By beating Millwall Lionesses yesterday at The Den, Sunderland Ladies finished the inaugural season of the FA WSL 2 as champions and, with it, earned promotion to the top tier, subject to meeting off-field licensing requirements.
Going into the final day of the season, Sunderland were top of the table, two points ahead of promotion rivals Doncaster Rovers Belles, but with an inferior goal difference. The Black Cats, who knew they needed all three points with the Belles expected to win, could have secured the title three weeks ago. A home victory against Donny, who were at the time eight points off the pace, would have made the match more comfortable for manager Mick Mulhern who had to listen to the match on the radio, due to work commitments as a police officer. But the Belles came out onto in that tight match, winning 2-1, and then were able to win their game in hand to set up a tense final day.
And it threatened to be a tough day for Sunderland, with Donny racing to a 4-0 lead after just 17 minutes away to bottom side London Bees. Bethany England, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Jess Sigsworth and Millie Bright were on target as the Belles increased their goal difference to nine better than Sunderland, meaning that they would take the title if the Black Cats could only draw.
However, as the Belles fourth goal went in, Kelly McDougall’s 20-yard shot was flying into the top corner. Sunderland taking the lead with the midfielders third league goal of the season to take the pressure off the leaders.
As Sunderland controlled the rest of their first half, elsewhere in London, Doncaster were still running riot and were ready to pounce on any slip ups from the league leaders, going in at the half time five goals up after a Anneka Nuttall own goal.
But Sunderland came out after the break looking for a second, and could have scored again early on, but Rachel Furness’ shot struck the crossbar from 35 yards out. However, not long after the lead was doubled. Furness getting her goal after heading in the vital second goal at the back post in the 63rd minute. The Black Cats continued to dominate the match and ensured the WSL 2 title by scoring another two goals in the next five minutes. Keira Ramshaw with a brilliant volley before Abbey Joice smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
Doncaster increased their lead with Bright and Sweetman-Kirk scoring again and Sue Smith and Rhiannon Roberts adding a goal each to win 9-0, their seventh win in a row. But their biggest league win of the season was in vain as they fell two points short of the eventual league winners.
Elsewhere, Reading Women finished 3rd after a comprehensive 3-0 over mid-table Watford Ladies, with Bianca Bragg, who scored a brace, and Shelly Cox on target. Fourth placed Aston Villa struck twice in the last 30 minutes to beat Oxford United, who finished second bottom in the ten-team league, 2-0. And at New Ferens Park, Durham and Yeovil ended the season with a 1-1 draw, with goals from Ellie Christon and Sarah Wiltshire.