Ladies show their cutting edge in penalty shootout win over Blades

Keira Ramshaw’s dramatic stoppage-time penalty helped Sunderland Ladies begin their Continental League Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United.

The captain came off the bench to cancel out Courtney Sweetman-Kirk’s second half opener, calmly slotting home from the spot to take the game to a shoot-out which the Black Cats won to secure a vital bonus point.

Forward Eve Blakey made her first appearance of the season, with new signing and RegionalTalentClubgraduate Grace Ede named among the substitutes. In a cagey opening 20 minutes, the visitors enjoyed most of the possession but neither side was able to create any clear chances.

The Blades started the second half the brighter and tested the Sunderland defence on several occasions, before taking the lead before the hour.

Jess Clarke’s deep cross from the right flank found Sweetman-Kirk at the far post who netted her fourth goal of the season with a neat finish.

TheformerLiverpoolplayerwascausingalotofproblems for Sunderland’s make-shift backline, which was missing Charlotte Potts and Grace McCatty, and almost doubled her tally minutes later as she expertly rounding Cowling but was unable to find the target from a tight angle.

With 15 minutes to go, Ede came on for her debut to a rousing reception from the few Black Cats supporters who had travelled to South Yorkshire,havingonlyturned 16 this month.

Ede’sintroductionseemed to galvanise her team who kicked up a gear with numerous chances to score.

Deep into the fifth minute of added time the referee pointed to the spot after Sophie Walton was adjudged to have handled in the box. The experienced Ramshaw steppedup,calmlypassedthe ball into the net to spark wild celebrations.

United had no time to find an answer as the final whistle blew to signal a penalty shootouttodecidewhowould claim the bonus point.

Ramshaw,unnerved,took Sunderland’s first and made no mistake.

Sunderlandtooka4-2lead after Emma Kelly, Neve Herron and Emily Scarr all converted their spot kicks, with Kasia Lipka having to score to keep her side in the tie. However, the former Black Cat hit the post to give the away side two points and a boost of confidence.