Sunderland Women ended a remarkable 2023-24 campaign with a third-placed finish and 41 points, eight places higher and 23 points more than the previous campaign.
Here we take a look at our top three games that highlighted the excitement, resoluteness and quality of the Lasses’ Championship campaign…
Southampton 0-1 Sunderland
With Southampton touted as early promotion contenders, Sunderland had a tough task on their hands to keep Marianne Spacey-Cale’s side out at St. Mary’s.
With four points and two clean sheets already under the belt in the opening two games, Mel Reay’s side soon made it seven points and three shut-outs with a 1-0 victory on the road.
The Lasses started well with Katie Kitching and Liz Ejupi both threatening the Saints goal, but neither could convert.
Three summer signings linked up for the Lasses’ goal with Kitching breaking down the right wing and finding Mary McAteer, who delivered a pinpoint cross into the box for Jenna Dear to expertly finish into the bottom corner.
The Black Cats had to earn their three points at the other end too, with both the defence and goalkeeper Claudia Moan standing firm to deny Southampton at every opportunity and continue their perfect defensive record at the start of the season and make a statement of intent to push towards the top of the table.
Sunderland 4-3 Lewes
A game which epitomised the Lasses’ never-say-die mentality, Lewes were 3-2 up with three minutes to play.
The Rooks took the lead early on, but goals from Emily Scarr and Brianna Westrup - both from quality set-piece deliveries from Natasha Fenton – flipped the game on its head.
Lewes equalised through a Hollie Olding penalty, and took the lead again on 72 minutes with Renna Blades making it 3-2, a lead which Scott Booth’s side held until stoppage time.
Up steps Jenna Dear…
On 90+5 minutes, Katy Watson’s cross was helped on by Jessica Brown, and Dear lashed home a thunderous strike on the edge of the box to level.
Within 67 seconds of equalising, Dear fired home her second of the afternoon to make it 4-3, sending all players, staff and home supporters into collective raptures at Eppleton.
Sunderland 5-3 Durham
A list of top games throughout a season would be amiss without an eight-goal derby thriller on home soil.
Mel Reay’s side took the lead on 31 minutes with a composed finish from Emily Scarr. Minutes later, Jenna Dear’s wicked whipped cross was flicked on by Mary McAteer to make it 2-0.
Durham got themselves back in the game with a brace from Mollie Lambert.
The Black Cats took the lead again as McAteer netted her second of the game, but a Beth Hepple free-kick got the visitors back level.
Substitute Katy Watson’s impact proved crucial as the forward teed up Dear who struck brilliantly from the edge of the box to net the Lasses’ fourth of the afternoon.
Watson sealed the three points in front of a Club record league crowd of 1,477, running onto Kitching’s pass and slotting her shot into the far corner to conclude a dramatic River Wear Derby victory.