At a rain-soaked Bramall Lane, Sunderland secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Sheffield United Women, courtesy of an 85th minute goal from Eleanor Dale.
Despite the defeat, Sheffield United’s goalkeeper, Sian Rogers, was the standout performer, delivering a series of brilliant saves that kept her team in the game until the very end.
The match began with Sunderland riding the momentum of a three-match winning streak, compared to the Blades solitary win, earlier in the season. Though there was just one place separating them in the table, Sunderland were nine points better off, being closer to the top of the league than to United at kick-off.
15′ A quiet opening with neither keeper yet to be tested at the Lane.
⚔️ 0-0 🔵 pic.twitter.com/kLARu0946H
— Sheffield United Women (@sufc_women) November 17, 2024
From the first whistle, Sunderland pressed hard. After a collision in the book, the visitors thought they had taken an early lead, only for the goal to be ruled out due to a foul in the penalty area. Rogers in the Blades net continued to soak up the pressure, saving impressively from close range multiple times in the first half an hour to keep the Black Cats at bay.
The balance of play began to turn approaching half-time, with United beginning to test Demi Lambourne in the Sunderland goal.
The second half was much of the same, with both teams coming frustratingly close on multiple occasions. Sunderland’s best chance came to Libi McInnes, who struck the corner of the crossbar of post with a powerful shot shortly after play had resumed.
Both keepers continued to play their part, with Lambourne and Rogers making impressive stops to keep the scores level at 0-0 for the majority of the second half.
Both teams were initially hesitant to make changes, perhaps sensing that the game was finely in the balance- but a key change was made just after the hour, when Ellen Jones replaced Mary McAteer for Sunderland.
Blades best chance would come later on still, when Maria Farrugia put an open goal into the path of Jacqui Hand, but was unable to find the target.
The breakthrough finally came in the 85th minute when Eleanor Dale scored a goal, delivering the decisive blow for Sunderland, striking home the ball hard under Rogers. Despite the team’s best efforts, the visitors sealed their victory, continuing their winning streak and leaving the Blades still searching for consistency this season.
Defeat, and results elsewhere, leaves Blades tenth with just four points from their opening ten games. Sunderland, meanwhile, rose to sixth following results elsewhere, and have now won their last four league games after a sluggish start.
Gameweek 10 in the #BarclaysWC certainly did not disappoint! 🤯
Which result was your standout? pic.twitter.com/CC9t4u5V4N
— Barclays Women’s Championship (@BarclaysWC) November 17, 2024
Blades now take a break from league action until the New Year, and travel to Durham in the League Cup next week, with kick-off on Sunday 24 November, at 12:00pm.
Sunderland meanwhile host Blackburn Rovers at 2:00pm next Sunday. They return to league action on December 15, where they host the team currently in the relegation place, Portsmouth.
