3^rd Round... Leeds City Vixens 1 - 6 Sunderland WFC

The visitors took the lead with a Kelly McDougall penalty and after Sunderland goalkeeper Helen Alderson twice saved a Vixens penalty Sunderland increased their lead through a Sophie Williams lob. McDougall scored a second penalty for the Wearsiders before Gemma Wilson’s shot struck the post and Williams hit home the rebound. Sunderland killed the game with a fifth goal from Lucy Staniforth who curled the ball into the net from the edge of the box. In the second period the Vixens scored through Ruth Cockerill before Sophie Williams completed her hat trick and the scoring.

4^th Round... Sunderland WFC 4 - 1 Cardiff City Ladies

Sunderland eventually cruised into the 5^th round but they left it late to confirm their dominance in a game they bossed from start to finish. After much early pressure the breakthrough finally came as Demi Stokes crossed for Natalie Gutteridge to firmly head home. Sunderland extended their lead just before the break when Vicky Greenwell crossed for Sophie Williams to head into the net. Cardiff pulled a goal back after 75 minutes through Atkins before Sunderland finished with a flourish. A Kelly McDougall shot hit the bar and Natalie Gutteridge calmly slotted home the rebound. From a last minute corner the Wearsiders got their fourth when Nicola Devine scored from close in.

5^th Round... Sunderland WFC 5 - 0 Barnet Ladies  

Sunderland brushed aside Barnet Ladies with a 5-0 score line that could so easily have reached double figures. The home side began strongly and took the lead when Kelly McDougall placed her shot wide of Barnet keeper Cherie Rowlands and into the bottom corner. Despite constant Sunderland pressure Barnet held out until 53 minutes when a Sophie Williams cross was headed home by Natalie Gutteridge. Sunderland made the game safe soon after when Sophie Williams curled the ball into the net from an acute angle. The Wearsiders increased their lead on 80 minutes when Jordan Nobbs drove the ball into the net from the edge of the box. The fifth goal arrived late on when Steph O’Brien’s shot was saved by Rowlands and Nicola Devine followed up to slot home the rebound.

Quarter Final... Sunderland WFC 4 - 2 Bristol Academy Ladies (after extra time) 

Sunderland moved to another football dimension as they came from two goals down to beat Bristol Academy 4-2 in a thrilling encounter. Despite having the early play it was Bristol who stormed into the lead from two set pieces mid way through the first half. A Gwen Harries’ wind assisted corner went directly into the goal before the same player hit her second from a well placed free kick to give the visitors a two goal half time lead. Despite missing a penalty Sunderland’s pressure finally paid off when Demi Stokes powerfully drove into the net. They were level soon after when Jordan Nobbs released Sophie Williams who beat the keeper from the edge of the box to take the game into extra time. Sunderland continued to ask all the questions and got their reward after 112 minutes. Kelly McDougall fed Sophie Williams on the left and the striker turned on the edge of the box to chip the ball over keeper Simpkin and give the Wearsiders the lead their play deserved. Sunderland scored a fourth in injury time when a Sarah Danby shot was saved by Simpkin but Lucy Bronze headed in at the far post to send Sunderland into the Semi Final.