With any league title, promotion
or cup triumph, you always need a little luck along the way. Or something special.
Sometimes both. There is always that day when, reflecting on any success, you
can say ‘yeah, that really was the day’, a feeling where a goal can give you a
shot in the arm, a late winner or a victory so seismic that it feels exactly how it
is; seismic. A feeling where you just know.
The lasses certainly got that on
Sunday. A fantastic, grandstand finish, which could prove crucial as Sunderland
enter the final six league games of the season at the summit of the Women’s
Championship.
As the clock ticked past the 95th minute, Sunderland found themselves trailing 3-2 at home to bottom club Lewes. It had been a ding-dong battle, the game ebbing and flowing one way then another. It was wide open at times. Lewes had been awarded a penalty, which was converted. Sunderland should have had one in the second half for what looked like a clear handball. It wasn't given. You sensed the feeling that it could unfortunately, be one of those days. A defeat would have been hugely damaging to Sunderland's promotion hopes.
Just as it looked like the clock had beaten the lasses, they found what I thought at the time was a priceless equaliser to preserve a precious point. Midfielder Jenna Dear struck a fierce drive from the edge of the area to break Lewes hearts. The celebrations that followed made it clear how big of a goal it was, not just in the game itself, but in the context of the whole season. Somewhat amazingly though, the lasses weren't quite finished yet.
At the kick off, Lewes tried to play the ball forward but immediately surrendered possession. The ball broke to Katie Watson on the right hand side. Watson has pace to burn and in typical fashion, steamed down the wing. She composed herself well and cut the ball back to the edge of the area to the advancing Dear. Taking a touch to compose herself, she steered the ball into the bottom corner to complete a remarkable last gasp comeback. As last gasp as they come! 4-3. Cue more celebrations, including the Sunderland bench which spilled onto the pitch as Dear wheeled away; her chasing team-mates in hot pursuit. A few crestfallen Lewes players hit the deck. The others looked on in disbelief. It felt like a big goal. It was a big goal. Two goals within a minute of each other, when into the sixth minute of added time doesn't happen too often, in any game, at any level.
In the context of Sunderland's season, it is a huge win. That is the bigger picture. We are heading into the business end of the campaign, one in which if we're honest, the club has probably overachieved. There is a massive opportunity on the horizon though, and it is testament to the players and staff that they have managed to put themselves in a brilliant position. I felt the loss of Neve Herron and Emma Kelly in the summer might hamper the team, as Sunderland were losing two very influential players, but the team and squad as a whole has been injected with a lot of quality. After all, the league table doesn't lie.
The lasses next game is at home to Southampton, who sit in third place and just a solitary point behind having played the same amount of games. The last two fixtures of the season look like they could decide where promotion, and the title goes.
Sunderland play Charlton at home before heading to Crystal Palace on the final day. At the time of writing, Palace are second, a point behind, with a crucial game in hand. Charlton are fourth, again, a point adrift of Sunderland, but they too have played one game less. Birmingham sit fifth, five points from top spot.
With only one promotion spot available, there is a genuine title race unfolding, with any one of the top five aforementioned teams in with a massive shout of clinching a place amongst the elite in the Super League next season. The full table, taken from the BBC website, can be seen below:
17th March - London City
Lionesses (a)
24th March - Durham (h)
31st March - Watford (a)
21st April - Charlton (h)
28th April - Crystal Palace (a)
Both Watford and London City Lionesses are fighting for their Championship survival and need points to avoid falling through that dreaded trap door. Throw in a game with Durham which always has that added bit of spice to it, we can see we have a run of fixtures that are as tough as they can get.
Sunderland have played some great stuff this season which has propelled them into top spot as the promotion race hots up. They have found resolve when it's needed. They simply don't give up and don't know when they are beaten. It is these characteristics and fighting qualities that have given them the chance to really achieve something special.
Undoubtedly, the climax to the Women's Championship will go right down to the wire. Can Sunderland hold their nerve and secure promotion? There are six massive fixtures remaining that will shape the club's destiny.
