Hill brace fires SSFC Women into County Cup Quarter-Final

Tianna Hill netted a brace, for the second week running, to fire South Shields Women into the Quarter-Final of the DCFA Women’s Challenge Cup on Sunday.

They began the clash in superb style, opening the deadlock right before the half hour mark thanks to Gatens’ cool strike.

The Mariners had to wait until the second-half before they were two goals to the good, with the second coming from Hill in the 59th minute.

Their pursuit in front of goal continued with goals three and four, thanks to Hill again and then Annece Legg, in the 73rd and 86th minutes respectively.

Shields headed into their County Cup clash confident, having won their previous two outings - against Fleetwood Town Wrens and Wallsend BC Women - scoring four in each game. 

The lasses too, in their last meeting with Washington, triumphed in a 2-0 victory thanks to a Jen Wootten brace during pre-season. 

Shields kicked off and immediately took the game to the visitors, recycling possession tremendously and putting in crunching tackles.

The Mariners created their biggest opportunity of the game inside 20 minutes, when Hill sent Legg through on goal who was brought down just outside the box by Maisie McKinlay.

Nine minutes later, Shields created another opportunity - one which was dispatched by superstar Gatens.

She had previously played a wonderful one-two with Kelsi Hoot, then took the ball in her stride and slotted the ball underneath McKinlay’s legs, for the lasses’ first of the game.

Soon after, Hoot was causing danger again: this time the midfielder found herself with space to shoot from long-distance, however the shot just dragged wide. 

With three minutes remaining before the half-time whistle, the Mariners had another chance to score again.

It was Hoot causing the visitors problems again - she took the ball round McKinlay, faked the shot, composed herself and then fired at goal, however Jaz Elliott-Wood headed what looked to be a sure goal off the line.

The second goal of the afternoon came just before the hour-mark, when Hill capitalised on Anya Crowder's defensive mishap. 

The defender miskicked the ball into Hill’s path, who waited patiently before smashing the ball into the net with her left foot. 

Shields’ next opportunity came from a free-kick just outside the penalty area. 

Gatens played the ball into Legg’s feet, whose initial strike was blocked, however the rebound fell to Hill who did not hesitate and rifled the ball past a standing McKinlay. 

Not long later, the Mariners claimed their fourth goal of the afternoon. 

Julie Raffel struck from long-distance, forcing McKinlay into the stop, however the save was parried and pounced upon, by an on-fire Hill, who fired the ball back into the box for Legg, who tucked home with ease. 

The lasses saw out a confident victory which lays down the foundations perfectly for their upcoming Adobe Women's FA Cup First Round Proper tie against AFC Fylde Women this Sunday - full details to come shortly.

South Shields Women: Yeakey, May, Killeen, Legg, Gatens, Wootten, England, Hoot, Jota, Hill, Raffel.

Substitutes: Simpson.

Goals: Gatens (29’), Hill (59’, 73’), Legg (86’).

Washington FC Women: McKinlay, Watson, Metcalfe, Coatesworth, Crowder, Dixon, Slade, Elliott-Wood, Taylor, Black, Cook.

Substitutes: Phipps, Thornby, Slasor, James.