Reay praise for squad after cup victory

Talk about not wasting any time. New Sunderland Ladies head coach, Melanie Reay, had just TWO training sessions with her squad ahead of her debut match in charge.

But for all the rehearsals may have been short and sweet, the Lady Black Cats did not fluff their lines, beating Aston Villa 3-2 in an exciting FA Cup fifth-round showdown at Hetton.

Reay’s and Sunderland’s preparations had hardly been smooth.

The club had announced the decision to go part-time, had parted company with boss Carlton Fairweather AND lost four star performers.

Given they had only had two low-key behind-closed doors friendlies and they were up against an inform Villa side, who were unbeaten in five matches in 2017, this tie had ‘banana skin’ written over it.

But goals from three of their old guard saw them through.

Central defenders Tori Williams and Hayley Sharp twice put them ahead from inside the sic-yard box but each time Villa fought back through Tasha Baptiste and Lucy Shepherd.

However, Lucy Staniforth’s 65th-minute penalty put the red and whites into today’s quarterfinal draw.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the way we played,” said Reay. “I only went in on Thursday and I’ve just had the two sessions with the players.

“So for them to take on board what I wanted them to do and to get us through to the sixth round was great.

“There was a danger of being rusty so it was important we used our experience.

“We had the quality when we needed it and I think that told in the end.

“We’re not there yet but we have six weeks before the start of the WSL1 Spring Series.

“We were wellorganised, all the players knew their individual roles and collectively we came together as a team to get the win.”

Reay said she was thrilled to take onher dream job having spent two decades as a player, coach and new boss of Sunderland Ladies.

“I’m very grateful to be given the opportunity, I could not turn it down,” she added.