South Shields Women picked up their second win of the season at the weekend, and Olivia Mole said the team “adapted and overcame” what was put in front of them.
Sunday’s 3-1 win against York RI Ladies had a bit of everything, with two penalty saves being the highlight of the afternoon, if not for the four goals that were scored.
The result takes The Mariners up to third place in the NERWFL Premier Division, having scored the joint-most goals out of any team in the league, along with newly-relegated Chester-le-Street Town Ladies (11 goals).
“Definitely happy to come away with the three points today,” Mole reflected afterwards, “coming back after last week not entirely going our way.
“York being new to the league, we didn’t really know what to expect, however they did create some problems for us.”
Shields found themselves 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals by Annece Legg and Sophie Greener, but the visitors got one back early in the second-half from a corner.
That might have given the team something to worry about - their 2-0 lead at the interval against Sunderland West End Ladies had crumbled just over a week ago - but the team did well to not repeat the same mistakes.
Mole added: “I think we can all agree the game never went exactly how we had planned it to, but we adapted and overcame the challenges we were faced with.”
Scarlett Gowans was hailed as Shields’ player of the match for her heroic penalty save during the first-half, and it can be argued that save paved the way for control over the game thereafter.
She said: “Both were amazing penalty saves, with Scarlett saving ours to keep it 1-0, which was massive for us.
“I think we are off to a really good start with the amount of goals we are scoring and chances created.”
Despite the poor weather again, a handful of supporters showed up to pay their support and Mole couldn’t be more grateful for the wonderful backing provided every week.
Mole finished: “The fans are always great, turning up week in week out no matter the weather, and as a team I think it helps to drive us more.
“We want to win not only for ourselves and the management but for them too.”
Up next for SSFC Women is an exciting Women’s FA Cup match against Ponteland United Women - read more insight in Friday’s match guide on the club’s website!
Image credit: Craig McNair (@ideventphoto)
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