SSFC Women stride to comfortable win over Sunderland West End Ladies

South Shields Women picked up a well-earned win against Sunderland West End Ladies, in a 2-0 victory at 1st Cloud Arena on Wednesday night.

A comfortable game for the Mariners started through an Annece Legg bullet header, while Eve Gatens' thumping strike sealed all three points in the NERWFL Premier Division.

The lasses came into the game brimming with confidence following their 3-0 away victory at Harrogate Town AFC Women on Saturday night. 

Shields, hoping to add to their confidence, came up against seventh-placed Sunderland West End, in a clash that could have seen the Mariners break into the top four.

With just more than five minutes gone, Legg met a fantastic cross by SSFC Women's International Academy's Cat Abusada, heading home the opener in quick time. 

With just less than half an hour played, it was an Abusada corner which caused even more danger for the visitors.

The ball was whipped in with pace, causing calamity in the box and had to be scrambled clear. 

At the half-hour mark the talking points were how well the Mariners had recycled possession and Jess Spark's wonderful recovery stopping Isla Maggs' promising attack, as neither created any more threats at goal. 

At half-time Shields made three substitutions - keeper Scarlett Gowans for Anna Yeakey, while Gatens and Sophie Greener replaced Ellie White and Ava England.

An hour had passed before the Mariners' next chance at goal, which came through Natalie May; the heavy touch just took the ball away from her and what seemed to be a clear-cut chance. 

The next effort fell the visitors' way: Maggs was played in wonderfully by Emily Howe, the forward cut inside and lashed her effort up and over the bar; a wasted opportunity for the away side. 

In the 76th minute, hoping to be an impact substitute, Greener released a right-footed strike across goal that crept just wide. 

On the stroke of full-time Gatens wrapped the game up sealing all three points. The attacker lashed the ball into the far corner, the strike too powerful for Sawyer. 

The lasses are back in action this Sunday when they welcome Harrogate Town for the second time in just over a week.

South Shields Women: Gowans, May, Legg, White, Wootten, England, Norton, Spark, Abusada, Jota, Foster.

Substitutes: Mole, Greener, Gatens, McMahon, Yeakey. 

Goals: Legg (6’), Gatens (90’)

Sunderland West End Ladies: Sawyer, Kaur, Smith, Minnis, Traill-Scott, Hutchinson, Ferris, Ross, Ellison, Maggs, Howe. 

Substitutes: Dodds, Huskisson, O’Leary, Boardman.