Sunderland extended their lead at the top of the Women’s Premier League Northern Division to six points with victory over a stubborn Rotherham Utd at a windy Academy of Light on Sunday. In a scrappy game the visitors were happy to sit back and defend and rarely posed any attacking threat.
The Wearsiders almost took the lead on 13 mins following good work down the left by Nicola Devine who crossed for Sophie Williams to head narrowly wide. The home side were not to be denied however and took the lead after 20 mins. Steph O’Brien won the ball in midfield and fed Devine on the left who crossed for Natalie Gutteridge to head into the path of Demi Stokes who cleverly lifted the ball over the advancing keeper Charlie Whitley and into the goal.
Sunderland continued to push forward with further efforts from Williams and Kelly McDougall just off target. Rotherham seemed content just to contain Sunderland and hope for an occasional break. A strong run down the left by Vicky Greenwell created a chance for Abby Holmes who saw her header go inches past the post.
HT... Sunderland Ladies 1 vs 0 Rotherham Utd Ladies
The second half continued as the first had ended with constant Sunderland pressure. Early efforts by Stokes, Holmes and Gutteridge were beaten away before Rotherham threatened for the first time after 65 mins. A free kick from 25 yards was driven in and Greenwell brilliantly cleared off the line before Helen Alderson smothered the danger. Moments later the visitors broke and Lynskey went clear on goal only to be denied by the advancing Alderson. At the other end Devine broke clear but was thwarted by a great double save from Whitley in the Rotherham goal. The Wearsiders kept pressing but could not find a way through the visiting defence and were reduced to shooting from long range. Devine’s shot went over before a McDougall thunder bolt came back off the bar after 70 mins. Sunderland did get the second however in the 77th min when a Steph Bannon free kick from the left was headed home by Gemma Wilson. Late goal attempts by Devine, Greenwell and Gutteridge were close as Sunderland claimed yet another victory in difficult conditions.
FT... Sunderland Ladies 2 vs 0 Rotherham Utd Ladies
Sunderland...Alderson, Holmes, Bannon, Wilson, Greenwell, Stokes, O’Brien (Unwin), McDougall, Devine, Gutteridge, Williams (Danby). Subs (not used)...Laws, Fletcher, Atkinson,
After the game Manager Mick Mulhern said ... “It wasn’t pretty to watch, but Rotherham made it very difficult for us. We were patient and stuck to the task, it’s the three points that are important and we got them.”
Also ... England progressed to the quarter final stages of the FIFA women's U17 World Cup in New Zealand with a 1 - 0 victory over Nigeria on Sunday with three Sunderland players involved. Lucy Bronze and Jordan Nobbs started the game while Lucy Staniforth came on as a second half substitute. They face the Korean Republic on Wednesday in their final group match.
The Reserves cup game, at Nottingham Forest Reserves, was postponed for the second time, due to the weather.
