Lasses Report: Sunderland win the River Wear Derby again thanks to Dale and McAteer's finishing

Today at 01:00 AM

In blustery winds and horizontal rain, Sunderland put Durham to the sword thanks to Mary McAteer giving her all once again for the Lasses.

Sunderland go into the international break off the back of 3pts at Maiden Castle today after they came from behind to win 2-1 against Durham in the River Wear derby.

An early kick-off after a lengthy journey down the A690, nearly 8 miles, and the Lasses were greeted with gale-force winds and showers as they lined up.

Durham had the winds to their backs, which may have just pushed them to start the stronger of the teams in the first half. Durham had a couple of good chances go wide in the Lasses box before Hannah Blake scored after being teed up by Carly Johns.

Durham 1-0 Sunderland.

The Lasses had several chances while battling the elements and Becky Salicki, but none troubled the keeper too much. The game settled into a scrappy affair with Sunderland needing greater control of the ball which was spending enough time off the ground that there were more aerial duels than the Battle of Britain.

Demi Lambourne was needed on more than one occasion, notably on one occasion pulling off a diving save to tip the ball away from her goal's bottom corner.

Eventually though, Eleanor Dale was canny enough to win a foul just inside the penalty box leading to the referee's point towards the spot.

Dale lined up and sunk the ball left into the back of the net with keeper Tatiana Saunders initially going to the right and realising too late before she could intercept.

Durham 1-1 Sunderland.

Durham, much like their fans, were quick to make an impression and rapidly responded with an excellent headed chance going wide from a freekick. Just like the banging drum and chants of "Blue Army!", it was poorly timed and off the mark.

The Lasses closed down the first half, but it looked as though Durham had had the better performance with several good chances squandered.

Sunderland clearly knew they needed to put the game to bed early and within the first few minutes of the second half, Mary McAteer took advantage of a scramble in the box with Kitching initially looking to take possession, drawing out Saunders to make a low dive before McAteer slotted the ball coolly into goal.

Mary has had several performances now this season where she has looked the hardest worker on the pitch, particularly against Newcastle. With another international call up for Wales and her first goal for the Lasses this season, she looks set to continue her development and role as a serious attacking threat in red and white.

Their confidence renewed; the Lasses played some of their best football this season in the second half of this derby.

The fans saw things the Durham players couldn't believe. Attackers playing on fire off the shoulders of Sarah Wilson. Mel Reay glowing in the dark by the Maiden Castle gate. All those moments lost in time, like the Blue Army's tears in rain. Time to die.

And just as a Blade Runner may retire a replicant, so too did the Lasses with Durham's backline. Run ragged by the end of the game, the players continued to hunt down the ball and threaten the retreating automatons, desperate to revive their brief time in the spotlight.

But in spite of a couple of brief forays into Sunderland's half, Durham couldn't counter and were left to defend against continued shots, including a particularly fine header from Amy Goddard that was just saved in time.

As the final whistle blew, the sun shone through on a celebrating Lasses side who seem to have found their style of play again. Buoyed by a positive result and with our next game at home to Bristol City on the 3^rd of November, Sunderland have a chance to regroup and plan out the rest of the campaign.

Haway the Lasses!