Wootten: SSFC Women must use Hull United draw "to make us stronger"

South Shields Women’s Jen Wootten has urged her team to use Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Hull United Women as motivation to “make us stronger."

It was a quiet day at the office for the usually high-scoring Mariners, as they dropped two points against a Hull United team who sit near the bottom of the NERWFL Premier Division.

Optimists might suggest it was a point gained on the road, in what was the team’s longest away trip of the season, but the feeling within the camp is that it was a missed opportunity. 

“Last week was amazing and a real high point for all of us,” she said after the match.

“Today not so much; unfortunately that’s football. 

“There are ups and downs - we weren’t our best today and we know we can do better.” 

Her goal in the 57th minute was the team’s first real chance of the game, and it was her first goal since the 9-0 battering against Hartlepool United Women in September 2023. 

That should be something to celebrate, despite the way the game turned out. 

Wootten added: “Scoring in any game is always a great feeling, especially going on as a sub to try and make a difference to the game. 

“It’s been a while since I’ve scored (apart from the penalty last week) so it was good to get back on the scoresheet again and give us a boost. 

“Unfortunately we needed more today.” 

The result leaves Shields in third place, seven points behind divisional leaders Chester-le-Street Town Ladies, after seven games played. 

Depending on results elsewhere, they could fall further behind if the likes of Bradford City Women and Spennymoor Town Ladies pick up maximum points in their games in hand.

It would be a big challenge to make up ground, but nothing is ever settled in football and that’s the message Wootten had for the rest of the squad: to reflect and to move on.

“Today did feel like a loss today in terms of knowing how much better we can be,” she reflected.

“Nobody wants to feel like this, so we’ve got to use it to make us stronger and bounce back - which we will. 

“Team morale has been great recently, especially after our previous good results, so we train this week and go again!”

Image credit: Craig McNair (@ideventphoto)