Sunderland started the match by putting Nottingham Forest under some early pressure and within the opening 5 minutes Sophie Williams hit the bar, with Ellie Christon firing the rebound narrowly over. Lucy Bronze then split the Nottingham defence as she played a ball through to Williams, but the ball was cleared. Sunderland continued to search for the opening goal, as Christon's long range effort skimmed the outside of the post before a cross from the left reached Holmes at the far post but her effort went just wide. The opening goal came on 20 minutes as Demi Stokes hit a shot from 35 yards that flew over the keepers head and into the top of the goal. Shortly after Kelly McDougall and Jordan Nobbs both fired narrowly wide from distance. Sunderland continued to create chances as a Williams cross found Natalie Gutteridge but the shot was smothered by the on rushing Forest keeper. Just before half-time, the visitors broke away but were denied an equaliser by a Bronze block and an acrobatic save from Rachael Laws.
HT ... Sunderland WFC 1-0 Nottingham Forest LFC
Nottingham Forest equalised at the start of the second half, as a long range free kick was sent into the box and was eventually headed in by Suzanne Davies. Sunderland went in search of a second goal with a number of corners scrambled clear by the Forest defence. However it was the visitors that took the lead from a corner in the 75th minute as Sunderland failed to clear the danger and Beth Bailey finished from close range. As the final whistle was approaching Sunderland continued to push forward as Nicola Devine delivered a cross from the left which was narrowly headed over. Holmes and Bronze both tried to make forward runs into the opposition box and any attempts from Forest to catch the home side on the break were halted by Gemma Wilson. Despite the late pressure from Sunderland, Forest managed to hold on and left Wearside with 3 points in the opening game of the season.
FT ... Sunderland WFC 1-2 Nottingham Forest LFC
Sunderland… Laws, Holmes, Bronze, Wilson, Devine, McDougall, Nobbs, Stokes, Gutteridge, Williams (Ramsham), Christon (Round). Subs not
used: Alderson, Halliday, Chisholm.
Other Results - Sunday August 22nd
FA Tesco Premier League National Division
Barnet 1
v 2 Reading
Blackburn Rovers 4 v 4 Watford
Millwall Lionesses 1 v 2 Leeds United
In their final pre-season friendly, the
reserves drew 2-2 with Norttingham Forest, Sunderland goals scored by Becky Salicki and Charlotte Proud.
Sunderland suffer defeat in their first game of the season
