Sunderland Uni Women 1sts 2 – 6 Sheffield Hallam Uni women 2nds

Sunderland’s strong start to the campaign came to an end as they fell to their first defeat of the season, losing 6-2 at home against Sheffield Hallam.

The away side took the lead in the fifth minute before Sunderland equalised after a quarter of an hour.

Three goals in quick succession just before half time from Sheffield Hallam took the game away from Sunderland and the visitors further extended their advantage from the spot just after the break. Sunderland reduced the deficit in the 56th minute before the away side completed the scoring in the 85th minute to secure a 6-2 victory.

Hallam started off well, going at Sunderland from the off. After having a shot cleared off the line in the second minute the away side took the lead in the fifth minute when the Hallam centre half headed home directly from a corner. However the home team responded well equalising in the 15th minute after they had a shot blocked from a corner and kept the ball alive captain Megan Wheeler fired past the Hallam keeper.

Both sides continued to battle before Hallam took the lead again in the 36th minute. After Sunderland failed to clear their lines from a corner, the away side scrambled the ball in to make it 2-1.

As Sunderland looked to get back level an interception from Hallam led to a devastating counter attack and the visitors doubled their lead. Things then went from bad to worse for the home side when Sheffield got their third goal directly from a set piece right on the stroke of half time, putting them 4-1 up at the break.

After the break, Hallam continued as they left off. After being awarded a contentious penalty a minute into the second half, the Sheffield striker fired home to getting her second of the game and Hallam’s fifth.

Sunderland got one goal back in the 56th through Wheeler’s second of the game but it was too little too late and Sheffield Hallam completed the rout five minutes from time as the visitors’ striker grabbed her third goal of a game through a tap in.

The home side will look to bounce back in their next league match against Leeds Beckett Uni 2nds on the 6th November.