SUNDERLAND WOMEN boss Mel Reay was delighted with her side’s resilience and spirit as they saw off regional rivals Durham Women to triumph in the River Wear derby at the weekend.

Backed by a record-breaking crowd of 1,164 at Eppleton – the biggest since the club’s return to the FA Women’s Championship – Reay’s side overturned a 2-1 deficit to see off Durham and climb to tenth position in the table, just a point behind their opponents.

With a busy week coming up that will feature a Continental Cup game against Blackburn Rovers and a league meeting with Birmingham City, Reay was thrilled to start a crucial seven days in such a positive manner.

“I think we showed a lot of resilience throughout the game,” said the Sunderland boss. “It’s always difficult going behind but the reaction that they showed was first class.

“I don’t think I needed to rile them up any more than they needed to be, I think form goes out of the window in a local derby. It’s always going to be who wants it most – there were times where they were dominant, there were times where we were dominant, but luckily for us we were on the right end of a positive result.”

Durham claimed a 15th-minute lead when their skipper, Sarah Wilson, headed home Beth Hepple’s corner, but Sunderland equalised shortly before half-time when recent signing Liz Ejupi netted against her former club as she capitalised on a slack pass and slotted home.

Durham regained the lead from the penalty spot when Rio Hardy converted after Neve Herron was adjudged to have fouled Mollie Lambert, but Sunderland staged a grandstand finish as they scored twice inside the final seven minutes.

Abby Holmes scrambled home from a corner to level the scores, before substitute Katy Watson broke through the middle to poke home a winner.

“Katy’s had a busy week,” said Reay. “She played against Blackburn in the FA Cup, she played against Leicester in midweek. She had a good impact coming off the bench and having fresh legs in here.”

The Lady Black Cats will now train their attention on tomorrow’s Continental Cup game with Blackburn, with a glamour FA Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester United also looming on the horizon before the end of the month.

“We’ve got to go one game at a time,” said Reay. “We’ve got another Conti Cup game in midweek against Blackburn, then we travel to St Andrew’s (to face Birmingham) which again, is going to be a tough game.

“You just have to prepare right for each game but if we turn up with the attitude of performances like that, I’m sure it will be absolutely fine.”