Ease-eh, ease-eh - Wigan non-report
I am sorry I wasn’t able to do a report on the Wigan game sooner. We got in at about 2 in the morning and then I was off to work at 6. Even now, I don’t have time to go through my thoughts in writing (please feel free to pop down to the Harbour View on Saturday morning and I’ll bore you witless with them). Instead I would just like to say that in 40 years of attending SAFC matches I’ve had some great days and some great nights. This ranks right up there amongst them. To go to our nearest challengers at a time we were still 50/50 as to whether we would go up and win to go 8 points clear with 5 to go instead of a terrifying 2 points, in front of a travelling red and white army of over seven and a half thousand was just exceptional. I would like to thank:
1. Mick McCarthy. We were so low two years ago. What you have done for us will never be forgotten. Amazing, just amazing.
2. The players. Every one of you, fighting for each other and fighting for us. It is wonderful to do whatever we can to help.
3. Every single SAFC supporter. The seven and a half thousand in the East Stand. Those sprinkled around the rest of the ground. Those listening on the radio, the internet or just behind us in spirit. The noise booming from the East Stand was fantastic. I can’t remember a single occasion during the game when there wasn’t a song going somewhere that would spread back and forth. It was a privilege to be there. I hope and trust we did those of you who could not be there proud.
I know Mick will be telling the players we’ve done nowt. A cock up against Reading could undo a lot of the good work. And that is true. But today is not a day for realism, it is a day for celebrating.
Get yersels down to the SoL on satda and “sing your hearts out for the lads”.
Sunderland AFC Women 1 - 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Academy of Light, 2pm, 3rd April
In typical fashion, Sunderland's senior women's side followed the example set by their table topping male counterparts the day before, to produce arguably their most lacklustre first 45 mins of the season in a vital game.
Wolves were desperate for a win to take the initiative in the title race and although Sunderland went on the attack in the first few minutes it was soon the team in gold who were on top in almost every department. Nerves, fatigue (three players had played 3 England matches during the week) or the shock of playing their first game in above zero temperatures since pre-season perhaps played a part in varying degrees but they fell behind on 11 minutes.
Appeals for offside were ignored when winger Chloe Jones ran onto a chip over the Sunderland defence on the edge of the box and managed to round keeper Carly Telford and slide her shot just inside the far post.
Thankfully, the Black Cats semi-awoke from their slumber during the half time break and began the second half with a little extra fight and as the game progressed they pressed Wolves further back towards their own goal.
The equaliser finally arrived in the 81st minute when winger Melanie Reay, who had twice struck the woodwork from set pieces finally beat Natalie Hall in the Wolves goal with a low drive from inside the box.
Wolves were really starting to suffer against the fitter red and whites as they went in search of the winner that would clinch them the title though they did threaten on the breakaway.
In the end neither side could add another, perhaps fairly because for either side to lose would have been a cruel blow.
The Wolves players who slumped to their knees on the final whistle indicated the relevance of the result. The Black Cats need only to avoid defeat at Stockport next Sunday (Cheadle Town, 2pm ko) to be crowned champions and reassume their place in the ten team women's top flight.
