The 1st side to earn promotion to the top flight of women's football winning the newly formed FAWSL 2 the season before not many thought Sunderland AFC Ladies would start so well as they did, took the league by storm, could say surprise, but then we shouldn't have been surprised came into the FAWSL on the back of successive FAWPL Northern Division Championships, knew how to win a league. Had a new manager in charge at the start of 2015, Carlton Fairweather, didn't tinker with the FAWSL 2 winning squad too much adding Brooke Chaplin and Victoria Williams. Beth Mead their star striker just 20 years old was the top scorer in FAWSL 1 last season scoring 14 goals. Helped Sunderland AFC Ladies get off to a good start then a purple patch in the middle of the season saw them in contention for the title, fell away at the end losing their last 3 league matches to finish 4th, nevertheless a great 1st season for the club in the top flight.
Added Irish International Stephanie Roche to their squad midway through the 2015.Have brought in 4 new faces during the close season, amongst those former Sunderland player, Lucy Staniforth who has missed two years of football with serious knee injuries. The midfielder will be hoping for an injury free spell and a dead ball specialist will add to Sunderland's attacking options. Defender Rachel Pitman returns to England after a spell playing in the United States, whilst Canadian defender Kylla Sjomen comes in from Celtic FC. Wide player Krystle Johnston also joins having been released by Manchester City Women her pace and ability to cross is perfect for Mead who will no doubt be closely marked this season, but that is easier said than done.
A fantastic season for Reading FC Women as they pushed Doncaster Rovers Belles all the way to win the FAWSL 2 league title finishing on almost identical records 4 goals better off in the GD column the difference. Had Fran Kirby on their books at the start of the 2015 season was in irresistible form scoring 9 goals in their opening 3 league matches. Kirby was to move on later in the season as Chelsea Ladies put in a transfer bid for the England starlet. Reading FC Women had proved they could go on without relying in Kirby's goals as she was out injured before the move, Emma Follis a new signing herself from Aston Villa Ladies scoring the goals along with experienced Welsh International striker Helen Ward.
Achieving promotion to the top tier of women's football has seen Reading FC Women reward alot of the squad with full-time professional contracts and in comparison with others have done less in the transfer market letting a handful move on whilst bolstering their forwards line bringing in Amber Stobbs who has been playing her football in the USA most recently with Washington Spirit Reserves before her return to the UK. Have also signed Jade Boho-Sayo who made an impact coming to and scoring for Bristol City Women last season.
Also joining the Royals Ladies for the 2016 is Kayleigh Hines from Oxford United Women, brings a little finesse to what can be quite a combative Reading FC Women midfield. A useful player to have in a set piece situation too a very good header of the ball a threat inside the opponents penalty box. Mary Earps recently returned from the La Manga tournament where she kept goal for the England U23's joins the club after a season with Bristol is a goalkeeper with a big future in the game and will provide stiff competition for Grace Moloney who has done a fine job between the sticks for Reading FC Women a dilemma there for manager Kelly Chambers.
Storm Katie is on the way later on over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, got an early dose of what's ahead as 45 minutes before kick off a monsoon blew across the pitch soaking the players warming up (summer league hey?) Supporters and Press alike packed into the main stand offering the only cover, blew through but left standing water on the pitch. With there now being 9 teams in FAWSL 1, with the league expanding to 10 in 2017, it was Sunderland AFC Ladies who were without a fixture in midweek, start their league campaign tonight whilst Reading FC Women had started with a defeat 3-1 away to Arsenal Ladies.
Sunderland AFC Ladies starting XI - Rachel Laws, Abby Holmes, Kylla Sjomen, Stephanie Bannon (C), Victoria Williams, Rachel Furness, Lucy Staniforth, Brooke Chaplin, Abby Joice, Krystle Johnston & Beth Mead.
subs - Hilde Gunn-Olsen, Kelly McDougall, Stephanie Roche, Megan Beer, Keira Ramshaw, Emma Kelly & Charlotte Potts.
Reading FC Women starting XI - Grace Moloney, Rebecca Jane, Rachel Rowe, Kirsty McGee (C), Molly Bartrip, Kayleigh Hines, Lois Roche, Charlie Estcourt, Emma Follis, Jade Boho-Sayo & Helen Ward.
subs - Mary Earps, Harriet Scott, Bonnie Horwood, Nia Jones, Lauren Bruton, Laura May-Walkley & Shelley Cox.
