Sunderland fielded a side decimated by injury, suspension and absence against a formidable Everton side containing half of the current
England team. Despite the defeat there were positives to taken in the performance of several youngsters which should bode well for
the future of the football club.
Everton poured forward from the off and gained several early corners as the home side struggled to clear their lines. After one effort came back off the bar Everton took the lead in the 4th minute. A corner came in from the right and former Sunderland star Jill Scott out jumped the defence to power home a header. The visitors continued to ask all the questions as a Jody Handley effort went wide and Scott was thwarted by a great tackle from Gemma Wilson. Everton did extend their lead however after 22 minutes when Fara Williams won the ball in midfield and strode on to hit a terrific shot from
30 yards which rifled into the top corner with Rachael Laws stranded. Sunderland began to come into the game now and a great overlap
by debutant Ellie Christon created their first opportunity but England keeper Rachael Brown collected comfortably. Then a Lucy Staniforth
free kick was well held by Brown with Natalie Gutteridge closing in. Staniforth exchanged passes with Sarah Danby before releasing
Jordan Atkinson who tested Brown from 20 yards. Then a long clearance from Brown caught the home defence flat footed as Williams went
clear but as she lobbed the advancing Laws the ball dropped just wide of the goal.
Sunderland Ladies 0 vs 2 Everton Ladies
Sunderland began the second half positively as Gutteridge sent Kelly McDougall clear but again Brown Stifled the danger. Jordan Nobbs and Demi Stokes linked well down the left and as Brown cleared it struck Stokes but went wide of the goal. Despite all their possession it was the visitors who grabbed their 3rd goal after 58 minutes. Sunderland lost the ball in midfield and as it was played through it was Gwen Harries who beat Laws to the ball and slid home from the edge of the box. Handley’s effort was turned behind by Laws and from the corner Atkinson cleared off the line from Scott’s header. At the other end McDougall’s inswinging corner was clawed from under the bar by Brown. Moments later Brown punched away a Gutteridge header.
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It was end to end play as Natasha Dowie went clear to go round Laws but Stokes blocked the danger. Everton were not to be denied though and completed the scoring in the 84th minute. Williams ran onto a defence splitting through ball and calmly rounded Laws to score from inside the box.
Sunderland Ladies 0 vs 4 Everton Ladies
Sunderland...Laws, Christon, Salicki (Halliday), Wilson, Stokes,
Staniforth, McDougall, Nobbs, Danby, Gutteridge(Ramshaw), Atkinson(S.Williams). Subs (not used)...Alderson, Devine.
Sunderland
Manager Mick Mulhern was philosophical after the defeat. “We knew it would be difficult against a top class Everton side especially
as we had so many regulars missing. I was pleased with our performance this week and there were many positives to take out. It was
an opportunity for several youngsters to come in and show what they can do and they did not disappoint. I still believe the future
is bright for this football club.”