McMahon bullet header not enough for SSFC Women against Spennymoor Town

Becki McMahon’s bullet header wasn’t enough for South Shields Women as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Spennymoor Town Ladies on Sunday.

The clash between the Mariners and the Moors saw many chances left squandered in both halves of football, with the opener coming with just 22 minutes to go - Shields’ McMahon headed it in from an Annece Legg cross.

However, 10 minutes later, the visitors responded with a goal of their own via a Holly Doogan penalty.

That equaliser sprung Spennymoor into life, as they scored again in the 80th minute through Sophie Hodgson.

Last time out, the Mariners dished out a heavy 6-1 defeat to Sunderland West End Ladies.

A confident and high-scoring Mariners, then, would come into Sunday’s game hoping to avenge the 7-1 defeat they suffered to the Moors at the beginning of the season. 

The star who bagged a brace in last week’s thrashing, Desiree Rodriguez, began the clash in the centre of the midfield, wishing to replicate her previous performance.

A big chance was crafted early on from the lasses, with Legg’s low strike being blocked by Megan Elliott in the sixth minute of the game, however the chance showed a great start by Sophie Clough and Alex Miller’s side.

With 12 minutes on the clock, it looked as though the visitors were through for their first chance of the game - however a sprinting McMahon recovered and performed a wonderful sliding challenge to block Kelly Garcia’s strike.

The next chance for the Mariners came on the half-hour mark, crafted through Legg once more. 

She whipped in a fantastic ball into the path of Tianna Hill, who was eagerly waiting for the ball, however, agonisingly for Shields, the centre-forward was just under the ball and couldn’t get to the header.

Right on the stroke of half-time, Anna Yeakey provided a stop to keep the score level after Spennymoor’s Ellie Wise struck from distance.

The second-half was underway and both sides came out vigorously hoping to open the deadlock. 

Fortunately for Shields’ fans, it was indeed the home side who opened the scoring through captain fantastic, McMahon.

Kelsi Hoot whipped in a corner, which fell kindly to Natalie May, whose initial shot deflected into Legg, who then crossed the ball right into McMahon’s path to head home in the 68th minute.

Late into the game, the Mariners conceded a penalty, one which was dispatched promptly by Doogan.

And with ten minutes left on the clock, Sophie Hodgson latched onto a loose ball and flicked the ball past Yeakey. 

Shields are back in league action this weekend away against Sunderland West End Ladies - details to follow.

South Shields Women (starting XI): Yeakey, May, Legg, Wootten, McMahon, Hoot, Jota, Green, Rodriguez, Hill, Raffel.

Substitutes: England, Miller.

Goals: McMahon (68’)

Spennymoor Town Ladies (starting XI): Crawford, A. Elliott, M. Elliott, Hemingway, Robinson, Richardson, Norton, Reed, Hodgson, Wise, Garcia.

Substitutes: College, Drinkald, Doogan, Zapata, Ingram.

Goals: Doogan (78’), Hodgson (80’).