Sunderland Ladies kick off their pre-season campaign with a loss
Sunderland Ladies kicked off their pre-season fixtures with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Scottish giants Celtic Women at the Academy of Light.
Mel Reay’s side were forced toendureheavypressureinthe second half, with the Hoops makingtheirdominancecount through a fortunate goal from Chloe Warrington.
Defender Charlotte Potts donned the red-and-white stripes for the first time since moving from Hibernian, coming in for Neve Herron, who joined up with England U19s this week.
The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening stages, but Sunderland dug in and grew into the game, Kiera Ramshaw causing problems for the Celtic defence with a dangerous cross.
At the other end, a long ball intotheboxwasmissedbyeveryone and tipped around the postbyClaudiaMoanandfrom the resulting corner, Kathleen McGovern fired over from the edge of the box.
Abbey Joice was the Black Cats’ main danger, the midfielderskippingpastchallenges before playing in Ramshaw, whose left-foot effort flashed inches over the bar.
Celtic had the final effort of the first half when a deep cross found Caitlin Hayes unmarked, but she glanced her header wide.
The start of the second period followed that of the first, withCeltichavingplentyofthe ball,Hayessquanderinganother good opportunity when she
headed Atkinson’s free-kick over the bar.
Sunderland again found their footing as Holly Manders kept Grace McCatty’s cross alive in the box, but Farrugia blasted into the side netting
from the pull-back.
The Black Cats continued to push forward, Ramshaw’s shot collected by substitute goalkeeper Rachel Johnstone before putting together the best move of the game. Meg
Beer played in Emily Hutchinson down the right and her low cross was brilliantly backheeled into Manders’ path by Libby McInnes, but the hosts failed to find the target.
Moments later Celtic hit theupright,beforeMoansaved fromIzzyAtkinsonandMcCatty was called into action with a brave double block to deny Charlie Wellings.
Pinning Sunderland in their own half, the Champions
League hopefuls finally made their pressure count with 13 minutes remaining as Rachel Donaldson laid the ball back to Warrington, and her cross from the left caught Moan flatfooted and looped in.