Settled into the new home now though and rearing to go back on the road following women's football up and down the country. No sooner had the Lionesses returned from Canada then it was straight into match action in the FAWSL, the league having resumed last weekend.
Sunderland Ladies have begun life in the top flight of women's football very well having gone into the break comfortable in mid-table picking up 9 points after 6 matches played, returned to action last weekend with a home match at the Hetton Centre against 3rd placed Notts County Ladies won the match 2-1 with Beth Mead scoring an injury time winner the 3 points moving them above their opponents into 3rd level on points with 2nd placed Arsenal Ladies who were beaten 3-1 at home to Liverpool Ladies on the same weekend.
Have brought in a couple of new faces to bolster the squad over the break, Norwegian U23 goalkeeper Hilde Gunn Olsen and Irish international striker Stephanie Roche, who of course made a name for herself scoring that wonderful goal that clinched her recognition worldwide as she was nominated for FIFA's Pukas Award. Sunderland Ladies will be hoping Roche can add to the goals in FAWSL 1. The biggest test yet for Sunderland Ladies in the league today once again at home with a 6:30 KO against the league leaders Chelsea Ladies.
Chelsea Ladies have had a great start to the FAWSL season were going into today's match the only side unbeaten across the 2 leagues, had the chance to extend their lead at the top to 8 points over their rivals with victory over Sunderland today. Have been doing business in the transfer window too having let Jackie Groenen depart, the Belgian moving to FFC Frankfurt. Have replaced her by paying a record English transfer fee to Reading FC Women to bring Fran Kirby to the club, an exciting player a good move for her and addition to the squad as Chelsea look to win their 1st FAWSL title.
A good crowd building at the Hetton Centre just my 2nd visit to the ground and this time I had a better chance to look around, is a nice venue one small stand, good facilties plenty of room and a raised bank around the pitch to view the game. The pitch looked fantastic lush and green with a built in sprinkler system that meant it was well watered. The players coming out onto the pitch Sunderland Ladies presented Chelsea Ladies 4 England Lionesses, Katie Chapman, Claire Rafferty, Eniola Aluko & Fran Kirby with a bouquet of flowers for their fantastic achievement out in Canada just a fortnight ago.
Sunderland AFC Ladies starting XI - Hilde Gunn Olsen, Abbey Holmes, Victoria Greenwell, Rachel Furness, Stephanie Bannon (C), Keira Ramshaw, Kelly McDougall, Beth Mead, Stephanie Roche, Brooke Chaplin & Victoria Williams
subs - Gemma Wilson, Hayley Sharp, Sarah McFadden, Abbey Joice & Emma Kelly.
Chelsea Ladies starting XI - Hedvig Lindahl, Hannah Blundell, Claire Rafferty, Gilly Flaherty, Niamh Fahey, Katie Chapman, Millie Bright, Gemma Davison, Ana Borges, Ji So-Yun & Eniola Aluko.
subs - Marie Hourihan, Fran Kirby, Anne Meirwald, Marija Banusic, Drew Spence, Laura Rafferty & Millie Farrow.
It's the home side to get the game under way kicking off the 1st half wearing red and white vertical striped shirts, black shorts and socks against Chelsea lined up in their all yellow away strip. It's Sunderland with the early attack with Roche on the left and Keira Ramshaw on the right of attack with Beth Mead playing through the centre the ball is sent out to the right channel for Ramshaw to chase, head down with the ball at her feet she drives at the Chelsea defence, can't find a way past Claire Rafferty who puts in the challenge the ball sent out for a throw.
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| Chelsea Ladies Claire Rafferty |
Sunderland continue to attack early on look to play in Ramshaw on the right again with the Chelsea defence dropping deep into their own box, this time Ramshaw has midfielder Kelly McDougall with her making the run on the overlap, getting hold of the ball she sweeps a cross in at head height across the front of the six yard box, it's Chelsea's Katie Chapman who gets her head to the ball to steer it away from danger only as far as the edge of the area Sunderland retrieve and play it out to Roche inside the box to the left she looks to hit a shot goal wards is looping up and down on target Chelsea goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl has that side of her goal covered and sees the ball confidently into her gloves.
