Sunderland edge out Leeds in table-top clash.
The FA Women's Premier League
Sunday 11 December 2011
Click here for FAWPL fixtures, results and tables
A quick-fire first-half double fired champions Sunderland back to the top of the Women’s Premier League at the expense of their opponents Leeds, who dropped down to second on goal difference.
Mick Mulhern’s Sunderland got the better of title-rivals Leeds when the sides met back in October thanks to a 1-0 away win.
And they repeated the trick in the north-east to complete the impressive double thanks to two goals in a minute early in the first half.
First, Sophie Williams struck after 13 minutes and within 60 seconds Natalie Gutteridge doubled the advantage with a deflected strike.
Like their away victory, in which they scored early and held on for all three points, Mulhern’s side had to dig in and defend well as Leeds tried and failed to find a way back into the game.
Elsewhere, it was a day to remember for 16-year-old Kit Graham who scored her first senior goal to secure Charlton Athletic a 1-0 win at rock-bottom Watford, which lifted them into third place.
Cardiff City, who have played just nine games so far this season, added another three points to their promising tally with a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Reading.
The visitors managed to keep Cardiff at bay until half-time but Nicola Cousins opened the scoring within a minute of the restart.
And Lauren Price and Zoe Atkins both added further second-half goals to complete the victory.