3 new signings starting for Sunderland, Kylla Sjomen at left back, Lucy Staniforth in the middle with Krystle Johnston out wide on the right. Jade Boho-Sayo was up front in attack for Reading FC Women. The players came together on the centre circle as a mark of respect a minutes silence for everyone to reflect and remember the victims of the terrorist attacks in Brussels during the week.
It's the visitors to kick off the match 1st half wearing blue and white hooped shirts blue shorts and white socks with Sunderland kitted out in red and white vertical striped shirts, black shorts and socks. Boho-Sayo is sent through down the left side early on wraps her foot around the ball to square the ball into the area, Sunderland's Victoria Williams is 1st to it clears the ball out of the area, is picked up by Helen Ward who looks to send the ball across goal, going wide goalkeeper Rachel Laws gets an early feel of the ball on the slick surface.
Sunderland look to send Mead through for a run down the channel as the ball is played into Abby Joice on the left side Mead comes towards her the pass is rolled forwards into her run, coming across to meet her is Molly Bartrip the Reading defender tackles well to win the ball back. Staniforth get's her foot on the ball on the right and looks to send it long over the top for Mead, too long Grace Moloney in the Reading goal gets the ball into her gloves 1st. Bright start from Sunderland, as both sides get used to the wet playing surface.
Full back Rachel Rowe is caught by Staniforth, the free kick is taken quickly on the left with Ward taking the ball down the wing before sending in a deep cross to the far post, Laws gathers the ball into her body then sets up a counter attack Mead chasing it down up the other end winning her side a corner kick on the right. The corner is cleared at the far post for a 2nd corner kick. Again the ball is put long to the far post, Furness leaps highest to head the ball down back towards the penalty spot, comes to Williams but slipping she can't get hold of it to shoot as Reading scramble it away. Sunderland have another corner as Brooke Chaplin comes over to the left, wins the ball and plays Joice through to run into the area, closed down her shot is deflected behind for the corner.
The Reading fans are in good voice as usual, braving the weather on the far side of the ground. See Moloney pull off a fantastic save diving to her right as Chaplin unleashes a shot from 25 yards out, the Reading goalkeeper turning it away for another corner. Kirsty McGee the Reading captain rises to head the ball away from danger.
Sunderland are caught out at the back as Ward peeling off the last defender gets onto a through ball and squares it across the front of the area from the left with Boho-Sayo running into receive inside the area, Laws starts to come the ball gets stuck under Boho-Sayo's feet by time she does get the shot away Stephanie Bannon, Sunderland's captain is back to slide in take the ball away, however play is stopped by the linesman's flag. Emma Follis on the ball right for Reading tries to put the ball into the box for Boho-Sayo, Laws comes sliding out to gather the ball as Boho-Sayo lunges to get to the ball, the wet surface accelerating her slide carries her into the goalkeeper leaving her hurt needing treatment before continuing.
A shirt pull is spotted by the referee as Sunderland attack, given in a dangerous position right of the D 20 yards out, it's Staniforth to take, a training ground routine, sent low past the wall across the area looking for a runner coming from deep to latch onto to, Mead tries to get on to it, doesn't the ball going out for a goal kick. Moloney is called into action again to make the save the ball whipped in from the right across her goal threatening to bounce in at the far corner the goalkeeper turning it on around the post.
Half an hour played the slick surface is seeing several misplaced passes, both sides looking to build quickly stretch defences, but when it comes to the final delivery, it's the defenders who are winning the ball. The crowd encourage right back Abby Holmes to take the ball on as she carries it into space in front of her, a good pass along the ground for Mead coming from left to right in front of the box she is brought down in a similar position to the earlier Sunderland free kick. Staniforth to take again, goes for goal this time up and over the wall, won't dip in time goes over the cross bar. Another save from Moloney to keep the Reading goal intact as Sunderland attack, Furness whips the cross in from the right Mead leaps tries to flick her header on Moloney gets her hands on the ball.
GOAL! Into the last 5 minutes of the 1st half, Bannon brings down Boho-Sayo 25 yards out in a dangerous position left of the goal. Lois Roche is over the free kick. Hits it low a with plenty of pace pulling it to the left Laws is left stranded on her goal line as the ball rolls home unsure if it took a deflection on the way through, nevertheless Reading have the lead and Roche is credited with the goal 0-1.
