Ladies suffer heavy home defeat at the hands of the lethal Villans
Sunderland Ladies were crushed 7-0 by Aston Villa in the Continental League Cup at Eppleton CW to round off a difficult week.
The Black Cats were two down inside the first 10 minutes as Laura Blindkilde and then Ramona Petzelburger capitalisedonthevisitors’early dominance.
Remi Allen’s goal just before half time all but finished the match as a contest but four goalsinthesecondhalf,including a double from player of the match Alisha Lehmann, compounded a miserable afternoon for Mel Reay’s side.
With key players such as captain Keira Ramshaw and Grace McCatty missing through injury or personal reasons,Reayselectedastrong startingXIbutcouldonlyname four substitutes which included academy graduates Daisy Burt and Grace Ede.
In horrendous conditions at Eppleton, Villa raced into an early lead as Blindkilde combinedwellwithAllendownthe right and her mishit cross clatteredthefarpostandbounced into the net.
Minutes later, it was two – this time Blindkilde teeing up Petzelburger on the edge of the area who calmly finished beyond Claudia Moan into the bottom corner.
The shell-shocked hosts struggled to keep possession andBlindkildealmostclaimed her second on the half hour with a powerful swirling effort which Moan did well to tip over the bar.
Despite glimpses of goal for Emily Scarr and Abbey Joice, the Super League side controlled the ball for much of the half and extended their lead four minutes from the break.
AdeepcornerhitaSunderlandplayerintheboxandfellat the feet of Allen who bundled into the net from yards out.
As the rain continued to fall heavily, referee Magdena
Goldba conducted a pitch inspection at half time but gave the go-ahead to continue after a long deliberation.
Villa, in a commanding positionandnotwantingtomake another trip to the North East, continuedwheretheyleftoffas Lehmann’s effort was scrambled off the goal line by Neve HerronandMazPachecofired wide of the upright.
Lehmann scored her side’s
fourthwith20minutestogoas she nodded in Chaney Boyehlorkah’s pinpoint cross from close range.
The Switzerland international,whotormentedtheSunderland backline throughout, then claimed another as she broke clear and prodded the ball past the onrushing Moan.
Substitute Boye-hlorkah slottedhomeGemmaDavison’s passtomakeitsixforrelentless
VillaandAllenaddedaseventh with a minute to go.
However, there were positives for Sunderland: Burt came on for a promising senior debut with fellow Lionesses youth international Ede alsoimpressingina25-minute cameo.
The Black Cats will be aiming to get back on track this weekend when they travel to Brighouse Town in the FA Cup third round, before Liverpool returntoWearsideintheConti Cup.
A trip to Sheffield United in theleaguewillbeSunderland’s final fixture of 2021 ahead of the winter break.
Sunderland: Moan; Kelly ©, Potts, Herron, Griffiths; McInnes, Joice, Manders (Burt 84’), Scarr (Ede 64’), Farrugia; Blakey. Subs not used: Cowling, Beer.