ENGLAND football heroines Lucy Bronze and Lucy Staniforth have helped steer Sunderland Ladies to the quarter-final of the FA Women's Cup.
And the duo have also been hailed by Fifa as two of just five "outstanding players" who represented the nation at the U17 Women's World Cup.

Football writers picked the Duchess's Community High School pair out for special praise for their performances within the England ranks, which saw them feature in all six of The Lionesses' matches in the global competition.

Lucy S, who scored her first international goal against Japan at the tournament's quarter-final stage, has been applauded for her "good off-the-ball movement to create space" and her "skilful and aggressive" play. Lucy B meanwhile has been described as "a solid defender with good decison-making and positioning".

And it seems they have carried their international form into their domestic duties, as they played their part in Sunderland's FA Cup triumph over Barnet FC Ladies on Sunday.

They started the match against the Londoners, who are among the leading pack in the Women's Premier League Southern Division, and the Wearsiders cruised into the last eight of the competition with a 5-0 win.

Lucy S, 16, played a role in Sunderland's opener 15 minutes in, linking well with Natalie Gutteridge and Abby Holmes, to play in Kelly McDougall, who fired home. Sunderland threatened to increase their lead when the two Lucys combined; Lucy B's effort grazed the bar following a right wing corner from Lucy S.

In the second-half, Lucy S could have added to the tally but her effort was beaten out by the visiting keeper. Sunderland did wrap up the game, though, thanks to goals from Gutteridge, Sophie Williams, Jordan Nobbs and Nicola Devine.

Sunderland will now face either Bristol Academy or Birmingham City of the National Premier League at home in the quarter-final.

Teams remaining in the competition include Arsenal, Leeds Carnegie and Everton. The last eight ties are to be played on Sunday, February 22.

Both Lucys have featured throughout the campaign for Sunderland Ladies. Lucy B currently has one goal to her name, while Lucy S has two. The Wearsiders are currently second in the Women's Premier League, Northern Division.

Lucy S has been selected for a 30-strong U17 England squad for a training camp in Febraury.

Lucy B, 17, is now too old to play for Lois Fidler's U17 team but is hoping for a call from the U19s boss.

James Willoughby