After their Cup Final heroics Sunderland took a step closer to the Northern Division Title and their main aim of promotion to the National League. They blasted Leicester City 4-1 although the match was a much closer contest than the scoreline suggests.
Minutes later Kelly McDougall played in Devine whose shot was tipped around the post by Sophie Le Gros. The Wearsiders increased their lead after 15 minutes when Lucy Staniforth won the ball in midfield and released McDougall to chip over Le Gros and into the net from 20 yards. Leicester broke clear in the 16th minute through Hannah Smith but a great challenge by Sophie Halliday averted the danger. Fine play between Lucy Bronze and Demi Stokes down the right saw a Natalie Gutteridge effort gathered by Le Gros and then Nobbs’ shot went narrowly over following a good ball from McDougall. The game was end to end as Leicester’s Smith headed wide from close in. Then a dangerous free kick from Chloe Jones was well collected by Helen Alderson. A Gutteridge flick was driven in by Stokes but Le Gros turned the ball behind and from the resulting corner Sunderland grabbed a 3rd goal. Stokes’ flag kick was headed goal ward by Greenwell and only partially blocked for Greenwell herself to react first and scramble the ball home in the 39th minute. Another dangerous free kick from Jones was saved by Alderson before the visitors finished the half with a flurry following close efforts by Nobbs and Bronze. Leicester City 0 vs. 3 Sunderland
As the second half began Leicester broke quickly through Smith but she was denied
by a great tackle from Bronze. The home side reduced the deficit after 54 minutes when Sunderland could not clear the ball and Remi
Allen struck home through a crowd of players. As Leicester stepped up the pressure Sunderland were dealt a blow in the 66th minute.
As keeper Helen Alderson came out to clear the danger from a home attack she went down under a heavy challenge and had to be carried
from the field with a knee injury. Rachael Laws took over in goal and was immediately called into action as she collected a free kick
from Jones. Halliday went clear down the left to cross for McDougall’s header to go narrowly wide before Gutteridge headed over from
a Nobbs free kick. Laws saved well from Smith then moments later Nicole Dale went clear on goal only to pull her shot wide under pressure
from Laws. From a late Leicester corner Bronze ran the length of the field but her shot went wide of the post before the Wearsiders
finally made the game safe in injury time. Staniforth and McDougall played the ball forward and when it was only partially cleared
Bronze followed up to drive firmly into the bottom corner to send the travelling fans delirious as the final whistle blew soon after.
Leicester City 1 vs 4 Sunderland
Sunderland... Alderson (Laws), Bronze, Bannon, Greenwell, Halliday,
Stokes, Nobbs, McDougall, Staniforth, Devine (Danby), Gutteridge (Atkinson). Sub (not used)... Holmes
Manager Mick Mulhern said after
the game...”This was always going to be a tough game against a very good Leicester side. Our first half performance probably won us
the game. We were sharp and dominated it. Leicester were wounded and came out fighting after the break as I knew they would. The second
half was hard fought and showed that we can scrap for a result when we have to. We were severely tested both physically and psychologically
as we went into the game without our leading scorer and an experienced central defender. We conceded an early second half goal and
then lost our first choice keeper to a knee injury with 30 minutes to go. But we never flickered and showed tremendous mental strength.
I have a very good squad and the girls that came into the side proved that today.”
Sunderland need to win their final game of the season at Preston north End Ladies next Sunday to leapfrog Lincoln into top spot and secure promotion to the Women’s National Premier League.