Chelsea are looking to make full use of the width of the pitch as they bring the ball forwards have a willing runner in the centre with Eniola Aluko pacey prepared to go after the ball, with Gemma Davison hugging the left touchline and Ana Borges the right. Korean International Ji So-Yun has the passing ability to pick out any one of the trio switch play quickly. Aluko goes after a ball slid into the right channel, looking to come back inside into the area she jinks left then right but can't find a way past Sunderland captain Stephanie Bannon.
Again Bannon is called into action in the centre of defence heading the ball clear after a spell of Chelsea pressure brings a corner on the right. Davison is always willing to come in off the flank and push on with the ball coming inside running across the front of the area she pulls the trigger sending a low shot curling in towards goal, produces a sharp reflex save from Hilde Gunn Olsen who drops low pushing the ball around the post for a corner.
Barely 20 minute on the clock both sides are up for a physical contest, Victoria Williams sliding in to win the ball from Aluko as she gets hold of a hopefully ball played forwards by Lindahl on the right running at goal Williams stays with Aluko and slides in with the tackle to put the ball out for a corner. Play is paused when Gilly Flaherty and Beth Mead go down in the centre after a clash of heads, both though are fie and able to continue after treatment.
Chelsea are starting to apply more pressure to the Sunderland defence pushing them back working hard to switch play from left to right, Borges getting the ball looks to pick out Katie Chapman who has burst forwards to get into the area, a Sunderland interception takes the ball away from her the ball though is back with Davison on the left this time she flashes a low ball into the box Aluko tries to get on the end of it sliding in just evades her before she can turn it goal wards.
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| Chelsea Ladies Portuguese International Ana Borges |
Sunderland have a corner on the right as Mead attacking takes on the shot from just outside the area takes a deflection sending it wide of goal. The corner flashing in towards the near post area is looking for Roche who has made the diagonal run unchecked can't meet the ball as it flies past her is met instead by Bannon who headers it up into the air turning it towards the goal, Lindahl keeps her eye on the ball plucks it out of the air as it threatens to dip under the crossbar.
Late Chelsea pressure pushing numbers forwards have Millie Bright looking to make a run towards the far stick with Borges charging down the right wing whips the cross in looking for Bright however Gunn Olsen in the Sunderland goal does well to gather the ball before the midfielder can send it past her.
Half time Sunderland AFC Ladies 0-0 Chelsea Ladies
An absorbing 1st half both sides with a good share of the ball however with both defences dropping deep whenever their opponent is on the attack their have been few chances created Chelsea have used the width better more often then not though it's Bannon and Williams in the Sunderland defence who have dealt with the crosses well, in attack for Sunderland Mead is working hard hustling the Chelsea defence but with Roche and Ramshaw pulled back to help defend she has had little support.
Chelsea kick off the 2nd 45 with coach Emma Hayes making an adjustment to the attack switching Borges to the left and Davison now operating down the right. Borges gets on the ball early on driving at the Sunderland defence flashes a cross into the area is headed away by Williams, Chelsea keep the pressure on with Aluko getting fouled 20 yards out giving the visitors a free kick. So-Yun is the player over the ball gets her attempt past the Sunderland wall but not past Gunn Olsen in goal who makes the save.
Doing her defensive duties Roche has had little opportunity to attack with the ball on the left of attack, this time getting on to the ball high up the pitch she is looking to take it into the area from the byline cuts it back out to Brooke Chaplin making the ground up to support her in the middle, looks to strike the ball from outside the area gets far too much behind the ball as it blazes over the bar.
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| Sunderland Ladies Brooke Chaplin lining up a shot on goal |
Chaplin is on the attack again minutes as she receives the ball with her back to goal, looks to turn her marker and run at the defence beyond takes on the shot, Lindahl is well positioned to catch the ball. On the break Davison is clattered by Roche as she tries to take the ball around her, she and Yo-Sun link up from the free kick the Korean playing Davison in on the right the cross is sent in at an inviting height for Chelsea to attack Chapman gets to it first, can't however turn the ball in towards goal.
