Of all of the things to happen at Sunderland Ladies this summer, moving back to Hetton is the only positive. It’s where they belong and where they get bigger crowds in. And, it means I’ll be at more or less every home game again. Other than that, it’s been a terrible summer for Sunderland Ladies. The restructuring and everything that has happened shows that women’s football is all about money. How can a team like West Ham (who finished bottom half of the third tier last season) just apply and be granted a place in the top flight while big names in women’s football like Sunderland Ladies and Doncaster Rovers Belles have to go down to the third tier? Sunderland Ladies vs Doncaster Rovers Belles should never be a third tier fixture in women’s football. The treatment that has been dished out to the likes of Sunderland and Doncaster has been awful, and it won’t be easy for either to bounce back. You definitely can’t blame any of last season’s Sunderland squad for leaving. They want to play at the highest possible level and they won’t get that at Sunderland now. But, on another hand, it shows how committed the likes of Keira Ramshaw is to the club. She’s been at the club for a long time, and she’s played with the club at three different levels. She definitely deserves to be captain. Sunderland’s current squad is definitely one of youth. It’s Keira, Jordan Atkinson who they’ve brought in from Durham, a few of the younger girls who were there or thereabouts for the first team last season, and a fair few others who were playing for the development team last season. The likes of Bridget Galloway, Anna Young and Mollie Lambert were all given a chance at the top level last season, and they’re going to be a vital part of Sunderland this season.

Match report:

Sunderland Ladies defeated in National League opener

Sunderland Ladies were beaten 1-0 at home to Fylde Ladies in their first ever National League game on Sunday afternoon.

Emily Hollinshead’s 33rd minute goal was enough to give Fylde the three points, but the game was marred by a serious injury to Sunderland’s Courtney Stewart.

Keira Ramshaw captained the young Sunderland side, while Jordan Atkinson made her debut after signing from Durham recently.

Within 40 seconds, Fylde created their first chance. A corner was whipped into the penalty area to find Nikki Berko, but she could only head over.

As the game began to settle down, Emily Hollinshead fired wide for the visitors.

In the eighth minute, a good move down the wing gave Sunderland an opportunity. Atkinson drove at the Fylde defence before pulling the ball back to Ramshaw. She beat her marker, but Brittany Jackson was able to hold Ramshaw’s shot.

Five minutes later, Bridget Galloway played Atkinson in, but Jackson was brave and claimed the ball having clattered into Atkinson.

Berko forced a routine save from Sophy Stonehouse on the quarter of an hour mark, before Ramshaw’s effort was blocked at the other end.

Further effort from Berko and Sasha Rowe failed to find the target for The Coasters, before a dangerous Berko free-kick could only hit the wall.

What proved to be the winner for Fylde came in the 33rd minute. Hollinshead did well to hold possession in the corner before looking for options. Without any support, the Welsh international whipped a cross towards goal. Goalkeeper Stonehouse fumbled Hollinshead’s cross, and it dropped into the net to give Fylde the lead.

Then came the moment that marred the game. Stewart went down off the ball and it was clear that it was serious. After initial treatment and a long wait for an ambulance, the game resumed 55 minutes later.

With only four minutes of the first half remaining, Sunderland almost pulled level. Atkinson was played in on goal and she played the ball square looking for Galloway. It would have been a simple tap in for Galloway, but she was unable to get the ball under her control. It then found Mollie Lambert at the back post, but she could only steer an effort wide.

Inside the opening two minutes of the second half, Fylde went close to doubling their lead. Hollinshead pulled the ball back across goal to Sophie Charlton, but her side footed effort rolled narrowly wide.

Following a quiet period, Lambert tried her luck for Sunderland but failed to find the target.

Sunderland were seeing their fair share of the ball in the second half, but the final ball was lacking. The Lasses were in good positions on several occasions, but the final ball looking for Galloway, Atkinson or Ramshaw was cut out.

In the 73rd minute, an Anna Young corner dropped to Galloway at the back post, but her effort was charged down.

A crucial interception denied Fylde as the game entered its final 15 minutes, before a dangerous free-kick gave Sunderland an opportunity to level. Galloway was fouled right on the edge of the penalty area. Ramshaw took responsibility, but her drilled low effort towards the back post was turned behind for a corner.

Fylde swiftly broke from the resulting corner, and Berko ended up forcing a save from Stonehouse.

In the fourth minute of injury time, Sunderland created their final chance. A corner was cleared as far as Megan Beer on the edge of the penalty area, but her effort darted narrowly wide of the top corner.

It was Fylde who took all three points, but all thoughts are with Stewart following her injury.

Full-time: Sunderland Ladies 0-1 Fylde Ladies

Next up for me should be Sunderland RCA vs Stockton Town on Tuesday.

Sunderland Ladies: Stonehouse, Brown, Beer, Stewart (Warren, 45+51′), Young, Gibson (Woolston, 72′), Lambert, Atkinson, Barker (Hutchinson, 62′), Ramshaw (c), Galloway

Fylde Ladies: Jackson, Wild, Merrin, Fuller, Carroll, Forster, Rowe (Adams, 72′), Young (c), Hollinshead (Erin Staunton-Turner, 85′), Berko, Charlton (Kelsh, 87′)

Unused subs: Myler, Lucy Staunton-Turner

Admission: Free

Programme: Free

Attendance: 189