Legg steals the show for SSFC Women against Wallsend BC

Annece Legg stole the show for South Shields Women, who picked up their first three points in the NERWFL Premier Division on Sunday.

Her four second-half goals were instrumental for the lasses to claim their maiden win of the season against a Wallsend BC Women side who remain rooted to the bottom of the table.

After a bright, but ultimately unfruitful, first-half, it was imperative that the team got off to a good start after the interval - and Legg’s strike from range just four minutes after the restart was both stunning and what the team needed.

Shields were awarded a penalty 11 minutes later after Natalie May was brought down in the box and Legg struck again with a well-hit penalty to double their lead. 

Two became three in the 72nd minute after Faye Killeen delivered a luscious ball into the box, which only needed to be nodded in by the now hat-trick hero.

Adding to what was already a staggering performance by the forward, Legg netted her fourth of the game just nine minutes before the whistle when she met Becki McMahon’s delivery, before surprising even herself with the subsequent finish. 

The Mariners came into the game hoping to build upon their incredible Adobe Women’s FA Cup comeback against Alnwick Town Ladies last time out - 3-0 down at half-time, 3-3 at full-time and 4-3 on penalties in Shields’ favour.

The chances kept flowing during the first 45 minutes - Eve Gatens came close when she rifled in a shot from a tight angle; ‘keeper Charlize Gutierrez pulled off a fantastic stop to deny her.

May struck a shot which looked set to go into the back of the net but Gutierrez was there to prevent her from scoring as well.

A corner, soon after, led to a scramble in the six-yard box and it remains a mystery how Shields didn’t score from there, but some excellent defending by the Wallsend backline must have played a key role.

May played Gatens through on goal, and if she had shot slightly earlier, it could and probably should have gone in, but some superb reactions from Gutierrez stopped that attempt in its tracks.

The visitors didn’t offer very much from an attacking perspective which speaks volumes about how resilient the lasses were in defence, as they kept their first clean sheet of the season.

It is a result which should inspire a lot of confidence heading into the lasses’ long trip to Fleetwood Town Wrens on Sunday - full match details to follow soon.

South Shields Women: Yeakey, May, Legg, Gatens, White, Wootten, McMahon, Jota, Green, Hill, Raffel.

Substitutes: Killeen, England, Hoot.

Goals: Legg (49’, 60’, 72’, 81’).

Wallsend BC Women: Gutierrez, Donninson, Johnson, Goodwin, Penman, Holmes, Heckingbottom, Campbell, McDonald, Bowen, Todoran.

Substitutes: Gillis, Graham, Cowan, Killip.