Sunderland are sitting at the top of their FA Women’s Continental League Cup group after defeating Blackburn Rovers 2-1 at the Sir Tom Finney Stadium last night.
First half goals from Grace McCatty and Holly Manders helped secure the win for The Lady Black Cats who managed to hang on despite a late goal from Farah Crompton.
The first 20 minutes of the game were fairly quiet. The only notable chance fell to Annabel Blanchard whose clever play created an opening but she saw her strike from the edge of the area bounce off the post. Sunderland’s number nine Eve Blakey then had her first opening of the match, a quick break from the visitors led to her being played in but her shot was off-target.
Aimee Hodgson had a great chance to give her side the lead just before the half-hour. A drilled ball into the box found the Rovers midfielder but her shot was saved by Allison Cowling in the Sunderland goal. The Lady Black Cats responded with an opportunity of their own. Captain Emma Kelly cut inside after receiving the ball from out wide but her curling effort forced an easy save for Alex Brooks.
It was the Wearsiders who broke the deadlock in the 36th minute. Defender McCatty flicked the ball home from a free-kick to give her side the lead, that goal made it two in two for the Sunderland number five.
The visitors doubled their advantage just before the break. A corner was swung in and the ball found it’s way to Manders who fired home from close range.
A second half response from the hosts was needed and the Lancashire side did test Allison Cowling in the Sunderland goal early on. A short free-kick from Blanchard to Issy Dean allowed the latter to cross for Millie Chandarana but her shot was saved by Cowling before the Sunderland keeper also denied Mia Parry from the rebound.
At the other end, some good work in the Sunderland midfield provided an opportunity to Blakey who saw her close range effort saved by Rovers keeper Brooks. The Lady Black Cats then could have had a third goal. A mistake from keeper Brooks gifted the ball to Kelly in the box. She squared it Blakey whose shot was saved before Emily Scarr’s effort was cleared off the line by Jade Richards.
With 12 minutes to go, Rovers pulled one back. A quick one-two between Crompton and Saffron Jordan allowed the former space to shoot and she slotted home.
Despite conceding that late goal, Sunderland held on for the victory which takes them to the top of their group after two games.
By Matthew Ward
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