Coventry City Ladies gave WPL National Division leaders Sunderland more than run for their money but they joined the number of Coventry teams suffering late defeats this weekend when they left Hetton with a late 3-2 defeat.
This was the longest trip of the season for Chris Holloway's side at Hetton and saw City, without Hayley Ladd who was on international duty, have the first chance with Courtney Sweetman-Kirk having a chance after Sunderland had failed to clear Nicole Dale's squared cross and there was an unlucky ricochet which saw the ball fall to the Maccams keeper.
It was the Sky Blues who took the lead when a Helen Dermody free kick deflected off the head of a Sunderland player. The lead did not last as Sunderland immediately replied through Furness after being awarded a penalty.
City had one more chance before the end of the half when Dermody struck from distance and had her shot parried to Nat Reay who side footed over the bar.
Straight from the kick off at the start of the second half, Sunderland attacked and scored through Sophie Williams.
Sue Wood, in the City goal made some good saves to keep City, who had Reay, Formaston and Toussant, all requiring treatment, in the match.
City battled on and it was 2-2 when Dermody's free kick came back off the wall. The follow up was half cleared and half volleyed into the roof of the net by Nicole Dale.
Dermody went inches wide with a 25 yard shot with Williams and Furness going close at the other end.
Deep in stoppage time, Furness slammed home from the left touchline, immediately before the referee blew the final whistle to condemn City to a late defeat.
City: Wood, Wilcox, Lynch, Toussaint (Clarke), Miles, Barber, Dermody, Formaston, Dale, Reay (Hollingsworth), Sweetman-Kirk subs Anderson.