Blakey takes treble chance in Cup romp
SUNDERLAND Ladies cruised into the Women’s FA Cup third round after defeating Sheffield Women 5-1 at the Academy of Light.
Goals from Keira Ramshaw and Holly Manders added to Eve Blakey’s hat-trick as the Lady Black Cats swept aside their opponents in a dominant display.
The visitors pulled a goal back early in the second half but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as Mel Reay’s side ran rampant.
Heading into the game the Sunderland boss had predicted a slow-paced contest - but the first half was anything but.
The hosts flew into the lead after just two minutes when Ramshaw collected the ball from Emily Scarr and skipped past two challenges before finding the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
From then it was one-way traffic as Manders, Abbey Joice and Scarr all missed good chances to double the advantage before the Black Cats’ pressure paid off on the half-hour.
Scarr’s vicious in-swinging corner was met by Manders, who tapped in from close range.
The midfielder had opportunities to notch her second with Scarr and Joice also trying their luck before Blakey gave the home side a deserved three-goal lead just before half-time.
A driving run and pass from Scarr found Ramshaw who poked the ball to the young forward, whose shot slid under the Sheffield goalkeeper for her first senior goal.
The Yorkshire side upped the tempo after the break and were given a glimmer of hope when a free-kick from the flanks deflected in off Neve Herron.
However, any comeback was abruptly ended as Sunderland netted their fourth on the hour.
Subsititute Jess Brown collected the ball on the left and drove into the box, cutting the ball back to Blakey who fired into the roof of the net.
Manders, a constant threat from midfield, skimmed the bar from a tight angle with Blakey shooting wide from close range and Brown agonizingly missing Emily Hutchinson’s dangerous cross at the far post.
As the game entered stoppage time, another surge into the box from Blakey was blocked by a defender and the forward stepped up to convert the spot kick and complete her hat-trick.
Sunderland visit Burnley in the third round on Sunday with a glamour tie against Super League side Manchester United awaiting the winners.