Krystle Johnston has the ball at her feet on the right over the halfway line, turns inside and hits a shot from 20 yards out, bounces it's way through to Moloney who get's down to gather. Reading almost double their lead on the stroke of half time the ball given away in the midfield sees Boho-Sayo put through into the area again, Laws comes and sliding in makes the save with her legs the ball out for a corner kick. A great delivery from the right comes to Kayleigh Hines on the penalty spot headers the ball down into the ground bouncing Laws is right behind it claims.
Half-time Sunderland AFC Ladies 0-1 Reading FC Women
A competitive and fast paced 1st half, Sunderland despite having created more chances find themselves a goal down. Reading have rode their luck a little, Moloney producing the goods in goal to keep it 0-0 before they got themselves the advantage going into the dressing room at the break.
Sunderland manager, Carlton Fairweather makes two changes at half-time bringing on Kiera Ramshaw and Emma Kelly for Johnston and Joice in attack as they kick off the 2nd half.
GOAL! The home side get back on level terms straight from the kick off a brilliant through ball sending Mead through to attack the Reading goal central a challenge comes in Mead is caught but stays on her feet entering the box as Moloney comes gets completely stranded as Mead holds her composure to fire the shot past her and into the back of the net 1-1.
Sunderland start the 2nd half strongly another up and over comes to Mead outside the box tries to catch it on the bounce slices it high and wide. An inviting cross put in from the right by Ramshaw but no one can get on the end of it. Should have been 2-1 to Sunderland just 3 minutes after getting it back to 1-1, Mead certainly thought it was, so did the crowd as the Sunderland striker is put through in on goal again charging towards the box Moloney has to come dives as Mead pulls the trigger edge of her box the shot goes under her is rolling in towards goal, Mead has wheeled away to her left arm raised, Reading defenders racing back, can't get there surely, but they do the ball is dramatically cleared off the line or was it? Remains 1-1.
Mead tries to take on the entire Reading defence on her own again driving with the ball pushed right, 3 defenders prove too much for her and Reading regain the ball. Staniforth longs to lift the ball over the Reading back line, Mead is after it again, Moloney comes out of her area stands firm to block the ball, gets taken out by her own player as Bartrip slides in to try and distract Mead. Reading make their 1st change with Lauren Bruton coming on for Charlie Estcourt on 60 minutes.
Bruton makes an impact straight away in an advanced position is tripped as she makes a run towards the Sunderland box, 20 yards out right of the D it's Roche to take a brilliant free kick up and over the wall dipping late, an equally brilliant save from Laws scrambling across her goal to throw herself up and tip the ball over for a corner kick. Delivered towards the far post Sunderland clear, Reading regain the ball come again down the left the shot comes in Bruton with the strike, Laws makes the save again with her feet to stop the ball.
Boho-Sayo is fouled on the right side half way inside the Sunderland half, Roche over the ball sends it in low towards the face of the area, is cleared comes back out to Ward goes to shoot 20 yards out pulls the effort wide of goal. Bruton has made a difference coming on Reading seeing more of the ball in the final 3rd as the game enters the final 15 minutes. Laws comes out off her goal line to charge down another Reading shot put in from the left.
The ball is played up into Mead who holds it up this time with Ramshaw wanting it put into her run as she overlaps down the right, surges on down the wing into the area, has Chaplin available central, goes for goal hits the ball, Moloney coming across to that side of her goal, beats the shot down into the ground and claims. End to end now into the final 10 minutes Reading break the ball coming to Ward on the left side puts an inviting cross into the box Boho-Sayo closing in on the ball far post connects can't get it on target.
The goalkeepers have earned their money tonight pulling off some fantastic saves, at the death another brilliant save from Laws with Reading attacking late on down the left the cross is whipped in dangerous through the six yard box bouncing as it arrives far post, Follis has gotten in front of the defence, meet it, Laws coming across throws up her hands to make the instinctive save lifting the ball over for the corner.
Into injury time 3 minutes signalled. Bruton brings the ball on down the right into Follis who carries the ball on into the area goes to put the cross along the six yard box, Laws makes the save. Sunderland have the ball up the other end quickly played across to Mead outside the area left of the D, two strides to her right to open up the angle for a shot, pulls the trigger the ball spins away from goal. Late change for Reading with Nia Jones on for Ward.
The final whistle blows and the points are shared. Reading's 1st in the top flight of women's football, have Moloney to thank especially 1st half, taking the lead came back strongly late in the 2nd half could have won it. So too Sunderland chances were there again Laws with some fine saves. A scrappy game to start the season the wet surface not helping ball control. Both sides meet again next Sunday at the Hetton Centre in the 6th Round of the FA Women's Cup.
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