Sunderland came away from New Ferens Park victorious on Wednesday evening as they defeated Durham 2-1 in the FA WSL Continental Cup.
Team news
As expected, Sunderland made numerous changes to the side that defeated Chelsea 4-0 at the weekend, with hat-trick hero Beth Mead one of those rested ahead of a trip to Bristol Academy on Saturday evening. Abbey Joice, Gemma Wilson, Emma Kelly and Sarah McFadden all came into the side, whilst Mead, Brooke Chaplen, Kelly McDougall and Victoria Williams all watched on from the bench.
When the two met in this competition last year, Sunderland were victorious by a 3-0 scoreline, but Lauren Jordinson, who scored an own goal in the final minute of that game and was on the bench today, speaking to the FAWSL website this week, was convinced that her Durham side would be able to give their opponents "a good game" this time round, especially coming off the back of a 3-1 win over Watford at the weekend.
Tight opening half
Jordinson was right in her prediction too as a very even first half unfolded during which both sides had promising spells.
Both teams were lively from the off, having shots at goal inside the first few minutes, albeit none that really troubled either goalkeeper too much. It was in fact the second tier hosts that enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges as they controlled the game and kept Sunderland in their own half for the most part of these, but the WSL 1 club would grow into the game and begin to see a number of half chances.
Abby Holmes drove forward and struck at goal as the Lady Black Cats got more inolved, whilst her corner a few minutes later would be headed just wide by Rachel Furness at the far post. Still, Durham remained a threat and pinball in the area at the half's midway point would see the ball strike the Sunderland bar before Stephanie Bannon blocked and cleared a shot on the line from Beth Hepple.
Long distance efforts, most of them straight at the opposing goalkeeper, would come and go as the half drew to a close, with neither side having seen a clear cut chance in the game as of yet.
Slow second period ends with lively closing stages
A change at the break saw McDougall come on for Furness for the Lady Black Cats and, after Durham's Anna Moorhouse made a good stop to deny Victoria Greenwell, the visitors would introduce another two substitutes as Chaplen replaced Joice and Kelly was withdrawn for Mead, manager Carlton Fairweather clearly searching for someone to inspire his side going forward.
Nicki Gears continued to look to be the hosts' best chance of a goal, her pace and confidence on the ball proving to be a problem for Sunderland's back line, but she could not apply the finish necessary when she managed to make herself some half chances, the opening period of the second half another spell dominated by attempts from range.
However, one of these strikes was bound to fly in at some point, and it did with 14 minutes to go as Keira Ramshaw found the top corner from the edge of the box to give the away side the lead.
Sunderland could've added to this lead just minutes after establishing it too as McDougall headed wide from a corner and Stephanie Roche fired a half volley off target, whilst Durham themselves came incredibly close to an equaliser with eight minutes remaining as Natalie Gutteridge, who recently made the switch from Sunderland to the Wildcats, burst into the box but saw her stab at goal strike the post before being cleared.
The chances that had been missing in the first 75 minutes then all started to come at once as the final whistle neared, with Mead running through on goal only to be denied by a marvellous save from Moorhouse.
Durham would get back on level terms with just six minutes to play, their captain, Sarah Wilson, taking advantage of confusion in the area from a corner to smash home the equaliser, but Sunderland would steal the points at the death as Greenwell's corner flew into the back of the net with the aid of the opposing goalkeeper's touch after good pressure from Mead.
Less than a minute later, the final whistle was blown and the Lady Black Cats will be relieved to have got that bit of luck in the end as Fairweather's heavy rotation saw the side altered perhaps slightly too much, whilst Durham themselves played their part in a very well contested affair and showed that they will not be a pushover in this group.
Mead praises team for 'important' win
After the game, Mead spoke to the FAWSL website, expressing that she believes the team "struggled a bit" in the match as they "didn't stay composed." However, she is pleased that her side were able to "[grind] out a result" and thinks that they "show[ed] why [they] are in the top league" in the process.
Speaking about her involvement in the winning goal, the striker admits that she was just "trying to be a nuisance in the box" and "get in the 'keeper's way." Mead said that she'll "take any goal" but is pleased to have played her part in the winner as "obviously [she] put the keeper off" and this helped the ball find its way into "the back of the net."
The England youth international was especially happy with the result as she believes "it's hard to play these type of games" against sides that "want to defend" and stay "compact," calling them "some of the most difficult" matches. However, the leading WSL 1 goal-scorer added that "it's important to get early wins in the competition" and is therefore pleased with the 2-1 victory.
For now, Sunderland top their group in the Continental Cup with the other four teams all in action tomorrow evening - Everton playing Liverpool and Doncaster Belles hosting Manchester City.
They return to league action on Saturday, hoping to keep hold of their third-placed spot at the very least with a win over Bristol Academy as they make the trip down South.