A night to remember for us Bluenoses on a night mixed of emotions on and off the pitch a 93rd minute Lily Crosthwaite thunderbolt put Blues on top of the WSL2 with two games to go. Amy made three changes from the win over Bristol City with two enforced with Lucy Thomas starting in goal after Adrianna Franch injury on Sunday Lotta Lindstrom and Batcheba Louis coming in for the unwell Veatriki Sarri.
FIRST HALF
The first chance of the game came for Blues when captain Chelsea Cornet shot was saved from Demi Lambourne in the 3rd minute.
Sunderland first chance came in the 7th minute when former Blues player Jamie Finn shot from outside the box missed the top right hand corner.
In the 17th minute on loan Nottingham Forest player Caragh Hamilton took aim but her effort went over the bar.
On the 18th minute there was a minutes applause for Paul Pike.
In the 27th minute Blues were award a free kick when Natasha Fenton brought down Chelsea Cornet, Wilma Liedhammar took the free kick and it landed onto the roof of the net.
Blues were coming back into the game and in the 34th minute Oceane Hurtre cut inside and her shot was well saved by Demi Lambourne but it was called back for a offside decision on Lotta Lindstrom.
A minute later Blues were on the attack again when Lindstrom played in Batcheba Louis down the wing her cross picked out Rebecca Holloway but her header went over the bar.
The last chance of the first half came for the visitors when a free kick from Brianna Westrup was put into the Blues box it fell to Elenor Dale who found a yard and her shot was well saved by Lucy Thomas.
HALF TIME BLUES WOMEN 0-0 SUNDERLAND WOMEN
SECOND HALF
The first chance of the second came for Blues when Liedhammar played in Louis into the box her cross was deflected of Westrup which forced a brilliant save from Demi Lambourne for a corner in the 54th minute.
The next chance should have been the opening goal for Sunderland when Libbi McInnes out muscled Miyagawa who played it into Katy Watson whose shot just went passed the post in the 58th minute.
The next chance for Blues was in the 76th minute when Shannon Cookes shot went high and over the bar.
In the 87th a Katie Kitching pass found Eleanor Dale but her shot went wide off the post.
In the 89th a Neve Herron effort was easily gathered up Demi Lambourne.
In the 91st minute a free kick to Sunderland was put into the box from Natasha Fenton which was headed on from Brainna Westrup and felled to Emily Scarr seven yards out and puts it over the top of the bar what a chance.
But in the 93rd minute a last minute goal from Blues put us on top of the table when Shannon Cooke drilled a ball to substitute Lily Crosthwaite who controlled it magnificently who turned and riffled it into the top corner pass Demi Lambourne a goal of absolute quality to win any game.
But in the 96th minute a free kick for Sunderland was delivered into the box from Fenton and was cleared away from the Blues defence and the full time whistle went and the joy of the fans players and staff was a joy to be hold.
FULL TIME BLUES WOMEN 1-0 SUNDERLAND WOMEN
MY THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
If you want to win a game that’s how you do it what a goal from Lily Crosthwaite that goal is not only a goal of the season contender, but it could be one of the most important goals In are recent history. It was just one of the nights before that goal and Sunderland played their part in the game having opportunities and could have hurt us on are number occasions especially Emily Scarr’s chance in the 91st minute to give the lasses the lead. But like the Sunderland fans said to me after the game if you don’t take your chances you always got a chance of throwing it away put Mel Reay should be proud of her team’s efforts and there in my opinion will be up their next season. For Blues & Amy there have another important game outside the league on bank holiday Monday against Manchester City for a place in the Adobe FA Cup Semi Finals its going to be tough but its going to be a challenge but it’s going to be a challenge that the players will give everything on the day.
MY PLAYER OF THE MATCH
It has to be Lily Crosthwaite for that outstanding goal a goal to win any game.
UP NEXT
It’s are Adobe Women’s FA Cup game against WSL League Leaders Manchester City hope to see you down there.
STEPHEN GILL KRO
Thank you Stephen for an extremely detailed blog.
A night to remember for all in attendance.