Sunderland Women earned a point against Newcastle United at the Stadium of Light on Sunday
For a brief moment, it looked as if Sunderland would win the derby in stoppage time for the second time in seven days.
A long throw was launched into the box, flicked on and nodded agonisingly over the bar by striker Eleanor Dale. This time, Sunderland would share the points with Newcastle United.
Having led for around an hour in the game, it will be a draw that leaves Sunderland with some frustration and the sense of an opportunity missed. It was also unmistakably a step in the right direction for Mel Reay and her side. In recent years Sunderland v Durham had become the predominant rivalry in North East Women's football, the game marked out on calendars on fixture release day. Having competed against each other so often and with such familiarity between the two teams, it remains a huge occasion and one in which Sunderland are rightly proud of their exceptional recent record. Newcastle's takeover by Saudi Arabia's PIF upended the hierarchy in an instant, and Sunderland have lost all three league clashes against their neighbours since they won promotion to WSL 2. The disparity between the two budgets and squads was reflected here not just by Jordan Nobbs playing in midfield for the visitors, but also by the fact that fellow former Lioness Demi Stokes was merely a substitute. Sunderland have become the clear underdogs, but have failed to produce the kind of spirited performances needed to narrow the gap.
This was different. Sunderland were clinical in the first half, seizing their first chance when Katy Watson's first-time volley found the far corner. More importantly, they were tireless out of possession and in a way that will have pleased their supporters, were horrible to play against. They snapped into duels all over the pitch, won 50-50s and kept Newcastle away from their box even if they dominated the ball. Ultimately they will rue a 15-minute spell in the second half when they tired and dropped too deep, inviting the pressure from which the visitors inevitably equalised. It was a fair result, but a good one for Sunderland with potentially big ramifications for the region. Newcastle dropped points they really needed, losing ground on their rivals and dropping three points of the promotion play-off spot with just three games to go. For Sunderland this was about pride and stopping the recent derby rot, but by doing so they might have played a key role in ensuring this fixture remains on the calendar next season.
The investment in Newcastle means that it is a matter of when, not if, they become a Super League club. For Sunderland, the debate is how best they can bridge the gap in the long run and they have spent much of the last year in discussions over potential external investment. It has been a rollercoaster campaign that has had moments of real promise and plenty of frustration, but the club's passionate fans will take heart not just from this result but the manner of the display. It was another step forward for the impressive Watson, while 19-year-old Chloe Paxton produced a brilliant display at centre half on full debut in the most pressurised of circumstances. A strong academy and a strong out-of-possession structure have powered Sunderland's growth over the last five years, and remain key to their future whatever this summer brings.
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