Sunderland Women continued their unbeaten start to the season, picking up a point away at Southampton
Sunderland Women continue their undefeated streak with a 1-1 draw away to Southampton.
Buoyed by their excellent start to the 25/26 season, the lasses headed into this fixture with a firm belief they could get a positive result and subsequently, keep pressure on Birmingham City at the top of the table.
Sunderland have played four games, with eight goals scored and only three conceded. Even this early in the season, it’s a remarkable improvement on last year’s start, in which the lasses had conceded 13 goals in their first five games and scored six.
Fans just hope that this fine form can continue, and with the lasses home at Stadium of Light next Sunday against Charlton – a tough game nonetheless – there will be hopes to get another win and go top of the league.
Gaffer Mel Reay opted for practically an unchanged eleven. The only difference is that Marissa Sheva returned to the fold after a slight injury to replace Jamie Finn in the middle of the park.
The game started with both teams having equal enough possession, but perhaps Southampton looked the most dangerous in terms of chance creation and press.
It was Katy Watson who gave Sunderland the lead in the 19th minute when she ran onto Emily Scarr’s brilliant through ball and drove towards goal. With some brilliant technical skill and composure, Watson carried the ball herself, taking it past two defenders before Southampton keeper Fran Stenson to make it 1-0.
The lasses kept up the pressure with Izzy Atkinson, Katie Kitching, and Watson again going close to increasing the advantage, but they just weren’t clinical enough to keep the shot on target or to truly test Stenson. Though Natasha Fenton did force the keeper to back-peddle and just put the ball over the crossbar when her cross looked to just sneak in at the back post.
Credit has to be given to Southampton, as they certainly began to come out of their shell and attack Sunderland down the wings, but were guilty of over-hitting their through balls, and Moloney could claim them comfortably.
However, just before half-time, Louise Griffiths gave away a free kick just outside the box and Southampton equalised. I have watched the replay again and again, even slowing it down, and it does seem that the ball was handled into the net by Peplow. But ultimately, we defended the set-piece poorly, and without the use of VAR, it was always going to be a tough one for both the referee and assistant referee to rule out.
After the halftime whistle and perhaps given their late goal in the first half, it was the Saints who started well, forcing Sunderland to defend early on as they upped the pressure.
The lasses stood resolute as they endured the continuous press from Southampton. But we’re quick to try and catch them out on the counter. Particularly in the 60th minute, when Kitching did brilliantly out on the right wing to beat her player and whip in a dangerous cross along the goal line, unfortunately, though, the pace was just too much for Scarr, who looked to strike it first time into the net.
After this chance, the pendulum seemed to shif,t and soon it was Sunderland with the majority of possession and looking dangerous, especially out on the right wing. The pressure was paying off as Sunderland won corner after corner, though ultimately couldn’t make the opportunities count.
The game opened up and became incredibly end-to-end with an hour on the clock. Southampton almost took the lead when Moloney was caught off her line with Ellie Brazil, but from this clearance by Kitching, the lasses broke, and Watson almost got her brace on the counter.
Perhaps feeling the intensity of the game, Mel Reay opted to make a substitution in the form of Mary Corbyn coming on for Izzy Atkinson on the left wing. Her pace, technical ability, and tenacity are no doubt a wonderful addition to Reay’s arsenal.
Just mere seconds after coming on, she beat her player out on the wing and attempted to cut the ball back at the byline; however, this pass was deflected out for a corner.
Southampton themselves made two substitutions in the 73rd minute, bringing off Millie Mott and Abi Ferguson for
The match continued with its intensity, with both teams looking to get their elusive second goal and potential winner as the game reached the final five minutes.
Sunderland brought on 18-year-old Niyah Dunbar to take the place of Katie Kitching. The lasses seemed to change their formation, with what appeared to be a 4-4-2 as opposed to their usual 4-2-3-1.
Three minutes of added time, Sunderland continued to push and throw the kitchen sink at the Saints. Mary Corbyn had a brilliant chance in the final minute when she ran through on to a ball to be one-on-one with the keeper, but her first touch was just slightly too heavy, and both Corbyn and Stenson collided with each other.
This was unfortunately the last bit of action after several additional minutes of injury time.
Sunderland perhaps would’ve wanted more from this game, but after a fairly congested week of football action with games on Friday, Wednesday, and then today, and then a long away trip to Southampton. It was always going to be a tough match against a side that is routinely at the top half of the time and one with ambitions for promotion. A solid away point and the lasses continue their undefeated run.
As it stands, Sunderland Women are second in the league, behind leaders Birmingham City by two points. However, should Charlton win against Newcastle today, the lasses will drop to third.
They go again next Sunday with a home against Charlton Athletic at the Stadium of Light. Hope to see some of you there! Haway the lasses!
Category: General Sports
