Women's football: Patient Sunderland rewarded in the end
Two late goals saw Sunderland extend their lead at the top of the FA Tesco Women's National Premier League to seven points.
It was a reward for patience as Sunderland were frustrated by the home side for most of the game, but kept going and finally sealed the points with goals from Natalie Gutteridge and Sarah Danby.
The visitors welcomed back Lucy Staniforth from injury while Lucy Bronze returned from a stint in America to take a place on the bench.
Sunderland dominated possession in a first half of few clear chances,
with the home side happy to sit behind the ball in an attempt to frustrate the Wearsiders.
Demi Stokes caused problems with her powerful running while Danby, Gutteridge and Jordan Nobbs had opportunities which failed to seriously trouble Sue Wood in the Birmingham goal.
Birmingham came closest to opening the scoring in the first half when an Issy Christiansen shot from just outside the box was parried by Sunderland keeper Rachael Laws onto the underside of the crossbar, with Bird hitting the follow-up shot wide.
The second half continued with Sunderland enjoying much of the possession but lacking penetration.
Birmingham began to be more adventurous and pushed forward to test the visitors through Potter and Christiansen but the defence, marshalled well by Bannon and Wilson, snuffed out the danger.
Danby went close following excellent work down the right by Holmes and Staniforth. She turned her marker well but Wood made a smart save.
Sunderland pushed forward again in search of the breakthrough and Kelly McDougall was denied by a Wood save at the back post.
Then, Gemma Wilson thought she had scored the opening goal from a McDougall corner, but it was chalked off for a foul.
Just as the game seemed to be heading for a draw the Wearsiders found something extra.
From a McDougall corner, Gutteridge outjumped the home defence to head firmly into the roof of the net after 83 minutes.
Five minutes later it was two as Danby's persistence paid off. She pressured the home defence and forced a back pass which fell short and she was smartly on to it to fire into the far corner of the goal.
Sunderland: Laws, Holmes (Bronze), Bannon, Wilson, Devine, Staniforth, Nobbs, McDougall, Stokes, Danby (Atkinson), Gutteridge. Sub (not used): Salicki.
Sunderland could face Everton at the Hetton Centre on Sunday.
The game had been postponed to allow Everton to meet Liverpool in the County Cup.
However, Liverpool's FA Cup second round game was postponed yesterday and they may now have to play that game this weekend instead. And that would leave Everton free to make the visit to Wearside.
A decision is expected soon.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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