CATS LET LEAD SLIP
NOTTS COUNTY LADIES 2 SUNDERLAND LADIES 1: HOSTS HIT BACK FOR VICTORY
Sunderland Ladies manager Carlton Fairweather was left disappointed by the manner with which his side let Notts County back into the game after a strong first-half performance.
But he was confident his side would learn the lessons of their defeat ahead of their next FA WSL fixture - at home to Notts County in late October.
“It was a disappointing result in the end, giving away two soft goals, both set pieces,” he said.
“It wasn’t a game where they carved us open and scored a great goal,” he said.
“That’s what is so disappointing about the result; it’s just making sure in our two remaining games that we take some points.
“The message at the start of the second-half was to expect the unexpected.
“We knew Rick (Passmoor) was going to make sure his players came out for the second-half fired up, which they did and we didn’t match them, so that is something that we have got to learn from.”
Notts County started brightly and had a shout for a penalty turned down, when the ball appeared to strike an out-stretched Sunderland hand.
But the Lady Pies were opened up just before the break, when a long free-kick into the box fell to Tori Williams who hooked the ball into the net to put Sunderland 1-0 in front at half-time.
The home side were quickly back on level terms in the second half, as Rachel Williams rose above the defence to head home the equaliser and put her side on the front foot.
The goal seemed to galvanise the Lady Pies, who went in front midway through the second-half when Jess Clarke looped her header over Sunderland goalkeeper Rachael Laws.
Sunderland went in search of the goal that would draw them level but could not convert their pressure into a meaningful chance as Notts County held on for a narrow victory.
Notts County: Walsh, Luik, Whelan, Bassett, Buet, Potter, Moore, Crichton, James (Whelan 80), Clarke, Williams. Subs not Used: Ejupi.
Sunderland: Laws, Holmes, Williams, Bannon, Sharp, Ramshaw, McDougall (Kelly 74), Hill, Staniforth, Mead, Joice (Leon 74). Subs not used: Olsen, Beer, Brown
Att: 872 Ref: Anthony Tankard
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