Durham Women 3-0 SAFC Ladies
Sunderland Ladies suffered a tough 3-0 Wear Derby defeat to Durham Women in the FA Women’s Championship.
Mollie Lambert scored an early goal for the home side in the first half.
Two quick-fire second half goals from Dee Bradley and Beth Hepple meant the hosts took all three points.
Durham dealt the first blow in the third minute as Lambert finished her chance from inside the box.
Claudia Moan was kept busy at the start of the game, with one chance from Hardy, and Rebecca Salicki’s cross caught the wind and forced the Sunderland goalkeeper to tip it onto the bar.
The Lasses weathered the storm in the first half after an initial Durham onslaught, controlling possession, but could not create any clear opportunities.
Bradley doubled Durham’s lead six minutes into the second half, latching onto and finishing a rebound from Hepple’s long-range strike.
Two minutes later, Hepple grabbed the Wildcats’ third with a shot around the edge of the box.
Sunderland had a penalty call 60 minutes in as Abbey Joice’s slotted a through ball to Emily Scarr, who beat her marker and looked to be brought down in the box, but the referee waved the calls away.
Keira Ramshaw found some space in the box and got a shot away which was blocked, and the ball came out to Neve Herron whose deep cross flew just past the far post.
Grace Ede came on midway through the half and soon found herself in on goal after an Emma Kelly long ball, but her strike was held by the ‘keeper.
Sunderland’s last chance came from a free-kick as Megan Beer’s deep cross found Grace McCatty, whose header was held.
Mel Reay’s side now have one week to prepare for their final game of the season as they take on Bristol City at Eppleton.
SAFC Ladies: Moan, Mullen, Beer, McCatty, Griffiths, Herron (Manders 83’), Kelly, Joice, Ramshaw © (Watson 68’), Brown (Ede 68’), Scarr.
Subs not used: Cowling, Boyes, Blakey, McInnes.