Sunderland boost title hopes with victory over Southampton | OneFootball

Sunderland have boosted their chances of winning the Barclays Women’s Championship title after The Lady Black Cats defeated Southampton 1-0 at The Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground this afternoon.

Mary McAteer scored the winning goal for Sunderland early in the second half as they recorded a hugely important victory against a promotion rival.

It was Southampton that posed the greater attacking threat in the first half but they were guilty of spurning a couple of really good goalscoring opportunities. First, Molly Pike was played in on goal but she scuffed her effort wide. The midfielder was then provider for Ella Morris who also failed to hit the target with her shot.

At the other end, Sunderland looked sure to open the scoring just before half-time but Mollie Rouse was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle from Jemma Purfield.

The deadlock was broken early in the second half and it was Sunderland who netted the game’s first goal. McAteer took aim from 20 yards and she expertly picked out the top corner of Kayla Rendell’s net. The Lady Black Cats again went close minutes later but Rendell clawed away an Amy Goddard header.

Southampton pressed hard for an equaliser late in the match with Pike forcing a good reaction save from home keeper Claudia Moan but The Saints were unable to rescue a share of the spoils.

This afternoon’s result moves Sunderland four points clear at the top of the Barclays Women’s Championship table. Southampton are four points behind in third place. Both sides have five games left to play.