Sunderland Bag the Points

Cardiff City Ladies made the long trip to league leaders Sunderland in the first meeting of the two teams in the FA Women’s Premier League this season and came away empty handed after a 2-0 defeat.

Both teams battled hard through the first half and good discipline from both teams kept the number of chances to a minimum in very windy and blustery conditions that prevented a spectacle. The opening half hour belonged to Sunderland but the Cardiff defensive back four did well to reduce Sunderland to half chances.

On 33 minutes Cardiff lost possession on the right hand side allowing the Sunderland winger Natalie Gutteridge to break and pick out an unmarked Beth Mead in the six yard box to slot the ball into the net to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Sunderland kept the pressure up and Gutteridge had another close effort denied by in form Rhian Nokes in the Cardiff goal.

Cardiff reacted strongly through centre midfielder, Steph Williams, who struck a great long range effort that clipped the top of the cross bar. Sunderland ended the half strongly, when just before the break there was a scramble within the Cardiff penalty area, with several players having shots blocked by a stout Cardiff defence with the ball ending safely in Nokes’ arms. The home team took a slender 1-0 lead in at half time.

The second half opened with some lively end-to-end play. Sunderland’s Kelly McDougall curled the ball from the edge of the box but Nokes did well to hold on in the blustery conditions.

Cardiff were forced to change their formation when youngster Lauren Price had to leave the field with an injured shoulder and was replaced by substitute Annie Pritchard. They were then subjected to a dubious decision when, on a long range free kick from Stephanie Bannon, Nokes appeared to be bundled over, leaving the ball to float into the open net and give the home side a 2-0 victory and all three points.
 
Cardiff travel to the Midlands next Sunday to take on Sporting Club Albion in the round robin fixture of the League Cup.