After their heroic performance in disposing of Chelsea in the FA Cup Semi Final last week, Sunderland Ladies were brought down to earth as they tasted defeat for the first time since December last year.

It was always going to be a hard game as City were determined to ruin the party atmosphere as they ran out 1-0 victors in a closely contested game. The visitors had most of the possession, plenty of chances and a corner count of 11-3 in their favour but they could not force the breakthrough.

An early Kelly McDougall effort went narrowly wide before Vicky Greenwell split the home defence to send Jordan Nobbs through but her shot was well saved by Andrea Worrell.  Worrell again denied Sunderland as a Sophie Williams effort was gathered at the second attempt.  

As the visitors pressed forward Nobbs played in Natalie Gutteridge to set up Williams but a brilliant tackle from Savage averted the danger. Sunderland almost grabbed the lead after 24 mins when Williams crossed from the left and Lucy Staniforth turned the ball back for Gutteridge’s strike to be cleared off the line by Savage. Lucy Bronze and Staniforth combined down the right and McDougall’s drive went wide.  On the stroke of the interval Demi Stokes cleverly beat two defenders on the left wing to cross for a Williams strike which was again saved by Worrell.

HT... Manchester City Ladies  0  vs  0  Sunderland Ladies

On the resumption a Stokes cross evaded both Williams and Gutteridge before Steph Bannon broke up a home attack to set Williams free but again Worrell saved well. Sunderland were stunned after 50 mins when City took the lead from their first meaningful attack. Sarah Penney broke down the right and her cross wrong footed the entire defence to leave Ellena Turner to drive into the roof of the net from close in. The visitors were visibly shaken and City could have extended their lead as Penney and Turner went close. A Williams snapshot struck the outside of the post following good work by Staniforth and then Worrell pulled off a brilliant finger tip save from a McDougall strike. A Staniforth free kick after 73 mins was headed just wide by Bannon as Sunderland grew more frustrated. Following a rare home corner Stokes had to be alert as she cleared off the line before a Bronze effort  was just over in what was the last action of the game.

FT... Manchester City Ladies  1  vs  0  Sunderland Ladies

Sunderland...Alderson, Bronze, Bannon, Wilson, Greenwell, Stokes, McDougall, Nobbs, Staniforth, Gutteridge (Danby), Williams.

Subs (not used)...Laws, O’Brien, Devine, Halliday, Holmes.

Manager Mick Mulhern was philosophical after the game... ”We probably didn’t play as well as we have been of late. But to be honest we created more than City and had more than enough chances to win the game. Today was not our day.”