Saturday 25 July 2015 22:12, UK
Sunderland continued their impressive first season in FA WSL 1 with a 4-1 victory over rock bottom Bristol Academy.
The Black Cats went ahead in the 22nd minute when Beth Mead fired low to keeper Mary Earps’ left from 14 yards.
But Bristol were back on level terms just before the break when a poor clearance from keeper Hilde Olsen fell to Georgia Evans whose pass led to striker Jade Boho Sayo lashing the ball in.
The league leaders regained their advantage five minutes into the second period with skipper Steph Bannon forcing the loose ball home after a goalmouth scramble.
Bristol almost conjured up another leveller but captain Sophie Ingle saw her glanced header from a corner drift wide of Olsen’s right-hand post, while Christie Murray rattled the crossbar with a shot from 20 yards.
But the result was put beyond doubt with nine minutes left when keeper Earps failed to deal with Keira Ramshaw’s cross and substitute Emma Kelly headed in from close range.
And two minutes later Sunderland broke again with Kelly teeing up a simple chance for Mead to net her second goal of the game.
