Women's Report: Sunderland 0-3 Saints

Saints had Fran Stenson to thank for the scores remaining goalless at the break as the goalkeeper denied Eleanor Dale from the penalty spot.

In the second half, they turned on the style with a brace from Rianna Dean, including a remarkable lob from distance that was replicated by Molly Pike in stoppage time to seal the win.

Remi Allen named an unchanged side from the opening day of the season, with Saints looking to build on their point against Bristol City.

Rachel Rowe in action for an unchanged Saints. (Photos: Ian Horrocks)

There was a sense of anticipation at a lively Eppleton Colliery Welfare Ground, with both sides looking for their first win of the season on matchday two.

Saints looked confident from the off as the first chance fell to Rianna Dean, who raced onto a long ball over the defence but saw her one-on-one shot saved at a narrowing angle.

The early pressure piled on Sunderland rallied their players and fans alike, as Emily Scarr won the ball high and teed up Mary McAteer, whose shot was blocked by a well-timed Lucia Kendall recovery.

The hosts had turned the tide after 20 minutes with battling play as Saints struggled to clear their lines in a tense spell, with their goalkeeper to thank as the scores stayed level.

Stenson’s first act of heroism came at full stretch as she leapt to her right to push away a well-struck, top corner-bound volley from Jenna Dear.

At the other end, Saints did go close once more through Rachel Rowe who had an attempt smothered after dancing through the defence.

However, Sunderland remained marginally on top and were awarded a penalty when Stenson brought down Scarr to deny a flowing counter attack.

The goalkeeper made instant amends though, as she lunged to her left to push the spot kick away and keep the scoreline goalless heading into half-time.

Fran Stenson's penalty stop.

Saints needed to swing the game back in their favour, and they did so in the second half with renewed confidence.

Despite limited clear-cut opportunities, the balance of play was wrestled back into their hands; Rachel Rowe rattled the crossbar from range to signal the shift in momentum.

The first goal arrived with less than twenty minutes to play when Lucia Kendall won the ball high and found Rowe, who in turn slipped in Dean to slot the ball underneath the advancing Demi Lambourne.

It was advantage to Saints and one way traffic after that, as the confidence began to flow in a reversal of how the first half ended.

Dean doubled the lead and her tally ten minutes later and it came in some style, as she spotted Lambourne off her line and lobbed her from fully 30 yards out.

Rianna Dean celebrates her stunning second.

Saints were firmly in the ascendancy and flying, with their first half performance far behind them.

The icing on the cake arrived in stoppage time from Molly Pike who, not to be outdone by her attacking partner, replicated the second goal with a lob from distance once again to seal the victory.

It leaves Saints with four points from their opening two matches ahead of a return to St Mary’s for back-to-back home games in the Barclays Women’s Championship.

Sunderland: Lambourne, Stapleton, Goddard, McAteer (Watson 72), Scarr, Dale, Kitching (McInnes 72), Brown, Fenton (c), Ede, Dear.

Subs not used: Borthwick, Corbyn, Beer, Flannery, West.

Yellow Cards: Stapleton 80.

Saints: Stenson, Collett (Brown 83), Mott, Bourne, Purfield (c), Kendall, Palmer (Griffiths 69), Gregory (Peake 90+2), Rowe, Dean (Thompson 90+2), Pike.

Subs not used: Haaland, Milne, Nohasiarisoa, Watts.

Goals: Dean 73, 84, Pike 90+4.

Referee: Adewunmi Soneye.

Attendance: 582.