Chelsea are pushing everyone further forwards as they look to find the opening goal Sunderland have everyone bar Mead back defending, are looking to counter attack, Roche has the ball once more on the left her shot is miscued comes to Mead right of the Chelsea area she fires the ball back across looking to pick out Rachel Furness who has broken forwards the midfielder scuffs her shot from outside the box allowing Lindahl to easily gather.
GOAL! Despite being left to lead the line on her own at times Mead is working hard and is a constant threat to the Chelsea central defenders Flaherty and Fahey. Mead is playing off Flaherty as the ball is played forwards into her, the Sunderland attacker gets to the ball first is beyond the defence racing towards the goal to the right she runs towards the area shoots early sweeping a low ball across Lindahl and into the back of the net 1-0.
GOAL! 3 minutes later with barley a third of the 2nd period played Sunderland double their lead and it's Mead on the score sheet again. The assist is from Chaplin as bringing the ball over the halfway line she looks to slide the ball through to Mead this time on the left gets the better of Fahey this time and is once again through on goal same result the early shot is taken and the ball swept across Lindahl and into the back of the net 2-0.
Going 2-0 down, Chelsea make 2 changes in personal bringing on midfielder Drew Spence for Millie Bright with Marija Banusic coming on up top with Hannah Blundell giving way at right back, Borges dropping into defence. On the flank Davison is seeing plenty of the ball is getting frustrated as she can't find any gaps in the Sunderland back line. Davison tries her luck turning inside and coming into the centre takes on the shot outside the box, Gunn Olsen is down quickly to make the save. The danger is far from clear though as the ball squirms out to the left of the six yard box So-Yun looks to get on the end of it sees her effort cleared off the line.
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| Chelsea Ladies Gemma Davison always looking to take players on |
GOAL! With Chelsea looking to press players forwards looking to get back into the match Sunderland look to counter attack Mead has the ball on the right has Abbey Holmes racing past her looking for the ball the defender wins a corner kick. The ball is fires in with plenty of pace curling across the six yard box no one gets to it as it smashes against the far post and bounces back into the danger area the next instance the ball is nestling in the back of the net, was too far away to see who got the final touch but it's Mead everyone is converging on to celebrate as the striker gets her hat-trick and Sunderland take a 3-0 lead into the last 15 minutes.
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| A hat-trick for Sunderland Ladies Beth Mead |
Chelsea make their final change Aluko coming off to be replaced by Millie Farrow in attack. Time for Sunderland to make a double change too Roche and Chaplin the players taken off with Abbey Joice and Sarah McFadden coming on. Chelsea continue to probe looking for an opening are still looking for their wide players to find away around a Sunderland defence that is dropping deep but keeping a solid shape.
GOAL! It's Sunderland that add another goal this time it isn't Mead but instead defender Abbey Holmes who scores the home side are enjoying possession down the right hand side of the pitch the right back on the ball looks to send a cross into the area aiming for the far post sends the ball past Lindahl and it is in beyond her to make it 4-0.
5 minutes of normal time left to play Sunderland make their final change bringing on Emma Kelly for Ramshaw. Davison still has the energy to take on players in front of her manages to swing a cross in from the right looking to pick out Banusic, it's Williams though that gets her head on the ball 1st to clear.
Full time and Sunderland Ladies beat Chelsea Ladies by 4 goals to nil to end the league leaders unbeaten start to the season ad close the gap on them to just 2 points as they regain 2nd place in the league table. Notts County Ladies had briefly reclaimed 2nd spot in the league after they came away 2-1 winners away to Liverpool Ladies earlier in the day. in the other match of the day Manchester City Women travelled to Stoke Gifford to play Bristol Academy won 3-0.
A solid team performance from Sunderland today in front of a good crowd of over 1000 who will be delighted with the victory. Beth Mead scoring a hat-trick was a constant threat all afternoon, must surely be close to earning a call up to the senior England squad.
For Chelsea it just didn't seem to happen in the final 3rd had plenty of the attack especially 1st half and on another day the final ball would have found it's way through, lose their unbeaten run in the league but still lead the way even if the gap has been closed.
Felt good to dust of the notepad and cover a game even if the handwriting is getting worse.
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