CONSISTENCY, so it is said, is often the hardest thing to achieve in the world of football.

It's what separates the great from the good, those who achieve their goals and those who fall just short.

For Southampton FC Women, a lack of consistency is what cost them a chance of winning the Barclays Women's Championship this season, seeing them finish fourth.

Sitting across from us back in the summer, boss Marieanne Spacey-Cale professed that her aim was to take Saints to the Women's Super League.

The club had just completed their maiden season in the Championship, following a rapid rise through the lower divisions. 

A sixth-place finish was a strong foundation from which they hoped to gain a seat at the top table of women's football.

Spacey-Cale's side had been in the thick of a tightly contested Championship promotion race all season.

With only the league winners being promoted to the WSL, Saints could ill afford to lose many games this season.

Unfortunately, they fell short in games nine times, more than any other team in the top six. They managed that despite winning 13 times, only one game less than promoted Crystal Palace.

"We have got a few big wins this season and then followed them up with a loss too many times," goalkeeper Kayla Rendell told the Daily Echo.

Daily Echo: Southampton FC Women's Kayla RendellSouthampton FC Women's Kayla Rendell (Image: Southampton FC)

Take Southampton's 4-3 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park for example. The thrilling victory saw them leapfrog the eventual champions.  

A last-gasp defeat to WSL side Arsenal in a record-breaking Conti Cup fixture followed before they dumped Portsmouth out of the FA Women's Cup.

Southampton should have been on top of the world heading into their final Championship fixture of 2023 at Durham.

Three points should have been a guarantee for a side with WSL ambitions.

Instead, Saints were forced to make a disappointing journey home after losing 1-0, Amy Andrews scoring a 95th-minute winner.

That pattern has plagued their season. An important 2-1 win at Birmingham was followed by a 1-0 defeat to rivals Sunderland.

A 5-0 thrashing of Reading came one week before a disappointing 2-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers.

"This year has been a learning curve," Atlanta Primus told the Daily Echo. "We all had the ambition of promotion.

Daily Echo: Southampton FC Women's Atlanta PrimusSouthampton FC Women's Atlanta Primus (Image: Southampton FC)

"We haven't achieved that, but we can take the experiences from this year and use them going forward."

Winning promotion may be even more difficult next season. Bristol City have been relegated from the WSL and will pose a stronger threat than Reading, who reverted to semi-professional status following their return to the Championship.

Portsmouth and Newcastle have won promotion out of the National League - the latter reportedly harbour ambitions of reaching the Women's Champions League.

If the Championship persists to have only one promotion slot, Saints could be involved in a four (or more) horse race to the WSL.

"This league will be even more competitive next season," Primus added. "As a player, that is exciting, this is what we want.

"It makes it more fun. It makes things more attractive. It's something that I'm blessed to be a part of."

If Saints are to go one step further next season and achieve promotion to the WSL, they will need to do so without Spacey-Cale on the touchline.

Daily Echo: Marieanne Spacey-Cale has stepped away from her coaching dutiesMarieanne Spacey-Cale has stepped away from her coaching duties (Image: Southampton FC)

The former England international has stepped away from her role as head coach to take up a more senior role at the club, overlooking the women's and girl's set-up as her entire focus.

The 58 year old will play a role in the recruitment process to find her replacement - a crucially important decision.

All of Southampton's success since reforming has come with Spacey-Cale at the helm. If this is to be a "pivotal moment" as she said, they need to get the right person in charge ahead of next season.

Whether promotion is the aim next season remains to be seen. For the reasons outlined above, Saints may decide to change their timeline. 

If promotion is still the target come the start of next year, Rendell's final line when speaking to the Echo last month is the best summary of what they need to do next season.

"We just need to be consistent throughout the campaign in order for us to get promoted next year."