Sunday’s are quickly becoming a day for women’s football for me. Last Sunday I watched the England national team host Sweden at Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park and today I was at Sunderland Ladies vs Millwall Lionesses at The Hetton Centre. Sunderland are currently without top scorer Beth Mead who is with England U20’s at the Women’s Under 20 World Cup in Canada. I’ve been watching some of this World Cup and some of it is highly entertaining. I watched the opening game between Finland and North Korea which finished 1-2 to the Koreans, England vs South Korea which ended all square at 1-1 and France vs Costa Rica which finished 5-1 to France.
Today’s game started with Sunderland looking the brighter, within the opening 30 seconds, Sophie Williams found herself in a wide position for Sunderland but her cross was blocked. Rachel Furness put across a ball after 3 minutes and I think she was attempting to shoot but if it went wrong, it would turn into a cross. But she couldn’t swing at it enough and it landed on top of the net. Rachel Furness and Sophie Williams both crossed balls into the penalty area for Sunderland but they didn’t cause any danger. In Millwall’s first attempt, and the closest of the game so far, Naomi Cole fired a shot a couple of feet over the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area. 7 minutes later, Kelly McDougall fired a direct free kick over the top for Sunderland. Until 10 minutes from half time, it was an affair with not much to note but after 35 minutes Keira Ramshaw found herself in a promising position for Sunderland. She could have pulled it square to Sophie Williams who was probably in a better position but she went alone and her shot was parried by Sarah Quantrill and it was bouncing over the line until her onrushing defender sweeped the danger away. Hayley Sharp fired over for Sunderland from 20 yards after 37 minutes and Emma Kelly scuffed a shot 2 minutes later which was easily saved. Sophie Williams broke down the left side for Sunderland to cross for Keira Ramshaw who’s header was saved by the great reactions of Sarah Quantrill and the rebound was deflected out for a corner. Vicki Greenwell put in the deep corner and Rachel Furness headed it back across goal where captain Stephanie Bannon committed herself to head it into the net.
Sunderland Ladies 1-0 Millwall Lionesses
Referee, Helen Conley blew for half time soon after the restart.
Half time : Sunderland Ladies 1-0 Millwall Lionesses
Shirvea Edwards dragged a shot wide for Millwall in the second half opening chance after 51 minutes. Abby Holmes went on a run for Sunderland and she did well to force a save from Sarah Quantrill when she slid in to get a shot on target. 5 minutes later, Sophie Williams doubled the home sides lead. Rachel Furness played a perfectly timed ball into Williams who took a touch and fired it into the far bottom corner.
Sunderland Ladies 2-0 Millwall Lionesses
Sophie Williams then had a couple of chances for Sunderland just after the hour mark but her shots were saved by Quantrill. It was 3-0 to the WSL 2 leaders after 65 minutes when Quantrill was forced to palm Keira Ramshaw’s effort behind for a corner. When the corner was swung in, the away sides defence failed to deal with it and it fell to Keira Ramshaw who poked home from close range.
Sunderland Ladies 3-0 Millwall Lionesses
Cherelle Albert showed Millwall’s intent after 69 minutes when she turned on the edge of the penalty area and fired a rocket which was heading for the top corner but a fine save from Rachael Laws diverted it out for a corner. Kim Stenning, Millwall’s substitute, fired a few shot well wide of Laws goal in the final 15 minutes while Kelly Mcdougall’s lob fell just over the crossbar for Sunderland. With 4 minutes to play, Sunderland added a fourth, Rachel Furness collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and fired a powerful effort into the bottom corner.
Sunderland Ladies 4-0 Millwall Lionesses
Sunderland could have made it 5 but 4-0 was good enough for them to extend their lead at the top of WSL 2.
Full time : Sunderland Ladies 4-0 Millwall Lionesses
Sunderland Ladies: Laws, Holmes, Greenwell, Sharp, Bannon (C), McDougall, Kelly, Furness, Bass, Ramshaw, Williams
Subs: Harkness, McHugh, Beer, Dodds, Wilson, Briggs
Millwall Lionesses: Quantrill, Mackie, Davies, Cole, Rutherford, Maple, Lamb, Billson, Strugnell, Edwards, Albert
Subs: Agg, Perry, Dempster, Sherwood, Stenning
Admission : £4 Adults, £1 Concessions. £2 for Sunderland Men season ticket holders.
Attendance : 264
Referee : Helen Conley
Programme : £1
Next up for me is Ryhope CW vs South Shields on Tuesday.
Connor's Football Travels 