The visitors again broke swiftly down the right to extend their lead after 24 minutes. The ball was moved inside for Nicky McLeod to streak clear and hit the ball across goal and into the far corner. For all their possession Sunderland were finding it hard to break down a resolute Curzon defence as Devine, Danby and Gutteridge had efforts beaten away. The home side did get their reward however on 30 minutes as a Stokes corner was volleyed home by Lucy Bronze. The Wearsiders stormed forward in search of the equaliser and they drew level three minutes before the interval. Abby Holmes broke forward to feed McDougall who released Sarah Danby to go clear on goal and calmly round the keeper to score.
HT.... Sunderland Ladies 2 vs. 2 Curzon Ashton Ladies
The second half
continued with Sunderland enjoying all the possession but unable to break down a highly organised and well drilled Curzon side who
were happy to sit back and exploit any Sunderland mistakes. Lucy Staniforth came on for her debut and created problems down the right
as the home side pushed forward. Another Stokes corner was struck goalward by Gutteridge but was scrambled off the line before a Sophie
Williams volley just cleared the bar. An 86th Steph Bannon free kick was headed narrowly wide by Gutteridge before the home side thought
they had grabbed a winner in injury time. The ball was launched into the box and the keeper dropped the ball which ended up in the
goal but the referee mysteriously disallowed the effort on the advice of his assistant. Sunderland had to settle for a point which
takes them level on points at the top but they have a game in hand over leaders Lincoln.
FT... Sunderland Ladies 2 vs. 2 Curzon Ashton Ladies Manager Mick Mulhern was frustrated at the end saying, “As a team we did not defend as well as we can
and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb by conceding two early goals. Credit must be given for the way we fought back, but it’s
the old cliché, if you don’t take your chances you don’t win games.”
Sunderland... Alderson, Holmes, Bannon, Wilson, Greenwell,Stokes
(O’Brien), Bronze, McDougall, Devine (Staniforth), Gutteridge, Danby (Williams).....Subs (not used) – Clark, Bradley
Sunderland Ladies missed out on the opportunity to go clear at the top of the Women’s Premier League Northern Division on Sunday. The Wearsiders drew 2–2, but it could have been so much worse against a well organised Curzon Ashton side, who defended in numbers and broke quickly on the counter attack and raced into an early two goal lead.
Sunderland started brightly and had the bulk of the possession in the opening minutes but were rocked in the 6th minute. Curzon broke quickly from defence and won a corner on the right. The ball was only partially cleared for Kelly Dean, with no one closing her down, to pick her spot comfortably and give the visitors the lead. Demi Stokes and Kelly McDougall came close for Sunderland who appeared to be in control but Curzon defended well and were proving very dangerous on the break. Keeper Helen Alderson had to be alert to turn a Dean snapshot around the post before Natalie Gutteridge stretched to meet a Stokes cross but the ball was scrambled clear.
