Match Report - Sunderland Ladies v Oxford United Women - FAWSL 2

     My weekend up in the North East continued with another rescheduled fixture thrown out there to tempt me as Sunderland Ladies moved their fixture against Oxford United Women from a 2:00pm kick off to an 11:30am one meaning it was just about doable and still get to Hartlepool in time to watch England Women take on Sweden Women in an International friendly their kick off time at 2:00pm. The plan from Sunderland Ladies to also give their fans the opportunity to attend the friendly match too... good call.

    Tempted I was, it was also a good opportunity to see Sunderland Ladies play at home at the Hetton Centre too, having seen them play away 3 times this season. Undefeated at the top of FAWSL 2 having played 7, won 6 and drawn 1, against 2nd placed Doncaster Rovers Belles last time out, and with their main title rivals drawing 0-0 with away to Durham Women yesterday (see last match report) they had an opportunity to go 4 points clear at the top of the table.

    Oxford United Women are at the wrong end of the FAWSL 2 table having had a tough start to life in the new league having played 7, won 1, drawn 1 and lost 5 were just above Durham Women at the bottom on 4 points. Yesterdays match proved however there were no easy matches in WSL 2.

    The Hetton Centre is easy enough to find following the sat nav, is a new build the stadium having one stand on the side of the pitch towards one end, good facilities and standing all around the pitch. A grass pitch it looked to be in very good condition, the weather was cool, a little breezy, over cast clouds around rain threatened.

    Sunderland Ladies starting XI - Rachael Laws, Abby Holmes, Hayley Sharp, Stephanie Bannon (C), Victoria Greenwell, Lauren Briggs, Kelly McDougall, Rachel Furness, Rebekah Bass, Sophie Williams & Keira Ramshaw.

    Oxford United Ladies starting XI - Demi Lambourne, Jemma Connor-Iommi, Amy Chivers, Sahara Osbourne-Ricketts (C), Megan Alexander, Kayleigh Hines, Helen King, Katherine Nutman, Laura Low, Katie Stanley & Lauren Allison.

    It was the home side in their red and white vertical striped shirts, black shorts and socks to kick the match off, in opposition Oxford United Women were in their away strip purple shirts with a white stripe on the right, white shorts and socks.

   Without Beth Mead away on U20s World Cup duty it was once again Keira Ramshaw to lead the line for Sunderland, supported right and left by Rebekah Bass and Sophie Williams. It was the home side with the early pressure winning a free kick 30 yards out wide on the left captain Stephanie Bannon plays a good delivery into the box Oxford's Jemma Connor-Iommi rises well to head the ball out of danger.

      Sunderland's Sophie Williams has the ball in the left channel dries to the by line passes back to Victoria Greenwell the supporting left back playing in a dangerous cross along the six yard line that Oxford keeper Demi Lambourne can't come for goes through to Keira Ramshaw she manages to lob Lambourne the ball goes over the keeper but up onto the bar and recovering Oxford clear their box.

     At times Oxford look to have 5 in the back line as they are pushed back trying to defend their goal the defence and midfield squeezed up try to get the ball up to their lone striker Lauren Allison with the ball at her feet has a run at Sunderland's defenders outnumbering her they win possession back.

    Both Sunderland full backs have the space to run into on the right Abby Holmes makes a strong run pushes her way into the box where she is brought down a trip from Oxford captain Sahara Osbourne-Ricketts, penalty given. It's Kelly McDougall to take and she converts the penalty into a goal sending it past the diving Lambourne's right 1-0.

    Early lead just what Sunderland wanted, just what Oxford didn't want. However the visitors don't let their heads drop, midfielder Helen King has a blast from long range that is blocked by a Sunderland defender. Out on the right Katie Stanley is finding some space to run into has time to put a good cross ball in Sunderland again defend well.

    The home side are controlling possession however as much as Oxford are working hard to win the ball they can't keep hold of it. Rebekah Bass on the right beats the offside trap looks to have a run on goal, on loan Liverpool Ladies defender Megan Alexander stays with her and deals with the threat well.

    Helen King has another go from well outside the box swerving the ball turns away from goal and wide. Demi Lambourne is called into action making a good save with her feet as Ramshaw bursts through the defence into the box.

    The referee misses a shirt pull by Connor-Iommi on Sophie Williams as the tries to steal past her into the box. Lambourne has to pull off another save this one from Bass tipping in round for a corner.

    Oxford have a goal disallowed is an offside but good build up play see's Laura Low play the ball into Lauren Allison she shots the ball goes past Sunderland keeper Rachael Laws it doesn't count however.

    A good contest both teams putting in the challenges, Sunderland though are winning the chances as they rack up Ramshaw has a shot blocked, Rachel Furness plays the ball to Bass on the right her effort put across the Oxford goal and wide. The visitors limited to long range shots the last of the half coming from Stanley goes over the Sunderland goal.

                          Half-time Sunderland Ladies 1-0 Oxford United Women

   The rain starts to fall steadily as Oxford get the 2nd half underway, but straight away Sunderland have the ball and are on the attack Bass has the ball in the back of the net but it ruled out for offside.

    Oxford get the ball in the home sides half for a spell, Helen King putting a good ball across the six yard line no one is there to claim before Laws can scoop the ball up. Oxford win the ball back a cross is put in from a long way out on the right Lauren Allison rising can't get a clean header on it puts the attempt wide of goal.

    Bass with a strong drive on the right wins a corner off Alexander. The set piece goes through the crowd in the box missing everyone. A sloppy corner is given away by Osbourne-Ricketts. The ball coemes in a flick from Furness at the near post that Lambourne does well to save.

    Allison has the ball at her feet pushing out to the left of the box slips her marker and puts a fantastic cross in along the six yard line Helen King is runnig in slides but can't quite get there.

    King heads narrowly over the bar minutes later from an Oxford corner, are giving Sunderland a game now. The home side make the 1st change bringing on Emma Kelly for Lauren Briggs.

    Lambourne is called into action 1st to save a shot from distance by Furness, then at close range as Bass plays the ball into Ramshaw inside the box. The game is getting scrappy players are getting fouled and hurt the referee has to do some talking to players to calm things down.

    Lambourne is the busier of the 2 keepers Ramshaw is through on goal once again, outside the box opts to shoot early Lambourne makes the save. Oxford make a double change, King and Stanley off. Louise Fellows and new signing Gemma Simmonds on both going into the midfield.

     It does little to stem Sunderland's attacking play Bass she wins a corner after starting and finishing an attack. The ball comes in from the left corner and there is Sunderland defender Hayley Sharp to head the ball home and make it 2-0.

     Sunderland are pressing Oxford now Williams plays the ball to Holmes her shot is blocked inside the box by Osbourne-Ricketts. Lambourne makes another great save as Ramshaw is played through on goal. The ball is smashed against the Oxford cross bar then Lambourne saves from a Bass shot.

    Late changes for the home side, as Tyler Dodds and Brogan McHugh come on for Bass and Ramshaw. Sunderland have the final chance of the game an over the top ball an over the top ball that see's  Lambourne produce another great save from Sophie Williams.

     Full time and Sunderland Ladies win beating Oxford United Women 2-0 and sees them move 4 points clear at the top of WSL 2. A good performance from the home side.

    Oxford United Women slip to the bottom of the table on goal difference. Another loss but from the matches I've seen them in this season a much improved display. The WSL 2 league might be in it's 1st season but it is proving to be a competive league results have to be earned and that makes for entertaining games.