SOUTHAMPTON Saints are in the semi-finals of the Women's FA Cup for the second time in three years thanks to a breaktaking 24-minute burst that took the wind out of holders Charlton Athletic at Testwood Park yesterday.

Manager Vanessa Raynbird has long bemoaned the lack of a killer touch as Saints continue to flirt with danger near the foot of the AXA FA Women's Premier League National Division.

But once Charlton had helped them on their way with a early own goal, Saints looked anything but relegation candidates. They powered to three-up against the stunned visitors who, under their former guise of Croydon, were league/cup double winners last season.

"We play like that most weeks without ever seeming to get the breaks," said Raynbird. "But we're a committed side and, on occasions, teams like us will get their just rewards. Thankfully today was one of them!"

Spearheaded by the powerful front-running of Una Nwajei, Saints showed no signs of nerves against their distinguished guests and were gifted the opener with just four minutes gone.

Shelly Cox - one of six home-grown youngsters in the Southampton starting line-up - attempted to search out Nwajei with a pass from the left. Under-pressure Charlton defender Carole Osborne intercepted and, in trying to get the ball back to England keeper Pauline Cope, succeeded only in finding her own net.

Seven minutes later the athletic Nwajei bravely chased a high defensive clearance and was clattered by Cope as she headed wide from just outside the box. The 'keeper was booked and while Nwajei was down having treatment, Saints' set-piece expert Gemma Ritchie sized up the free kick.

Such is the 17-year-old England international's sky-high confidence, that she whispered to the nearby physio: "Watch this, it's going in." Her calculations worked a treat as she swopped power for precision to chip a delicate shot into the top right-hand corner.

It was a start Saints could only have dreamed of - but things just got better. As the tie ticked into its 24th minute, England under-16 star Cox weaved her magic on the left and crossed an inch-perfect ball to beyond the far post where 17-year-old Charlotte Brown swept home her second senior goal in two games.

Charlton dominated from that point onwards but somehow never looked destined to get back into the tie. Justine Lorton trimmed Saints' advantage with a 34th-minute cracker from the edge of the box, but Osborne had already hit the bar with a header and the woodwork saved Saints again in the 61st-minute when Tara Proctor volleyed against the post.

Goalkeeper Debbie Beer played her part - most memorably turning Emily Arnold's stinging drive around the post. And there were defensive heroics right throughout the side as Saints somehow survived a backs-to-the-wall second half.

"Lynn Armstrong and Sharon Hayes were tremendous back there. In fact everyone worked hard when the pressure was on," said Raynbird.

Skipper Armstrong made a stoppage-time goalline clearance after Beer had taken the sting out Charlton substitute Emma Whitter's shot. Seconds later Emma Moore pulled one back for the South-East Londoners, but it was the last kick of the game.

Saints, beaten finalists against Arsenal in 1998/99, were today awaiting news of their semi-final opponents.

* FOR FULL LOCAL FOOTBALL COVERAGE SEE TODAY'S DAILY ECHO FOR THE FREE SPORT ON MONDAY SUPPLEMENT