Nikita Parris scored the only goal of the game midway through the first-half in front of a crowd of almost 1,500 as Nick Cushing’s side continued their unbeaten start to the campaign.
After a hard-fought draw at Birmingham City on Sunday, the Blues were looking for their first win of the new campaign against a newly-promoted Sunderland Ladies side who kicked-off at the weekend with an impressive 2-1 win over champions Liverpool.
Alex Brooks replaced the suspended Karen Bardsley in goal and with Steph Houghton and Lucy Bronze still sidelined through injury, this was always going to be a tough test for Nick Cushing’s side at The Hetton.
Both teams began tentatively with little in the way of opportunities at either end, though a cold, blustery wind was hardly conducive to free-flowing football.
Parris and Sarah Wiltshire were lively and inventive down the flanks for City while, in turn, the tricky Beth Mead was a handful up front for the Black Cats though neither keeper had a shot to save in an even contested first 20 minutes.
It took a set-piece to finally break the deadlock as Parris nodded home a flicked on corner on 21 minutes to put the Blues ahead - and it was a lead they never surrendered.
Sunderland should have levelled just past the half-hour when a low cross picked out Beth Chaplen eight yards out, but she completely fluffed her lines by missing the ball completely with only Brook to beat.
Toni Duggan should have doubled City’s lead just before the break after running clear of the home defence but her clever flick rolled inches past the post with keeper Rachel Laws well beaten.
While the Blues were largely in control, Sunderland were dangerous on the break with Mead a continued thorn for City’s defence throughout.
Jill Scott bossed the midfield with a typically composed and powerful display, but with just a slender lead, the visitors couldn’t afford to be too adventurous, though Duggan’s 20-yard pile-driver forced a fine save from Laws on 71 minutes.
Sunderland built up a head of steam in the latter stages but Paula Radtke and Jennifer Beattie were resolute throughout and as the hosts pressed for an equaliser, so the gaps appeared in their defence and City should have perhaps added a couple more goals as the clock ticked towards full-time.
Parris went close twice late on with one shot that fizzed Laws’ gloves on 83 minutes and another fierce shot that went inches over on 87.
The Black Cats had loud appeals for a penalty turned down in the dying stages and sub Krystle Johnston and Natasha Harding both rattled the bar within seconds of each other in injury time as City pressed for a second – and though that would have given the final score a more realistic look, Parris’ goal proved enough on the night as Cushing’s side also secured a second successive clean sheet to boot.
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Now it begins…
