Five minutes later it was 2 – 0 as Vicky Greenwell brought the ball forward before Williams and Stokes exchanged passes and the ball was whipped over for Natalie Gutteridge to hammer a powerful shot into the roof of the net. The home side had a scare in the 14th minute when the defence stood claiming offside and Hannah Bailey ran through to hit a shot which struck the outside of the post. Good work from Jordan Nobbs saw Staniforth shoot narrowly wide before Sunderland increased their lead after 31 minutes from the penalty spot. Williams outpaced the visiting defence and as she shaped to shoot she was brought down in the box and Kelly McDougall confidently dispatched the spot kick. Stokes and Williams went close as the home side finished the half well on top.

HT...Sunderland Ladies  3 vs 0  Preston North End Ladies

Preston came out in the second half with more determination and a great tackle from Gemma Wilson broke up an early visiting attack before she cleared with a long diagonal ball to set Gutteridge free but her shot was cleared. Preston came close after 50 minutes when Watson broke through but her shot was saved comfortably by Helen Alderson. Fine play between Nobbs and Lucy Bronze  set up Sarah Danby but her effort was blocked by Jones. The visitors gained 2 quick corners and as the ball swung in Alderson had to claw the ball from under the bar before Steph Bannon completed the clearance. Danby was alert as she robbed a defender to streak clear on goal  and  as she lined up to shoot she was pulled down in the area and McDougall scored her second spot kick in the 78th minute. Good work again from Danby set up McDougall to strike just wide before Sunderland scored a fifth on 83 minutes. Staniforth and Nobbs linked well on the right to cross for Nicola Devine to volley home at the far post.

FT...Sunderland Ladies  5 vs 0  Preston North End Ladies

Sunderland... Alderson, Bronze, Wilson, Bannon, Greenwell, Stokes(Devine), Nobbs(O’Brien), McDougall, Staniforth, Gutteridge, Williams(Danby).  Subs not used....Laws, Holmes, Halliday, Unwin.

Manager Mick Mulhern spoke after the game...  ”We started brightly and got the job done by half time and that pleased me. After 2 weeks off it’s understandable that we were a little rusty, particularly in possession. But it’s another comprehensive win and another 3 points and that’s the most important thing.”

Sunderland face Chelsea next Sunday in the Women’s FA Cup Semi Final. The game is at The Stadium of Light 2pm.