' FAWPL Southern Division derby against Portsmouth Ladies has been rescheduled for

Wednesday, October 20 (7pm) at Winchester City FC.

DANIELLE Ackerman was the star performer for Southampton FC's Centre of Excellence girls at the FA Girls' C of E Festival at Fairlop.

She scooped the player- of-the-day award in the under-14 section, which brought two wins for Saints against Watford and Leyton and defeats by Fulham and Reading.