SSFC Women defeat Alnwick Town 3-1 in season-first evening game

South Shields Women overcame the 40-point marker with a 3-1 win against Alnwick Town Ladies in the NERWFL Premier Division.

Natalie May finally got her cherished goal for Shields in the first half, and her strike proved to be the difference-maker until Ellie White came on after the break and found two of her own. 

Alnwick did grab one back from a corner, but they were unable to mount the pressure and challenge the Mariners, given there was only a few minutes remaining by the time they scored.

It was an unchanged starting 11 by head coach Alex Miller, with the only change being that Erin Taylor was unavailable.

Shields grew into the game after a fairly cagey start - Sophie Curle was through on goal, and since she was surrounded by a handful of Alnwick defenders, she laid it off to Zoe Norton who couldn’t launch a shot.

Soon after, Jaz Elliott-Wood attempted a free-kick which Katy Louise-Stark caught with ease.

It wasn’t too long until she tried the same bullet header which struck gold against Spennymoor; Eve Gatens’ well-timed delivery found Elliott-Wood who forced the keeper into a stunning save to push it over the crossbar.

Curle tussled past Georgia Latto before trying her own shot from close-range. It was knocked back and May was afforded her golden opportunity to shoot. 

At a distance it looked like it took a deflection, but on closer inspection it swerved its way around Harriet Combs on its way into the net.

Shields continued to pile the pressure to find their second, although Alnwick posed a threat of their own. 

Scarlett Gowans was called into action numerous times which included one incredible stop to prevent Megan Sprot - the double-scoring hero for the ‘Wick in the FA Cup game - from finding the net. 

Chloe Young could have scored for the visitors after she was left with space in the box, but like last time, Gowans was on hand to keep it out.

Shields’ White became the second half star as she grabbed two goals to seal the deal in this match.

There was confusion aplenty for her first as nobody seemed to figure out where the ball was, and the second was sublime and a real surprise for many when it happened off a free-kick. 

Alnwick scored near the end via McCleary and it was a well-worked set piece routine which blindsighted much of Shields' team.

Either way, that result put Shields over the 40-point mark for the first time and although hopes of an unlikely promotion were dashed at the weekend, there might still be another twist in this tale to come.

This Sunday sees the lasses take on promotion contenders Barnsley FC Women at 1st Cloud Arena, in what will be the side's last home game of the season. 

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South Shields Women: Gowans, Innes, May, Greener, Legg, Gatens, Curle, Wootten, Norton, Elliott-Wood, Mole. 

Substitutes: Ali, White, Longstaff, Foster. 

Alnwick Town Ladies: Louise-Stark, Morrison, Coombs, Henderson, Latto, Luke, Belisle, Johnston, Young, Sprot, Rees. 

Substitutes: Williams, Urwin, McCleary, Armstrong.