SSFC Women hit Harrogate Town for six in league riot

South Shields Women hit Harrogate Town AFC Women for six away from home on Sunday.

The lasses one-upped last week’s five-goal demolition of Brunsmeer Athletic Women and claimed all three points in style - Madison Bouggess netted a first-half hat-trick while Tianna Hill got a brace and Kelsi Hoot got on the scoresheet too.

It meant the Mariners’ perfect start to 2026 in the NERWFL Premier Division continued - a home game against Ossett United Women is next on the agenda to potentially make it five wins in a row in all competitions.

Bouggess got the team off to a flyer with her well-timed finish before five minutes had even been played.

Hannah Sturdy levelled things up for the hosts only two minutes later with an excellent looping strike over Anna Yeakey.

It wouldn’t be long until the advantage would be restored, however, as in the 15th minute Bouggess found her second goal of the afternoon. 

Desiree Rodriguez had played a brilliant free-kick into the box and a pouncing Bouggess was there to, with a slight touch from Harrogate goalkeeper Amy Hood, put it into the net.

Hill would be next to get in on the act when she hit low and hard into the bottom left corner just before the half-hour mark, while Hoot scored from close range almost immediately after.

A comfortable opening half was rounded off with Bouggess’ hat-trick as she rounded the keeper from Julie Raffel’s through ball down the left wing.

Things were quieter after the break in terms of goals, but the chances kept on coming.

Hoot was denied time after time by Hood, who put in a fantastic shift to keep the scoreline down.

In fact, it was another Hoot shot which resulted in Hill grabbing her second goal of the game - Hood had spilled the save and Eva McDonald gently guided the ball towards Hill in the box.

Shields saw out the match from that point, though Harrogate were awarded a penalty shortly before the final whistle - it slammed off the crossbar and went out.

Harrogate Town AFC Women: Hood, Sturdy, Whiley, Hall, Manning, Parkin, Taylor, Shuttleworth, Eaton, Marshall, Smith.

Substitutes: Ramroop, Edmondson, Rundle.

Goals: Sturdy (7’).

South Shields Women: Yeakey, May, Killeen, Wootten, England, Hoot, Green, Rodriguez, Bouggess, Hill, Raffel.

Substitutes: Robinson, McDonald, Miller (all played).

Goals: Bouggess (4’, 15’, 37’), Hill (27’, 60’), Hoot (29’).