SOUTHAMPTON Saints sent a depleted team to Exeter City for their FA Women’s Premier South West Division game – and were beaten 3-0.

Biggest miss was always likely to be talisman and skipper Krystal Whyte, but with midfielders Perkins and Davis unable to travel the mountain to climb was always going to be high.

Sitting second in the South West Division, Exeter smelt blood from the outset.

After just two minutes midfielder Vicky Barter opened the scoring before prolific Helen Kukor doubled the advantage on 20 minutes.

Southampton needed to dig in if they were to prevent a hammering and stem the flow of goals, and they looked a different side in the second half.

Without Whyte up front, the burden for goals bore heavy on Jess Lewry.

Despite her best efforts, none troubled the scorer.

Exeter made a change by bringing Waddon on for Currie.

Worse was to come for the Reds as Amelia Southgate got caught accidentally from a corner by a flaying elbow and with suspected concussion was swapped with 16-year old debutant Buckingham.

To compound matters, Lewry twisted an ankle and was forced off, with Saints down to ten players having only named one sub.

Broken wrist In addition, the tough Aimee Burridge played most of the second period with a broken wrist!

The game was far from over and a guilt edged chance fell to Becki Bath to make the game a little more interesting, but she shot straight at the keeper.

Kukor completed the scoring with her 11th goal of the season.

Southampton Saints Reserves 2 QPR Reserves 0

Saints claimed their first league win of the season, and their first clean sheet as well.

They were forced to defend well early on, with centre halves Parkinson and Senter making some great tackles and Isobel Glover anticipating where the ball was going to end up.

Momentum gradually shifted towards Southampton, and top scorer Elle Pearce went close just before half-time against the fourth-placed Rangers.

It only took two minutes after the restart for Kelly Holmes to net her first goal of the season.

Assisted by Tiff Eley, looking comfortable in the number 10 role, Holmes did well to react to the cross coming from the left wing.

Both Parkinson and Curtis hacked away clearances from corners, and Peake was called upon in goal.

More pace was needed in attack, so Megan Chapman came on to replace Belinda Villa Rodriguez, who had put in a great shift in the thankless holding role alongside captain Kate Early.

This change moved Eley back into a defensive position mid, Olivia Jones playing in the hole, with Chapman as the out and out striker. Immediately the game became more expansive.

The second goal came when the visiting keeper was penalised for handling the ball outside her penalty area, and Elle Pearce stepped up to fire a low free kick into the corner with 15 minutes remaining.

Megan Chapman, Kate Early, Livvy Jones, Siena White, Tiff Eley, Kelly Holmes all had chances to add to the score line.

Bailey Kelly became the third U16 to make her debut in women’s football, coming on at the end for Nikki Curtis, getting stuck in and looking very keen. Manager Will Wilson said: “The future is bright. It feels great to get this first league win, but we shall not celebrate for too long.

"This should have happened a lot sooner.

"We want goals, clean sheets, and points to become normal.”

In the Hampshire Women’s League Division One there was a major upset when Rushmoor turned over second placed AFC Boscombe.

Up to this point in the season they looked like real title contenders in a straight fight with Warsash Wasps.

BTC lost to a revitalised Alton and Winchester Flyers were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw, meaning Wasps have been afforded breathing space without kicking a ball.

Division Two saw Southampton Women Reserves continue their revival with a 4-2 win at Bursledon.

Chamberlayne didn’t field a side so a home walkover was awarded to bottom placed QK Southampton in the Southampton FA Cup.

Division 3 was a bad day for the two Winchester outfits.

Flyers A side lost 4-2 to Sholing and Winchester City were thumped 7-0 by AFC Bournemouth Reserves.

The second tier of the Southern Women’s Region League saw leaders Chesham regain their composure and sneak a win over in-form Team Solent.