Blakley's hat-trick hands Sunderland Ladies third round FA Cup clash

Sunderland Ladies convincingly defeated Sheffield FC 5-1 to advance to the third round of the FA Cup yesterday afternoon.

And with the game taking place behind closed doors at the Academy of Light, we take you through everything you may have missed as Mel Reay’s side returned to competitive action.

Goals from Keira Ramshaw and Holly Manders plus an Eve Blakley hattrick were enough to hand Sunderland a 5-1 win.

Star midfielder Maria Farrugia was not involved and is still in Malta due to Covid-19 restrictions but there were starts for Abbey Joice and Faye Mullen.

It was all Sunderland from the get-go with captain Ramshaw netting for the hosts just two minutes into the game from the edge of the area.

Manders doubled the scoreline when she connected with Emily Scarr’s corner on the 28-minute mark.

Blakely then bagged her first goal for Sunderland Ladies two minutes shy of halftime following good work from Ramshaw to give Reay’s side a three-goal advantage at the interval.

Jessica Brown replaced Joice for the second half, but the visitors started well and managed to peg Sunderland back in the 56th minute with a goal.

But Blakely netted her second to restore the Black Cats’ three-goal advantage soon after with a volley.

Manders made way for Libbi McInnes not long after Sunderland’s fourth with Scarr being replaced by Emily Hutchinson with 15 minutes to play.

Blakely then netted her third and cemented a hattrick from the penalty spot as Sunderland Ladies ran out 5-1 winners in the end against Sheffield FC.

Sunderland Ladies will face Burnley or Fylde away in the third round on April 11.

If they win again, thirdtier Sunderland Ladies could face a glamour tie against top-division Manchester United at home in the fourth round.

That tie will be played on April 18.

However, the Lasses won’t play in the league again this season after the FAWNL was curtailed early for the second campaign in a row.

But Sunderland have also supporters that they want Reay's side to return to the FA Women's Championship 'as quickly as possible'.