South Shields Women started their NERWFL Premier Division campaign in style, with a 4-1 win against Spennymoor Town Ladies at Harton Welfare on Sunday.
Annece Legg gave The Mariners an early lead as she made the most of a fumble at the back, before Becca Drinkald levelled things for Spennymoor in the 21st minute.
Sophie Greener would later give Shields the lead with her tucked-away finish - Legg and Eve Gatens would add complements of their own in the second-half to round off a lovely display.
A handful of changes saw Alex Miller name Monica Innes in the starting 11 as she made her full return from injury.
Alliyah Ali and Ava England, who started against Whitehaven AFC Ladies a fortnight ago, were named on the bench.
Jen Wootten and Josie Foster were unavailable and therefore were not involved.
Shields couldn’t have asked for a much better start. Legg broke the deadlock when a mix-up involving Moors keeper Sophie Miller resulted in an open net opportunity - no mistakes made.
Gatens was released through on goal just minutes later and she was unlucky not to get her first of the afternoon; her chip sailed just wide unfortunately for her.
Previous encounters have shown that Spennymoor are adept at set pieces and they proved themselves once more today.
Drinkald managed to find an equaliser around the 20th minute mark with a well-worked routine following a half-cleared corner which eventually left her free with, again, an open net to finish in.
The Mariners retained the lead thanks to Greener heading into half-time but they may be fortunate to have done so, given that Katy Hemmingway was one-on-one with Scarlett Gowans, but thankfully for Shields, Gowans won out.
Early starts helped to set the tone for both halves and Legg got her second, and the team’s third, of the afternoon just minutes after the restart.
Gatens played a delightful cross over to Legg who nodded it in with ease.
Things were ultimately settled when a wonderful through ball from Greener reached Gatens, who only had Miller to beat and she coolly slotted in the fourth goal.
That performance should give the team a lot of confidence heading into their first away test on Sunday, against Sunderland West End Ladies.
South Shields Women: Gowans, Mole, Innes (England '74), May, Greener, Legg, Gatens, White, McMahon, Norton, Elliott-Wood.
Unused substitutes: Ali, McDonald, Naylor, Longstaff.
Goals: Legg (‘6 and ‘47), Greener (‘28), Gatens (‘80).
Spennymoor Town Ladies: Miller, Knox (Foster '64), McIntosh, Newton, Elliott, Drinkald (Gray '89), Richardson, Hemmingway, Colledge, Doogan (Middleton '80), Enguita (Steele '46).
Unused substitutes: Brischuk.
Goals: Drinkald (‘21).
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