Late equaliser denies Sunderland famous Derby Day victory, writes Harvey Hinkler.
A late leveller denied Sunderland Women a first league win over Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby on Sunday afternoon.
Katy Watson gave the Black Cats the lead inside 20 minutes with a wonderful finish before Newcastle ramped up the pressure after half-time. Emily Murphy saw a goal ruled out for offside, but Oona Sevenius’ equaliser stood and the spoils were shared at the Stadium of Light.
There was one change for Mel Reay’s side and it was quite the surprise. With both Rhiannon Roberts and Hannah Greenwood unavailable, 19-year-old centre-half Chloe Paxton was rewarded with her first senior start.
Tanya Oxtoby’s Newcastle also made just one change as Shania Hayles came in for Beth Lumsden. It was Newcastle who started the brighter and they almost took the lead inside five minutes as Jemma Purfield headed just over from a Freya Gregory corner.
However, the Black Cats grew into the game and took the lead via an excellent Watson finish who stretched to meet Marissa Sheva’s looping cross and find the bottom corner. The hosts were happy to allow the Tynesiders the lion’s share of possession in the first-half and sought opportunities to hit them on the break. Clear chances were at a premium, but the Sunderland tactics were certainly a source of frustration for Newcastle as they looked to respond.
A succession of Newcastle corners put the Sunderland resolve to the test right before the interval, but the pressure was lifted when Molly Pike’s effort flew over everyone and behind for a goal kick. Oxtoby introduced fellow Australian Kaitlyn Torpey at half-time, the defender’s first appearance since returning from the Women’s Asian Cup where she earned a runner-up medal.
An early second half slip from skipper Brianna Westrup, but her teammates put their bodies in the way of efforts to deny Pike and Emily Murphy. Sunderland were on the hunt for a second as Watson’s several crosses were always just an inch away from finding their targets.
Changes for both sides after the hour saw the tempo of the contest pick up slightly. Pike again went close as her attempted lob went over Lambourne’s goal. Newcastle thought they’d levelled on 75 minutes when a scramble in the area broke to Murphy to finish, but the assistant had his offside flag up to spare Wearside blushes.
The pressure eventually told as substitute Sevenius finished low beyond Lambourne from inside the area with nine minutes remaining. There was almost a dramatic winner in the last minute of normal time as Emily Scarr’s corner found fellow substitute Jamie Finn, but the midfielder couldn’t make a solid connection and Anna Tamminen was able to gather.
It’s a result that leaves Sunderland firmly in mid-table while Newcastle lose ground in the promotion race with Crystal Palace and Birmingham City both securing victories.
Sunderland: Lambourne, Brown, Westrup, Paxton, Hamilton, Sheva, Fenton (McInnes 85), Kitching (Scarr 67), Watson (Finn 85), Dale, M. Griffiths (Jones 90+2).
Unused: Blench, Bewicke, Blades, Dunbar.
Newcastle United: Tamminen, Wardlaw (Torpey 46), Mannion, Cooper, Purfield (Sevenius 66), Gregory, Kelly (Gautrat 83), Pike, Nobbs, Murphy, Hayles (Lumsden 66).
Unused: Moan, Stokes, Grec, McQuade, Joel.
Goals: SAFC: Watson (17) NUFC: Sevenius (81)
Attendance: 10,156
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