STEPHANIE Roche bagged her first Sunderland goal as the hosts won their sixth straight game in all competitions with a 5-2 FA WSL Continental Tyres Cup victory over Everton.

Roche’s first goal for the FA WSL 1 leaders was well worth the wait as she fired into the top corner shortly after half-time, adding to a first-half Beth Mead double and an Emma Kelly strike.

Emily Hollinshead and Michelle Hinnigan scored for the visitors either side of half-time but Kelly grabbed her second of the game after the break to give Sunderland two wins from as many Continental Tyres Cup games.

After a frantic opening, Sunderland took the lead on ten minutes after a right-wing cross was not dealt with by Gabby George and Mead rolled the ball home from 12 yards.

However, Everton equalised within three minutes with a well worked goal. Simone Magill broke down the down the left wing and picked out Hollinshead at the back post who volleyed home.

But just two minutes later Sunderland were back in front as Roche turned Brooke Chaplen’s cross back into the path of Mead who finished from five years.

And on the half hour mark Sunderland added a third as firstly a mis-kick and then a defender slipping allowed Kelly to pick up the ball in the penalty area and fire into the top right hand corner.

But the scoring continued after the break as Roche and Kelly goals sandwiched one in reply from the visiting Hinnigan who tapped home from close range.

Sunderland Ladies (4-2-3-1): Hilde Gunn Olsen, Victoria Williams, Gemma Wilson, Stephanie Bannon, Victoria Greenwell, Keira Ramshaw, Emma Kelly, Sarah McFadden, Brooke Chaplin (Kelly McDougall 55), Beth Mead (Rachel Furness 55), Stephanie Roche. Subs (not used): Abby Holmes, Rachael Laws, Hayley Sharp

Everton Ladies (4-2-3-1): Kirstie Levell, Danielle Lea, Paige Williams, Lyndsay Johnson, Gabby George, Kelly Jones, Michelle Hinnigan, Emily Hollinshead (Claudia Walker 65), Megan Finnigan (Millie Turner 65), Danielle Turner, Simone Magill. Subs (not used): Megan Walsh, Vicky Jones, Ellie Stewart, Jess King, Chantelle Boye-Hikorah

Attendance: 558

Referee: Andrew Miller

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