Sunderland Ladies were beaten on home soil against Crystal Palace Women in the FA Women’s Championship.
Palace’s Molly Sharpe scored the only goal of the game in the second half to seal the victory for the visitors.
The Lasses started well in the first half and had the first real chance when Emma Kelly found space inside the box, but her shot was sliced wide of the near post.
The chances kept coming for Mel Reay’s side with opportunities falling to both Emily Scarr and Maria Farrugia, but neither could convert.
Minutes later, Scarr appeared to be fouled inside the opposition box, but no penalty was given.
Reay was forced into a change in the first half as Megan Beer was substituted through injury, and Abby Towers came on for her debut after her return to the club last week.
Both sides could have taken the lead around the 30-minute mark, with Scarr striking the far post with a superb effort, and Palace broke on the counter, also striking the post with the resulting chance.
Sunderland had a goal disallowed in the second half as Grace McCatty’s header from a corner struck Farrugia who put the ball in the net, but the flag was raised for offside.
Palace took the lead in the 60th minute on the counter as Sharpe was threaded through and took her chance for the away side.
Scarr created two opportunities late into the second half, the first one beating her marker and playing in Abbey Joie, whose shot was blocked, and her second cross flashed across goal, but no-one could tap it in.
The Lasses have a week to prepare for another home game as they host Charlton Athletic next Sunday.
Sunderland AFC: Cowling, Brown, Beer (Towers 26’), McCatty, Griffiths (Mullen 87’), Kelly (Watson 68’), Ramshaw ©, McInnes (Manders 87’), Joice, Scarr (Ede 87’), Farrugia.
Subs not used: Moan, Boyes, Burt, Blakey.