Sunderland sounded out a warning to their promotion rivals on Sunday when they handed out a 9-0 thrashing to a shell-shocked Curzon team who only a week ago were responsible for denying the Wearsiders their 100% record following a draw at the Hetton Centre.
Sunderland showed their intentions from the off as they pinned back Curzon to win a succession of early corners. They took the lead from Lucy Staniforth’s 3rd minute left wing flag kick which was headed back across goal by Natalie Gutteridge for Nicola Devine to head home at the far post. The visitors did not let up and further efforts from Sophie Williams, Kelly McDougall and Gutteridge were scrambled away. Sunderland were not to be denied however and they scored a second after 15 minutes. Following an exchange of passes down the right between Williams and McDougall the ball was whipped in for Gutteridge to head firmly into the far corner.
The Wearsiders sealed the game with a devastating goal burst inside a five minute spell. Williams got on the score sheet on 24 minutes when she met a Staniforth cross to head over the advancing keeper. Two minutes later it was four after great work on the right by Staniforth who crossed for Gutteridge to power a header into the goal. The game was effectively over on 29 minutes following a strong run from the back by Abby Holmes who released Williams to run through and score with a shot across the goal into the bottom corner. Further attempts by Vicky Greenwell and Williams were beaten away as Sunderland closed the half in complete control.
HT...Curzon Ashton Ladies 0 vs 5 Sunderland Ladies
The home side had their best spell of the game in the opening five minutes of the second half without really posing a serious threat. The Wearsiders stepped up a gear to score a sixth after 58 minutes. Lucy Bronze’s strong run through the middle released Williams to go clear and slot home her third of the game. Further efforts by Bronze, McDougall and Steph O’Brien were narrowly off target but Sunderland did score again in the 74th minute when a Greenwell cross was volleyed home by the classy Kelly McDougall. Curzon tried to rally but Steph Bannon and Gemma Wilson were always comfortable in the heart of the defence and keeper Helen Alderson was almost a spectator confined only to the occasional goal kick. Staniforth capped an impressive first start with a goal after 79 minutes when she ran on to a through ball to strike firmly into the far corner. The rout was complete after 82 minutes when Lynsey Fletcher broke down the right to feed Bronze who crossed for O’Brien to flick towards goal and Marsden could only help the ball into her own net. Curzon gained their only corner of the game in the 90th minute and as the cross came in the ball flicked off a defender to come back off the bar before being cleared. Sunderland had the final word as a Williams shot was collected by the keeper and the referee blew to end Curzon’s miserable afternoon.
FT... Curzon Ashton Ladies 0 vs 9 Sunderland Ladies
Boss Mick Mulhern was on “CLOUD NINE” after the game ... “It was a fantastic team performance and from back to front we did our jobs very well. Curzon couldn’t cope with the flow and tempo of our game. Today we laid down a marker for everyone else in this league to see and it’s up to us to maintain the high standards we have set for ourselves.”
Sunderland...Alderson, Holmes (Fletcher), Bannon, Wilson, Greenwell, Staniforth, Bronze, McDougall, Devine (O’Brien), Gutteridge (Danby), Williams....sub – Riddell.
