Southampton pay penalty in Barnes loss

Southampton ladies have clinched a third-place South Women’s League Division 3B promotion spot, even though they lost their penultimate match of the season to lowly Barnes.
Fareham’s 4-0 defeat at champions designate Wanderers means Southampton definitely finish third and will contest the sole remaining promotion spot with as yet undecided Division 3A opponents on April 13.
Close early on through Lauren Carter, Southampton took a first half lead through Zoe Stride, who latched on to a perfectly weighted pass from Liv O’Mahony.
But a subsequent penalty stroke miss, following a foul on Sue Merry, was to cost Southampton dear as Barnes equalised through Izabel Millar before half-time.
Carter smashed a shot corner against the Barnes upright before the Thames-side visitors grabbed their winner from a controversial penalty stroke by Madi Clark, awarded against Emma White.
Frustrated, Southampton missed a host of chances before the final whistle.
Fareham’s prospects of finishing fourth will depend entirely on the outcome of Saturday’s final match of the season against Lewes, who also have 36 points.