Four games in a weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) is quite good going. And it’s quite good to start and finish them four games at the same ground. It started at Eppleton on Friday night as Sunderland U23s hosted Blackburn Rovers U23s in the Premier League Cup and then it was Easington Colliery vs Willington yesterday and then Durham Women vs Millwall Lionesses earlier today. All of the WSL1 games today were kicking off at 18:00. It got me thinking before kick-off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game on a Sunday night. It is a strange time for a game and the only time in the foreseeable future that it may happen will be at the women’s EURO’s next year. I think we’re looking at seeing England in action over in Holland but we’ll probably go to three or four games. I’ve not a clue where they’ll be or when they’ll be but it may become a bit clearer on Tuesday when the draw is. One thing is for sure – I’m definitely going! Sunderland’s season this year has been disappointing really. Last season was superb but the opposition seem to have figured out that everything goes through Beth Mead and now they put three defenders on her. When that doesn’t work, Sunderland don’t really seem to have a plan B. I have been disappointed with the way the season has went but I’ll still support the girls into next season. Things do need to change though if Sunderland want any success next season. I’m not sure exactly what it is that needs to change but there is certainly something. It felt quite strange knowing that this was to be my final WSL game for probably more or less a whole year with the change to the winter season! Hopefully, I’ll get to a few games in the tournament they’re arranging to bridge the massive gap.

Match report:

Linnett hits hat-trick as Birmingham hammer Sunderland.

Kirsty Linnett bagged a hat-trick as Birmingham piled misery on Sunderland’s disappointing season with a 7-1 win at the Hetton Centre.

Kerys Harrop, Charlie Wellings, Freda Ayisi and Coral-Jade Haines also all found the net as David Parker’s men sunk Sunderland on a cold night in the North East.

Harrop opened the scoring in the 35th minute and Linnett added a second only a minute later with Wellings netting in first half injury time. Things got worse for Sunderland though as Linnett added another two to bag her hat-trick before the hour mark. Beth Mead did pull one back for Sunderland with a fine strike but Ayisi and Haines scored the sixth and seventh as Sunderland were crushed.

Carlton Fairweather named another youthful side with the likes of Olivia Watt and Maddie Hill starting but the side was unchanged from the one which drew with Notts County last weekend.

Birmingham started well and were dominating possession without creating any real chances.

The first real chance came in the 10th minute as Jessica Carter burst down the wing to pick out Haines with a cross but her effort lacked power and was an easy take for Hilde Olsen.

Birmingham continued to dominate but they were struggling to carve out any clear-cut chances as Sunderland’s defence held firm.

With just shy of quarter of an hour played, Mead worked her way into the penalty area for Sunderland where slight contact saw Mead fall but the referee turned away the penalty appeals.

Promising football saw Kelly McDougall work the ball to Mead and she helped it on to Emma Kelly who unleashed a powerful drive which was crucially blocked.

Hill could have and maybe should have given Sunderland the lead in the 24th minute as Mead’s through ball cut open the Birmingham defence to play Hill in but Sophie Baggaley made herself big and saved the youngsters effort.

Having dealt with a couple of chances from the Black Cats, two goals in two minutes gave Birmingham a commanding lead.

Firstly, Melissa Lawley whipped a free-kick into the penalty area and Sunderland failed to clear meaning captain Harrop was able to stab home to give the Blues the lead.

And, less than a minute later, a goalkeeping error meant it was two through Linnett. Chloe Peplow’s through ball looked an easy take for Olsen but the ball somehow slipped under the Norwegian goalkeeper and Linnett was grateful for a simple tap in to give Birmingham a suddenly comfortable lead.

The two quick goals seemed to rock Sunderland who were struggling to thread four passes together. It could have been three in the 41st minute as Lawley drove down the wing to pick out Haines with a cross but she couldn’t find the desired contact with a volley which Olsen picked up.

Sunderland weren’t far away from pulling one back in the first minute of first half added time as Emma Kelly fired a moving effort towards goal which forced a clever save from Baggaley.

Birmingham raced clear from the resulting corner as Lawley burst down the wing and picked out Wellings who was able to tap home at the back post meaning the Blues went into the break with a very comfortable lead.

There was no respite for Sunderland in the second half as Birmingham made it four in fine style in the 50th minute. Linnett picked the ball up 35 yards from goal before firing a superb effort which darted past Olsen and into the net to give Linnett her second of the night.

The game was more or less over at this point but Mead kept plugging away for Sunderland and last season’s WSL1 top scorer almost found some joy in the 52nd minute when her moving 25-yard drive had Birmingham worried but Baggaley saved well.

Linnett collected her hat-trick in the 57th minute as she rose highest to meet Lawley’s corner and the England U23 international headed beyond Olsen for her third and Birmingham’s fifth.

There was something to cheer about for the home fans though as Mead pulled one back in fine style in the 67th minute. Mead collected the ball 30 yards from goal and shook off a couple of defenders before firing an effort beyond Baggaley and into the top corner.

The usual flow of the game quickly came back though as Ayisi restored Birmingham’s five goal lead only two minutes after they’d lost it. The Ghanaian born striker wriggled her way through the Sunderland defence before slotting into the bottom corner.

Substitute Ayisi could have had another in the 72nd minute but her low drive from the edge of the penalty area darted just wide with Olsen scrambling.

A seventh Birmingham goal was added though five minutes later as quick flowing football saw the Blues work it to Alex Windell who crossed to pick out Haines and she bundled the ball home to pile even more misery on the home support.

The game petered out in the final 10 minutes and the referee blew for full-time giving Birmingham a memorable win. For Sunderland, a very poor result ended a poor season.

Full-time: Sunderland Ladies 1-7 Birmingham City Ladies

Next up for me at the time of writing is Ryhope CW vs Seaham Red Star tomorrow.

Sunderland Ladies Team: Olsen, Holmes, Sharp, Bannon (c), Mead, Watt (Beer, 61′), Joice, Kelly (Brown, 46′), McDougall, Hill, Leon (Galloway, 53′)

Unused subs: Ramshaw, Roche, Laws, Williams

Birmingham City Ladies Team: Baggaley, Windell, Sargeant, Carter (Stringer, 59′), Harrop (c), Linnett, Ewens (Hegerberg, 81′), Lawley, Wellings (Ayisi, 59′), Peplow, Haines

Unused subs: Berger, Mannion

Admission: Season ticket for me, otherwise, £5 adults, £2.50 concessions

Programme: £1

Attendance: 583

Chips: £1.60

Can of Pepsi: 80p

Referee: Iain Turner