It brought its attacking flair and later defensive spirit to claim a 5-4 win over Capital at Sunnyvale Park yesterday.
The side dominated for large stretches, although three penalties — two handballs — allowed Capital’s Sarah Gregorious to keep the visitors in touch.
However, Southern ensured it always remained in front. It looked to push the ball forward and the likes of Mikayla Gray, Renee Bacon and Lara Wall were constant threats.
Ironically it was a handball penalty that gave Southern the initial lead — Shontelle Smith burying it in the bottom right corner after eight minutes.
Gregorious rattled the crossbar minutes later, but Southern maintained its lead and continued attacking.
While its frontline was guilty of getting offside a few too many times, it was able to add a second 20 minutes in.
Bacon found herself in the corner, but crossed in and cleared Capital keeper Natasha Ingram for Chelsea Whittaker to head in a superb goal.
At that point Capital began to work its way back into the game and rattled the crossbar again.
Shortly after, Gregorious pulled one back from her first penalty in the 33rd minute.
Southern restored the two-goal deficit straight after halftime. Gray broke up the right, before laying off to Bacon to make it 3-1.
Gregorious added her second minutes later, Wall penalised for a handball in what looked a harsh decision.
However, Southern hit back almost straight away, Bacon chipping Ingram from close to halfway to score her second in sensational style.
She nearly made had another a minute later, but a great save from Southern keeper Jordan Woodward kept it at 4-3.
Keeping with the trend, Southern scored next.
Wall timed an intercept well and dribbled 20m before passing ahead to Gray, who beat a defender then with her left foot in the top-right corner.
However, another penalty followed — and another harsh handball — for Gregorious to score her fourth.
From there Capital launched an assault on the Southern goal, but the defence dug in.
That ended in Woodward pulling off another brilliant save in the dying seconds to secure the win.
Southern coach Ignacio Sande was thrilled and proud of the way the side dug in late.
The win was the side’s fifth of its 12-game season and while the results had not always been what he wanted, he was happy with the campaign.
Southern had been competitive in every game and had shown last season’s top result had not been a one-off effort.
The win ensured Southern had beaten every team in the league over the past two seasons.
National women’s league
The scores
Southern United 5
Shontelle Smith 8’, Chelsea Whittaker 20’, Renee Bacon 47’ 56’, Mikayla Gray 75’.
Capital 4
Sarah Gregorious 33’ 52’ 58’ 79’.
Halftime: 2-1 Southern
