SAINTS Women’s boss Marieanne Spacey-Cale insisted keeper Kayla Rendell was “stepping up again” in the full-time ranks and added: “This was always going to be a big season for her.”

The England youth international, who came through the system between Hampshire’s academy and Saints, has produced a string of fine performances at Championship level this campaign.

As well as saving a penalty on the opening day of the season against Charlton, Rendell pulled off some fine stops during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Bristol City.

Rendell previously revealed to the Daily Echo she was working on the counter at Screwfix as a day job before going professional with the St Mary’s side.

And Spacey-Cale insisted the shot-stopper has embraced the full-time structure implemented in the women’s side of the club over the summer.

Asked about the keeper by the Daily Echo, Spacey-Cale said: “We talk about trusting the process - she is a real example of that.

“She loves being part of the club.

“She has been here for a number of years and I think this season, working with Will our goalkeeper coach and bizarrely having more to do in games, is stepping up again.

“She has had a couple of seasons where it has been quite inconsistent the amount she does in games with the opposition previously.

“That’s no disrespect to them but this was always going to be a big season for her, of really, competitive week-in, week-out.

“She trains really well. The goalkeeping union we’ve got here works really well to push each other and she just wants to learn and get better.

“Everything she is doing now, she is really embracing the full-time model and just wants to take everything on board to help her get better.

“She’s a credit to herself and it’s showcasing in the performances – how far she is developing and growing.”

Saints added competition to their goalkeeping ranks for Rendell in the summer, bringing in former Leicester, Watford and Lewes stopper Sophie Harris.

The summer signing also has Women’s Super League experience, having turned out in the competition for Brighton.

“There is a real strong element in that goalkeeper union of being competitive but wanting to improve and help each other,” said Spacey-Cale, when asked whether Harris had made Rendell a better player.

“Every club will say, every coach will say, every goalkeeper coach will say it’s a hard position because only one can play.

“But you’ve got to get the right balance of a competitive and supportive element and the girls are working hard together.”

Saints are currently seventh in the Championship table, with five points from their opening four contests.

They are set to make the trip to bottom side Coventry United on Sunday (3pm).

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