In stark contrast to the last visit to the midlands this time the weather variable was rain, not heat, and lots of it too! That aside
it made for a good passing surface and one which the team took full advantage of. The game began with both sides setting up in a 4-4-2
formation and involved some early chances for both teams. Leicester played direct into Sunderland’s final third, but were unable to
move into any kind of second phase and relied upon a lot of long range shots which rarely troubled Katie Luther.
A well organised
back four consisting of Jane Riddell, Becky Salicki, Laura Venison and Nicola Devine provided a solid defensive unit and worked hard
to make if difficult for Leicester to make any in-roads on the Sunderland goal.
A foray into Leicester’s penalty area allowed
the ever alert Jordan Atkinson to open the scoring with a well taken goal after 14mins. Sunderland continued to press and after a
shot from Erin Middleton which was parried by the Leicester keeper, Charlotte Proud was on hand to make it 2-0. Leicester’s only real
chance in the first half resulted in a great finger tip save from Katie Luther, who managed to recover well and divert the ball past
the post.
HT... Leicester Res 0 - 2 Sunderland Res
The second half kicked off with a much improved tempo from Sunderland.
Hannah Caldwell was very busy in midfield and had a lot of possession and made great use of the ball to provide attacking options
for the team. A through ball in behind after 60 mins allowed Charlotte Proud in on goal, where she calmly finished to make it 3-0.
Leicester were unable to clear their lines after another Sunderland attack which allowed Erin Middleton to score with a well placed
finish to make it 4-0.
The movement of Sunderland’s forwards Erin Middleton & Laura Hockaday continued to trouble Leicester
and when another diagonal forward pass was made from the left flank into the penalty area, Proud was able to get in front of the defender
and despatched a great finish into the bottom left hand corner of the Leicester goal to make it 5-0 and claim her hat trick
A
ball in behind down the centre of the Sunderland defence allowed the Leicester forward to advance in on goal, where a shot into the
bottom left hand corner made it 5-1. Leicester got a lift from this goal but that was short lived as Jordan Atkinson responded with
another well taken goal after 77mins to make it 6-1 to Sunderland.
Abbey Joyce continued to impress and after regaining the ball
in midfield played a precision pass into the penalty area for Jordan Atkinson to run onto against an oncoming goal keeper. Her bravery
was rewarded as the ball was spilled and she calmly collected it and passed the ball into the net for Sunderland’s seventh of the
day and her well deserved hat-trick.
FT... Leicester Res 1 - 7 Sunderland Res
Reserve Team Manager, Gary Mitchinson commented “The
team put in a good all round performance today. I was particularly pleased with the way we stepped up the tempo of the game in the
second half, especially with our passing and support off the ball. Things are starting to take shape and with players recovering from
minor injuries, we are now nearing full squad availability.”
Sunderland: Luther, Riddell, Salicki, Venison, Devine, Atkinson,
Joyce, Caldwell, Proud, Middleton, Hockaday.
Scorers: Atkinson (14,77,88), Proud (25,60,70), Middleton (63),
Reporter: Roy
Chinnigstam
Building on from last weeks heroic performance against Man City, Sunderland Women’s Reserves travelled to Leicester to continue with the league programme. In what proved to be a convincing win, the Lady Black Cats put in another good all round team performance, with a well deserved 7-1 scoreline.