On Sunday, Blues drew with a strong Sunderland team that was hard to break down. Mary Mcateer gave Sunderland the advantage in the 17th minute, and we had to wait until the 12th minute before Christie Harrison-Murray of Scotland equalized. Blues should have won since Claudia Moan made three distinct saves in goal and we struck the woodwork three times. On the eighth minute, we also remembered the late Maddy Cusack, and it was a touching time.
UPPER HALF
The opening chance of the game belonged to the Black Cats as Natasha Fenton missed with a header after a corner was sent to the back post in the seventh minute.
We honored the late Maddy Cusack in the eighth minute with a minute of applause and an emotional moment.
When a Charlie Devlin shot was stopped by Claudia Moan in the 14th minute, the Blues had their first opportunity of the game.
A really nice play by Ejupi and Brown with a one-two and Brown going to the byline with a cross that found Mary Mcateer who sent it past Lucy Thomas to make 0-1 to the black cats three minutes later gave the visitors the lead.
Jessica Brown took the ball down and sent it toward the goal in the 22nd minute, but the Blues defense knocked it away.
Blues Ellie Mason’s shot deflected and struck the crossbar in the 32nd minute. Then, two minutes later, we struck the crossbar once more; however, this time, Charlie Devlin’s free kick was
Moan made an incredible save he tipping Charlie Devlin’s free kick against the bar.
How unlucky can you get? Charlie Devlin’s free kick struck the bar again in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
SUNDERLAND 1-0, BLUES 0 at halftime
DEUXIME HALF
The visitors got off to a strong start, and in the 47th minute, Elizabeth Ejupi of the Black Cats could have increased the advantage when she broke free and had a one-on-one with Thomas. Fortunately for us, though, her shot missed the net.
A minute later, one of the Blues’ substitutes, Katie Dungate, made a fantastic cut. Moan executed a great save on her shot.
The black cat’s defense did a good job of stopping a corner that the blues had in the 64th minute, but Herron’s attempt flew over the crossbar.
In the 70th minute, Ejupi found Katie Kitching on the right side, but Thomas was able to stop her shot with ease.
Twelve minutes before the end of the game, Christie Harrison-Murray of Scotland scored the goal we were hoping for after some fantastic play from Dungate who cut it back for her. The crowd screamed in pleasure and relief.
Nothing much transpired despite the fact that both sides were searching for the victor.
BLUES 1-0 SUNDERLAND AT FULL TIME
MY PERSPECTIVES ON THE GAME
Gaining four points from the previous two games against Southampton and a team like Sunderland, who are now unbeaten, is progress, but I believe the girls understand what they want. After hitting the crossbar three times, they ought to have earned all three points, but even so, a point for Mel Reay’s club is still not bad.
At St. Andrews, it was also a difficult day as many remembered the late Maddy Cusack, who went away tragically a few weeks ago.
Athlete of the game
Goalkeeper Claudia Moan of the Black Cat has to get my vote since some of her stops were incredible.
UP NEXT
We play WSL team Brighton in the Conti Cup’s opening midweek match on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
