Harvey Hinkler reports as Sunderland and Newcastle United Women could not be separated in Sunday’s meeting at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland kept pace with rivals Newcastle United at the top of WSL2 in a tense and cagey goalless draw at the Stadium of Light.

Dubbed “El Lassico”, this Wear-Tyne derby felt more significant than those before it in recent seasons as the Black Cats knew that they would go level on points with the league leaders with a win. Unfortunately for the lasses in red and white, they struggled to create against a strong Newcastle side who had the better chances on Wearside. Sunderland stopper Fran Stenson made an excellent first half stop from Martha Thomas, before the league’s top scorer missed a golden chance in the second period.

Mel Reay made two changes from last week’s River Wear derby win over Durham as Marissa Sheva’s goal at the death at Maiden Castle earned her a start alongside Mary Corbyn. Anna Tamminen returned in goal for Newcastle while Hildur Antonsdottir returned to Tanya Oxtoby’s midfield.

Reay was presented with an award marking 250 games in charge of Sunderland, a milestone she reached against Birmingham City in midweek, as was assistant Steph Libbey for reaching 150 games at the club. Despite early Magpies pressure, Sunderland threatened first through the ever-dangerous Katy Watson. The winger shrugged off Torpey’s attempts at a tackle, but Elise Hughes couldn’t overcome the tight angle from the cutback.

Visiting captain Rachel McLaughlan looked to make headlines with a long-range strike on 12 minutes that Stenson needed to be at her best to tip over. The resulting corner was headed narrowly wide by Kathleen McGovern. Newcastle were starting to have the better of things and went dangerously close to opening the scoring before the half hour when Thomas’s first-time shot was excellently tipped around the post by Stenson. Lifelong Mackem Watson was at the heart of Sunderland’s attacks, and she was allowed to drive into the area before seeing her shot blocked.

It was a much cagier start to the second half as Newcastle turned to former Sunderland and Durham star Mollie Lambert at half time to swing the game in their favour. On the hour Kassandra Missipo set Sanni Fransi away, but the winger just overran the ball and couldn’t get a shot away as the game looked ever more likely to be defined by fine margins.

The game’s best chance so far arrived soon after when the space between Corbyn and Brianna Westrup was exploited again as Jordan Nobbs was in-behind. The former Lioness squared for Thomas, but the forward swept wide. Moments later Leanne Kiernan threatened with a shot that was palmed away by Stenson as Newcastle searched for the all important opener. As the game grew older the tension increased. Fans were trying to make Hughes’ contact for her on an excellent Ria Bose cross, but it wasn’t enough to force a save with six minutes to play.

Despite both sides pushing for a winner, a draw serves both well in truth. Newcastle remain top by three points and Sunderland sit just behind them in second.

Sunderland: Stenson, Laplacette (Bose 71), Paxton, Westrup, Corbyn, Missipo, Sheva, Watson, Kitching (Primus 67), Franssi (Scarr 71), Hughes Unused: Schumacher, Brown, Cassap, Fenton, Parker, Bewicke.

Newcastle United: Tamminen, McLaughlan, Nemeth, Evans, Torpey, Antonsdottir (Kiernan 60), Joel, Lumsden (Gregory 74), Nobbs, Thomas, McGovern (Lambert 46) Unused: Rendell, Wardlaw, Purfield, Gregory, Akpan, Mannion, Gale.

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